Predicting starting QBs for every Power 4 college football team in 2026

The college football season just ended and five College Football Playoff teams need to replace their quarterbacks. That includes

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SEC

2026 starter: Keelon Russell, redshirt freshman

Why he’ll start: Russell, ESPN’s No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2025 cycle, arrived as the gem of Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer’s first signing class in Tuscaloosa. Sitting behind starter Ty Simpson and backup Austin Mack, Russell completed 11 of his 15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns across appearances in blowout wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Eastern Illinois. Russell has been viewed as the Crimson Tide’s quarterback of the future from the moment he stepped on campus last January. With Simpson headed to the NFL, he has a clear path to the starting job in 2026, provided Russell can edge Mack and the relative experience of the fourth-year passer.

Competition: Mack beat out Russell for the backup job last summer, and if the program’s recent quarterback battles under DeBoer are any indication, the Crimson Tide might wait until late August to officially name a starter. Alabama doubled up on quarterbacks in the 2026 recruiting cycle with signatures from No. 5 pocket passer Jett Thomalla and three-star Tayden-Evan Kaawa.

2026 starter: KJ Jackson, redshirt sophomore

Why he’ll start: Jackson, a former three-star recruit from Alabama, stuck with this program through its coaching change with the hopes of proving he’s ready to be QB1 in 2026. He got to play significant snaps in the final two games of his redshirt freshman season, replacing Taylen Green against Texas and throwing for 206 yards and a touchdown in the road loss. That performance led to Jackson starting the finale against Missouri, where he put up 126 passing yards and a score on 11-of-17 passing in a 31-17 defeat. New coach Ryan Silverfield is going to give Jackson a shot in what should be a relatively wide-open battle entering spring practice.

Competition: AJ Hill, a top-100 recruit in the 2025 class, played 51 snaps while redshirting in his first season at Memphis before following his coaches to Fayetteville. He’ll have every opportunity to prove he’s ready to play and should push Jackson for the job. The staff also brought in a veteran Division II transfer in Braeden Fuller from Angelo State and will also have three-star commit Hank Hendrix joining the program a year early after he reclassified to the 2026 class.

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Byrum Brown airs it out for 60-yard touchdown pass

Byrum Brown airs it out for 60-yard touchdown pass

2026 starter: Byrum Brown, redshirt senior, South Florida transfer

Why he’ll start: Brown blossomed at South Florida under new Auburn coach Alex Golesh. After leading FBS quarterbacks with 42 total touchdowns and 347.2 yards of offense per game, he’ll be central in reshaping a Tigers offense that finished 79th in total yardage a year ago. Brown can air it out; the fifth-year passer threw for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns to seven interceptions last fall. He also accounted for 1,008 rushing yards (fourth best nationally), and Brown’s running ability at 6-3, 232 pounds plays a big role in making Golesh’s offense go. There’s no getting around the weight of Cam Coleman’s transfer to Texas. But after adding Brown and five ex-USF pass catchers from the nation’s fifth-ranked scoring offense, the foundation for Golesh’s Year 1 offense at Auburn is in place.

Competition: The Tigers are once again staring down a fully renovated quarterback room in 2026. Golesh hit the portal to add former Bulls third-stringer Locklan Hewlett and Oregon State transfer Tristan Ti’a with five combined career games played between them. Auburn also signed three-star quarterback Rhys Brush, an ex-South Florida commit, in the 2026 class.

2026 starter: Aaron Philo, redshirt sophomore, Georgia Tech transfer

Why he’ll start: Florida didn’t get the traditional coordinator-quarterback package deal, but Philo played for new Gators OC Buster Faulkner as Georgia Tech’s backup to Haynes King the past two seasons. He understands Faulkner’s scheme and drew very good reviews while at Georgia Tech, where he filled in several times for King and started a game this past season, passing for 373 yards. While at Georgia Tech, the 6-2, 220-pound Philo completed 59 of 102 passes for 938 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, and added 95 rushing yards and a score. Philo must show he can handle more volume at a program that yearns to recapture elite quarterback play. But his connection with Faulkner is significant here.

Competition: The Gators bring back Tramell Jones Jr., a former four-star recruit from Jacksonville who appeared in two lopsided games this past fall, a win over Long Island and a loss to Kentucky. He finished with 191 passing yards and two touchdowns while connecting on 60% of his attempts. Florida also adds incoming freshman Will Griffin, the nation’s No. 123 overall recruit, a pocket passer from Tampa.

