Meet the starting QBs for all 68 Power 4 schools after mind-boggling 2026 transfer cycle

The college football season is finally here, following a chaotic offseason full of player movement.

More than ever, players are transferring in the offseason in search of better opportunities, and that is especially the case at the quarterback position. Many teams view their quarterback situation as a year-to-year proposition, opting to recruit a new starter from the transfer portal each winter.

Other teams, however, prefer stability and have been able to keep their quarterbacks around despite the allure of greener pastures elsewhere. That makes for an interesting dynamic across the country, with a clear difference between the player-movement teams and the more stable programs.

As a result, it can be confusing to see familiar faces in new places once the fall comes around. Therefore, here's a look at each starting quarterback for Power 4 teams in 2026.

MORE: Sporting News 2026 College Football predictions

SEC

Alabama: Keelon Russell

Russell is a former five-star recruit who sat last year behind Ty Simpson but will now get his chance to lead one of the premier programs in the sport. Russell has just 15 career pass attempts, two of which went for touchdowns, and should provide Alabama with more of a dual-threat option than Simpson gave the team last year.

Arkansas: KJ Jackson

Jackson is in his third year at Arkansas but will get his first real chance as a starter, having played in just five games over his first two seasons. The redshirt sophomore did total 441 passing yards and three touchdowns in limited playing time last year, and he has a high ceiling while also providing a low floor.

Auburn: Byrum Brown

Brown joins Auburn after four years at South Florida, as he followed new Tigers head coach Alex Golesh to the program. Brown has a wealth of experience, as he started 12 games last year and played in 35 over the last four, which includes 61 touchdowns and a 64.8 completion percentage over those four seasons.

Florida: Aaron Philo

After two years at Georgia Tech, Philo transferred to Florida and will now begin the season as the Gators' starter. Philo only has eight games of experience across two years, resulting in just two touchdowns, but he does have familiarity with new Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who was also at Georgia Tech previously.

Georgia: Gunner Stockton

Stockton returns to Athens for his second season as Georgia's starting quarterback after a successful 2025, in which the Bulldogs won the SEC. Stockton's dual-threat ability is his calling card, as he rushed for 462 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, but development in the passing game would go a long way toward Georgia's title hopes.

Kentucky: Kenny Minchey

Minchey is one of the more interesting SEC quarterbacks, as he transfers to Lexington following three years at Notre Dame. The redshirt junior has never been a starter, so there should be growing pains, but he has the talent to play in the conference as new Kentucky coach Will Stein looks to make his mark in Year 1.

LSU: Sam Leavitt

Leavitt was one of the highest-profile transfers in the offseason, joining Baton Rouge from Arizona State to team up with Lane Kiffin. The veteran has 24 games of experience, having played in 20 for the Sun Devils, and was a priority transfer for Kiffin as he hopes to compete for a College Football Playoff spot in his first season at LSU.

Mississippi State: Kamario Taylor

Taylor got his feet wet in his freshman season for the Bulldogs last year but now has the benefit of a full offseason as a starter. Taylor was more impressive as a runner than as a passer last year, so his ability to succeed in the passing game is what will decide how successful Mississippi State's offense is this year.

Missouri: Austin Simmons

Simmons transferred to Missouri after two years as a backup quarterback for Ole Miss and now gets the chance to start for the first time. Simmons has played in 17 games but only attempted 107 total passes, so he could be a work in progress as he grows into the starting quarterback role.

Oklahoma: John Mateer

Mateer's first year in Norman was a roller coaster, as he was in the Heisman Trophy conversation before injuries derailed the campaign. A second year with the Sooners should mean Mateer has the team in the Playoff conversation, as Mateer is one of the most experienced quarterbacks after throwing for over 6,000 combined yards since 2024.

Ole Miss: Trinidad Chambliss

Chambliss was the breakout star of the College Football Playoff and is able to return to college after a favorable legal ruling. Entering his second year at Ole Miss, but sixth in college overall, Chambliss will have a chance to help the Rebels build off a strong year in which Chambliss led the SEC in passing yards.

South Carolina: LaNorris Sellers

Sellers is in his third season as South Carolina's starter, making him one of the longest-tenured quarterbacks in the conference. Sellers is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country but underwhelmed in 2025 after a strong 2024. He returned to the Gamecocks despite pressure to either enter the NFL Draft or transfer to another school.

