Meet the 7 underrated QBs who could be college football's next Fernando Mendoza

There might never be a better example of how drastically a quarterback class can change in a few short months than the 2025 college football season.

LaNorris Sellers, Cade Klubnik and Garrett Nussmeier were all considered legitimate first-round prospects and potential Heisman Trophy contenders. The name Fernando Mendoza was known by a much more limited number of fans, with the exception of those who stayed up deep into the night to watch him duel with Cam Ward at Cal.

The quarterbacks to watch this college football season are supposed to be Arch Manning, Dante Moore, CJ Carr, Julian Sayin, Trinidad Chambliss and Darian Mensah. It doesn't usually work out that way, though.

At least one quarterback without much name recognition in Week 1 is going to find his way into the thick of the Heisman Trophy race or the first round discussion, if not both. A rise like Mendoza's is tough to mirror, but there are a number of quarterbacks who have the talent to reach stardom in 2026.

MORE: See preseason AP Top 25, Coaches Poll

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Jaden Craig, TCU

The FCS-to-Power Four jump is a big one, but Trinidad Chambliss proved it can be done when he leapt from the Division II level. Jaden Craig could be the next to conquer it.

The Harvard transfer led a strong offense for the Crimson, throwing only 10 interceptions in 611 pass attempts over his two seasons as a starter and amassing 2,869 yards through the air last season. Craig already has a strong frame at 6-3 and knows how to protect the ball. Early reports indicate his arm strength has looked the part as he transitions to the Big 12, and he's playing an offense that worked wonders for Max Duggan and Josh Hoover.

If Craig meets or exceeds expectations at TCU, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him emerge as a legitimate NFL Draft prospect.

CJ Bailey, NC State

CJ Bailey had a couple of clunkers last season at NC State, but he showed tangible improvement from a promising freshman season and finished the year strong with three consecutive games of two touchdowns and no interceptions.

One of the nation's tallest quarterbacks at 6-6, Bailey's slight frame could be an NFL concern, but this could be the year he cleans up some of those outlier performances and emerges as one of the country's most eye-popping stars with a jump to the next level a real possibility.

MORE: Sporting News 2026 college football Preseason All-America team

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Drake Lindsey, Minnesota

No Minnesota quarterback has been drafted since 1972. That could change in 2027.

P.J. Fleck believes he has the right quarterback in Drake Lindsey, who took over for Max Brosmer in 2025 and showed promise with 18 touchdowns to six interceptions. The 6-5 Lindsey had an interception-free finish to the season, completing 66 percent of passes for eight touchdowns without a pick in his final five starts.

Lindsey just turned 21 in the weeks leading up to the season, so he could return to college football in 2027. With his size and arm strength, the right kind of season from the Arkansas-born quarterback could put him in the mix for more NFL Draft consideration than most might expect.

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DJ Lagway, Baylor

It wasn't long ago that DJ Lagway was considered a future NFL quarterback. It all went south for him at Florida, where he threw 14 interceptions and totaled just 2,264 yards through the air last season, but a change of scenery could bring out the talent that's in there.

Lagway just turned 21 and is heading into an offensive system that will feature him as a passer in a conference that just doesn't have as many daunting defenses. That should allow Lagway to work through mistakes, build confidence and let his natural arm talent shine through. If he can approach his potential, Lagway will have the option to either jump to the NFL or wait out a crowded class and make real money as a college senior in 2027.

MORE: Why a 20–team College Football Playoff expansion deserves more consideration

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Cutter Boley, Arizona State

Kentucky was not in a good place last season, so Cutter Boley's 12 interceptions and limited yardage totals should be taken with somewhat of a grain of salt. The 6-5 quarterback had strong showings against Tennessee, Florida and Georgia, considering the talent disadvantage around him, and he's going to a much better system with Kenny Dillingham as his head coach in Tempe.

It might be too early to talk about the NFL for Boley, but he at least has the talent to be what Sam Leavitt was at Arizona State and build confidence in the Big 12.

Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele, California

Including Keawe-Sagapolutele might be cheating, as he's a popular pick to be the No. 1 pick or at least a first-round pick in the 2028 NFL Draft, but he's a name worth mentioning when talking about quarterbacks who could emerge as stars in 2026.

Thrust into the starting role in a less than ideal situation as a true freshman, Keawe-Sagapolutele hit some midseason bumps year one at Cal but still threw for 3,454 yards and flashed the kind of arm talent that has NFL teams with their eye on him already.

"JKS" closed his freshman season with back-to-back games of at least 330 yards and didn't throw an interception in six of his final seven starts. With a new head coach in Tosh Lupoi, this could be the breakout season many are expecting from Keawe-Sagapolutele.

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Josh Hoover, Indiana

If it worked for Mendoza, it could work for Hoover, right? Indiana didn't make Mendoza, but Curt Cignetti's system certainly didn't hurt. Hoover is familiar with the style of offense OC Mike Shanahan runs, and he arrives in Bloomington with loads of experience after nearly three seasons as TCU's starter.

Hoover will have to clean up the turnovers a bit and won't have the same path to a high draft pick in part because he turns 24 next June, but it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see him post gaudy numbers at Indiana after Mendoza and Kurtis Rourke both had breakthrough years with the program.