2026 starter: Gunner Stockton, redshirt senior

Why he’ll start: Stockton cemented his place as the Bulldogs’ QB1 in 2025 while finishing seventh in Heisman Trophy voting in his first season as a college starter. All told, Stockton threw for 2,894 yards and 24 touchdowns to five interceptions, closing his fourth college campaign ranked second in completion percentage (69.7%) and fifth in EPA per dropback (0.28) among SEC quarterbacks. Georgia will be replacing six of its top seven pass catchers from 2025, including stars Zachariah Branch and Oscar Delp. But the Bulldogs have already secured at least one portal reinforcement in Georgia Tech transfer Isiah Canion, and there’s no shortage of downfield talent in the program’s skill position pipeline. After leading Georgia to a second straight CFP appearance, Stockton will return as a bonafide Heisman contender in 2026.

Competition: The Bulldogs didn’t sign a quarterback in the 2026 class after No. 1 pocket passer Jared Curtis flipped to Vanderbilt in early December. That means Georgia’s quarterback room could go largely unchanged in 2026 with 2025 backup Ryan Puglisi expected to return alongside second-year passers Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender and incoming freshman Bryson Beaver, the No. 208 overall recruit who initially signed with Oregon before transferring to Georgia.

2026 starter: Kenny Minchey, redshirt junior, Notre Dame transfer

Why he’ll start: Kentucky made its intentions clear in getting Minchey to flip from Nebraska a day after he committed to the Cornhuskers. New UK coach Will Stein and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan have big plans for the junior, who lacks starting experience but spent three years in a top program at Notre Dame and came very close to winning the top job last summer. A former top-185 national recruit from Tennessee, he gives Kentucky a true dual threat in the backfield and the chance to do some creative things in the run game. He completed 23 of 29 passes in limited work with Notre Dame.

Competition: After waiting for years at Notre Dame, Minchey no longer has impediments to the starting job, at least initially. Kentucky will start developing talented incoming freshman Matt Ponatoski, the nation’s No. 7 pocket passer and No. 147 overall recruit, from Cincinnati. Stein also brought in Marshall transfer JacQai Long via the portal, and sophomore Brennen Ward is also back after recording six pass attempts in 2025.

2026 starter: Sam Leavitt, redshirt junior, Arizona State transfer

Why he’ll start: Lane Kiffin finally got his man, despite a prolonged recruitment, likely made longer by LSU’s flirtations with other quarterbacks. Leavitt, No. 3 in ESPN’s transfer portal ranking, gives LSU a supreme talent who has helped a team to a conference championship in 2024 and has CFP experience with Arizona State. That fall, he set Arizona State’s freshman record for total offense (3,328 yards) and had 24 touchdown passes against only six interceptions with 443 rushing yards and five scores. Leavitt wasn’t as sharp in 2025 before a season-ending foot injury, but he had a nice stretch in late September and his only 300-yard passing performance in ASU’s signature win against eventual Big 12 champion Texas Tech. He will enter his fourth college season after starting off with Michigan State in 2023.

Competition: Leavitt is the clear-cut starter but LSU added some insurance with Elon transfer Landen Clark, who had 2,321 passing yards and 18 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman last season, while adding 614 rushing yards and 11 scores and sharing CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Kiffin also secured one of the top freshman QBs in the portal in USC’s Husan Longstreet. The No. 6-ranked QB in the 2025 ESPN 300 put up 103 passing yards, 76 rushing yards and 3 TDs in four games with the Trojans.

2026 starter: Kamario Taylor, sophomore

Why he’ll start: Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby signed Taylor in the 2025 class with an eye on him someday becoming the Bulldogs’ franchise quarterback. A dual-threat playmaker at 6-4, 230 pounds, Taylor looked the part of a future star in a pair of career starts at the end of his freshman season, rushing for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss before accounting for 304 total yards in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Blake Shapen’s departure now clears the way for Taylor to take over the starting job in 2026. With leading pass catcher Anthony Evans III returning and transfer wide receivers Marquis Johnson (Missouri) and Zion Ragins (Oklahoma) set to join the program, Taylor should take over with playmakers around him next fall.