Tennessee: Faizon Brandon

Brandon is the first true freshman to open the season as a starting quarterback for the Volunteers in over 20 years. A five-star recruit, Brandon was a prized land for Tennessee, as he was a top recruit in the class of 2026, and head coach Josh Heupel isn't wasting any time. Brandon will go through expected struggles, but the upside with him is sky-high.

Texas A&M: Marcel Reed

Reed helped lead the Aggies to 11 wins in 2025, which marked the second-straight season he appeared in double-digit games for Texas A&M. The redshirt junior totaled over 3,000 passing yards and 25 touchdowns last year but will be asked to repeat the production against a much tougher schedule as the Aggies hope to return to the College Football Playoff.

Texas: Arch Manning

No player enters the season with more pressure than Arch Manning, who is expected to compete for the Heisman Trophy and top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Manning started slow in 2025 but closed the season strong as he produced over 3,100 passing yards and almost 400 rushing yards. Texas has high hopes this year, and they all rest on Manning's shoulders.

Vanderbilt: Blake Berlowitz

Berlowitz won the Vanderbilt job in the offseason, replacing Diego Pavia as the Commodores' starting quarterback. Berlowitz has been with Vanderbilt since 2024, when he transferred from New Mexico State, and he appeared in six games last year as Pavia's backup. Vanderbilt hopes Berlowitz's experience in the program will help the team move on from Pavia.

MORE: Breaking down the Heisman Trophy race

Big Ten

Illinois: Katin Houser

Illinois landed Houser from East Carolina, where the quarterback had a strong two seasons after transferring from Michigan State. In 34 college games, Houser has thrown for over 6,400 yards and totaled 22 passing touchdowns, so he has loads of experience under his belt, which was a big selling point when the Illini targeted him in the transfer portal.

Indiana: Josh Hoover

Curt Cignetti's answer to replacing Fernando Mendoza is Hoover, whose tenure with TCU ended in unceremonious fashion. Hoover spent four years at TCU, playing in 36 games and totaling at least 3,400 passing yards and 27 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, but ended last year on a downturn. Indiana hopes Hoover can follow in Mendoza's path in finding success in the system.

Iowa: Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown

Iowa's quarterback competition will bleed into the regular season, as Hecklinski and Brown will likely both see time in the opening game. Hecklinski has very little experience, playing in just three games since 2024 with only two career passes for Wake Forest and Iowa, while Brown got some playing time for both Auburn in 2024 and Iowa in 2025.

Maryland: Malk Washington

Washington started every game for Maryland as a true freshman, attempting the most passes in the Big Ten during an uneven year. The talent is certainly there, as Washington has impressive dual-threat ability, but Maryland hopes a second year in college will lead to Washington settling into his surroundings. The Terrapins' chances at surprising this year fully land in Washington's hands.

Michigan: Bryce Underwood

Another true freshman to start in 2025, Underwood led the Wolverines to nine wins during a chaotic season. Michigan should have more stability on the coaching staff this year, which should help Underwood take that next step as the former top recruit that he was. In a deep Big Ten conference, Underwood is one of the swing players for the year.

Michigan State: Alesso Milivojevic

After redshirting in 2024, Milivojevic saw action in nine games last year, totaling over 1,200 passing yards and 10 passing touchdowns. While he didn't provide any rushing value, Milivojevic could steady the quarterback position for the Spartans, who won just four games in the 2025 season and just one in conference.

Minnesota: Drake Lindsey

Lindsey's first season as starter for the Golden Gophers went all right, as he produced just under 2,400 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore is a trendy pick to possibly take a major leap this year, as he has shown solid traits from inside the pocket, especially thanks to his big frame at 6-foot-5.

Nebraska: Anthony Colandrea

The Dylan Raiola experience didn't quite go as planned, so Nebraska turns to UNLV transfer Colandrea for the 2026 season. A former Virginia Cavalier as well, Colandrea had an impressive 2025 with over 3,400 passing yards and 23 touchdowns in 14 games for UNLV, giving the Cornhuskers strong experience at the position.

Northwestern: Aidan Chiles

Chiles stays in the Big Ten but moves to Northwestern after two years starting for Michigan State. The senior quarterback has 30 career games under his belt, and after a solid season in 2024, he struggled last year as he regressed in most statistical categories. Chiles now gets a fresh start in a Northwestern offense led by new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.