Competition: The Bulldogs lost one quarterback to the portal (Luke Kromenhoek) and added another in former Vanderbilt, LSU and Appalachian State passer AJ Swann. The veteran quarterback joins the Bulldogs after making six starts with the Mountaineers in 2025, and Swann will present an experienced alternative to Taylor. Mississippi State signed three-star quarterback Brodie McWhorter, ESPN’s No. 36 pocket passer, in the 2026 class.

2026 starter: Austin Simmons, redshirt junior, Ole Miss transfer

Why he’ll start: It’s easy to forget that Simmons was the one being hyped as Lane Kiffin’s next star quarterback last fall before his Week 2 ankle injury opened the door for Trinidad Chambliss. Simmons’ pair of career starts — both in 2025 — mean he doesn’t give Missouri much more experience than former Penn State transfer Beau Pribula did a year ago. But Simmons’ raw throwing ability alone will provide the type of downfield dimension the 8-5 Tigers sorely lacked last fall and should help balance an offense that will be returning running backs Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts, who combined for 2,402 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. If Missouri can tap Simmons’ full potential, he could prove to be another savvy portal pickup for coach Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers.

Competition: Drinkwitz is investing in depth after injuries ravaged Missouri’s quarterback room last fall. Those issues meant freshman Matt Zollers, ESPN’s No. 6 pocket passer in the 2025 cycle, appeared in seven games in his debut season, and he projects as the Tigers’ strongest competitor to Simmons. Missouri landed another seasoned transfer passer in former Oklahoma, Wisconsin and UConn quarterback Nick Evers and will welcome three-star 2026 signee Gavin Sidwar to campus in 2026, as well.

2026 starter: John Mateer, redshirt senior

Why he’ll start: Mateer was central to Oklahoma’s turnaround from 6-7 in 2024 to 10-2 and a home playoff game at the end of his first season with the Sooners. The former Washington State transfer did have his early-season Heisman Trophy bid tripped up by a September hand injury, and Mateer showed some lapses including late-season decision-making struggles and his 11 interceptions, fifth most among SEC starters. But Mateer’s playmaking ability (22 total touchdowns) is undeniable and he should be able to make a jump in 2026 with another year of experience, especially if he can stay healthy through the regular season.

Competition: Two-year backup Michael Hawkins Jr. transferred to West Virginia after the 2025 season. As things stand, that leaves former Mercer transfer Whitt Newbauer as the one returner to the Sooners’ quarterback room in 2026. Bowe Bentley, the nation’s No. 2 dual-threat passer in the 2026 cycle, was a priority target for offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and is a name to watch for the future.

2026 starter: Trinidad Chambliss, redshirt senior

Why he’ll start: Well, this one’s gonna be interesting. The unexpected superstar from Division II Ferris State is attempting to get a sixth year of eligibility after the NCAA denied his waiver request on Jan. 9 and has hired attorney Tom Mars to wage this war through appeals and a lawsuit. New coach Pete Golding and his staff are fully committed to Chambliss being their QB1 in 2026 and need this to all work out. Chambliss finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting during his debut season in Oxford and could be even better next year if he’s allowed to stay in school.

Competition: The Rebels were in a tricky spot with recruiting transfer QBs during the portal window given the uncertainty around Chambliss. They made a late run at Lagway before landing Auburn’s Deuce Knight and Louisiana’s Walker Howard. Knight, the No. 40 overall recruit in 2024, is an exciting developmental prospect who shined in his lone start against Mercer as a freshman. Howard, a former backup for the Rebels, rejoins the program after a year away in the Sun Belt. They’re also returning a former SC Next 300 recruit in redshirt freshman AJ Maddox who’ll compete with Knight to be the program’s QB of the future.

2026 starter: LaNorris Sellers, redshirt junior

Why he’ll start: Despite a 4-8 season and a coordinator change, South Carolina retained Sellers, a preseason Heisman contender who saw his production and efficiency drop from 2024, when he burst onto the scene. He elected to run it back with new OC Kendal Briles, who has had success with a range of quarterbacks and should be able to capitalize on Sellers’ size and skill set. Sellers has 5,057 career passing yards with 33 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and 995 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns. Briles will certainly look to boost Sellers’ accuracy, which fell off by nearly 5% from 2024.

Competition: The Gamecocks were able to bring in some help via the portal in Lucian Anderson III from Bowling Green. Anderson earned two starts in 2025 as a redshirt sophomore and produced 245 passing yards, 161 rushing yards and 3 total TDs with the Falcons. Cutter Woods completed 8 of 11 pass attempts as a true freshman and should compete with Anderson for the primary backup role. Woods is a former three-star recruit from Anderson, South Carolina. The team also welcomes in Landon Duckworth, an SC Next 300 prospect from Alabama.

2026 starter: George MacIntyre, redshirt freshman

Why he’ll start: It’s hard to tell what the plan is for the Vols right now. Starting quarterback Joey Aguilar is seeking an additional year of eligibility as a former junior college transfer. Tennessee was in the hunt for transfers Sam Leavitt and Beau Pribula and missed out. For now, MacIntyre is the safest pick. The Franklin, Tennessee, native was the No. 109 overall recruit in the 2025 SC Next 300 and threw for 69 yards on 7-of-9 passing in two nonconference appearances during his redshirt season.

Competition: The short-term situation might be in question at the moment, but Faizon Brandon gives Tennessee an elite prospect to build around over the next few years. The 6-4, 206-pound passer from North Carolina was ESPN’s No. 9 overall recruit in the 2026 class and will look to compete for the starting job and prove he’s ready to lead this team as a true freshman. The Vols also brought in Colorado transfer Ryan Staub, who earned two starts over his three years in Boulder and threw for 681 yards with five total touchdowns and four picks.

2026 starter: Arch Manning, redshirt junior

Why he’ll start: He looked every bit like a Heisman Trophy contender down the stretch. Manning had the No. 1 QBR in FBS (93.4) since the start of November and 15 total touchdowns (11 passing, four rushing) with just one interception over his final five starts. Manning is an elite scrambler, capping his season with 155 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a bowl win against Michigan. He should continue to develop as a passer under coach Steve Sarkisian, as the next step will be overall consistency and efficiency in the biggest games. Manning once again will be a top Heisman contender, but this time there will be genuine on-field evidence behind his candidacy.

Competition: K.J. Lacey, who arrived at Texas as the nation’s No. 116 overall recruit, attempted just one pass in his true freshman season, but should see a bigger role if he becomes Manning’s primary backup in 2026. Lacey will be pushed by incoming freshman Dia Bell, the nation’s No. 2 pocket passer and No. 6 overall prospect, who’s coming out of Plantation, Florida.

2026 starter: Marcel Reed, redshirt junior

Why he’ll start: Despite some struggles at the end of the season, Reed still had an excellent 2025 season — his first full year as QB1 after taking over the top job down the stretch in 2024. He helped Texas A&M to a record 11-0 start and triggered a big-play offense, averaging 13.5 yards per completion with a 360-yard performance at Notre Dame and a 439-yard output against South Carolina. Reed threw multiple touchdown passes nine times during the 11-0 start before having no touchdowns and four interceptions in losses to Texas and Miami. He added 493 rushing yards and six scores. Greater consistency in big games is the next step — Reed threw 12 interceptions — but the junior will enter the fall as one of the nation’s most experienced quarterbacks.

Competition: Following Reed’s return, backup Miles O’Neill entered the portal, meaning Texas A&M will have to reset its depth in the quarterback room. Brady Hart appeared in two games as a true freshman, completing 5 of 10 pass attempts. Texas A&M also signed Helaman Casuga, a dual-threat quarterback from Utah who ranked just inside the SC Next 300 for 2026.

2026 starter: Jared Curtis, freshman

Why he’ll start: The No. 1 pocket passer in the 2026 class, Curtis’ historic late flip from Georgia hinged at least in part on the opportunity to compete for the Commodores’ starting job from Day 1 next fall. Curtis, the top-ranked signee in program history, lands with Vanderbilt after throwing for more than 9,500 yards with another 2,100-plus yards on the ground as a four-year starter at Tennessee’s Nashville Christian School. Curtis will be working with a slightly different set of playmakers than Diego Pavia relied upon in 2025 with All-America tight end Eli Stowers and third-leading receiver Tre Richardson headed to Louisville. If Curtis is the Commodores’ Week 1 starter, the program’s Oct. 3 trip to Georgia could present an especially juicy early matchup.

Competition: Fourth-year passer Blaze Berlowitz has appeared in six games total in two seasons with the Commodores and has experience working with offensive coordinator Tim Beck. As things stand, sophomore Jack Elliott remains as the only other scholarship quarterback on Vanderbilt’s roster.