Ohio State: Julian Sayin

Sayin is one of those quarterbacks whose performance will help define the college football season. While he had a really nice season taking over as the starter in 2025, he underwhelmed against Indiana and Miami to close out the campaign on a sour note. With that experience, though, Sayin should be able to take a leap to one of the better quarterbacks in the country.

Oregon: Dante Moore

Moore could have left Oregon to enter the NFL Draft, where he likely would've gone in the first round, but instead he returns to Eugene to chase a title. Moore enters the season as one of the Heisman Trophy favorites and has a chance to cement his name as the top pick in next year's NFL Draft if he builds on a great year in 2025, which included 30 passing touchdowns.

Penn State: Rocco Becht

Penn State's new-look team includes Becht, who followed head coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State to State College in the offseason. Becht's 42 games played are among the most in the country, and he is coming off three straight solid seasons as a starter for the Cyclones. The redshirt senior, however, will see an uptick in competition changing conferences.

Purdue: Ryan Browne

Although Purdue didn't win the Big Ten last year, the Boilermakers bring Browne back for his fourth season with the program. Browne took over as the starter last year, throwing for over 2,000 passing yards, but he had more interceptions than passing touchdowns during the season. Still, his stability is notable in an era of player movement.

Rutgers: Dylan Lonergan

Lonergan is on his third team in three seasons, as he began college at Alabama but transferred to Boston College last year, where he played in 10 games as a starter for the first time. Lonergan did throw for over 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, but will now face an increase in competition while leading a team that won just two games in the conference.

UCLA: Nico Iamaleava

Iamaleava's decision to transfer to UCLA before the 2025 season turned sour, as the Bruins fired the coaching staff before the season ended. The redshirt junior hopes that a new coaching staff can help him recapture his form from two years ago, when he led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff, which would put him back on the college football map.

USC: Jayden Maiava

The Trojans are rolling with Maiava once again in 2026, when the quarterback led the Big Ten in passing yards. However, that wasn't enough for USC to make the College Football Playoff, so Maiava needs to find a way to improve in 2026 as expectations in Los Angeles remain high. If he does, Maiava could be in the Heisman discussion.

Washington: Demond Williams

Williams was so good for Washington last year, producing over 3,000 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns, that he tried to enter the transfer portal after signing an agreement to return to the Huskies in 2026. Washington threatened legal action, bringing Williams back into the fold despite what is now an icy relationship. If they can get past that hiccup, this pairing should find success once again.

Wisconsin: Colton Joseph

With Luke Fickell's job seemingly on the line, the head coach recruited Joseph from Old Dominion for the season. Joseph started 21 games in the last two years, combining for over 4,200 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, but will deal with a major step up in competition going from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten.

Big 12

Arizona: Noah Fifita

Fifita is a familiar face as he enters his fourth year as a starter for Arizona, having produced uneven results in the previous three. Fifita is coming off his best statistical season, throwing for career highs in passing yards and touchdowns while leading the Wildcats to nine wins in 2025. In an era of player movement, Fifita's stability is noteworthy.

Arizona State: Cutter Boley

Boley is Arizona State's choice to replace Sam Leavitt, as he transfers to the Sun Devils following two years at Kentucky. Boley played in 11 games since 2024, and last year threw for over 2,100 yards while battling turnover issues during a disappointing Kentucky season. Arizona State expects him to take a step forward with the change of scenery.

Baylor: DJ Lagway

Once a highly touted recruit for the Florida Gators, Lagway's inconsistencies in Gainesville are why he transferred to Baylor. The junior has a ton of experience for someone of his age, having played in 12 games in each of his first two collegiate seasons, but he led the SEC in interceptions last year despite producing highlight-reel plays. The ceiling remains high for Lagway if he can put it all together.

BYU: Bear Bachmeier

Quietly, Bachmeier was one of the country's best freshmen in 2025, totaling over 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards for the Cougars. He also completed 65 percent of his passes and scored 26 total touchdowns, displaying impressive dual-threat abilities. Another year of experience should only help the sophomore grow into his game.

Cincinnati: JC French IV

French spent three seasons at Georgia Southern, where he played in 36 total games and started 26 games in the last two years. French steadily improved each year, putting up career-best numbers across the board in 2025, and now heads into his first season for the Bearcats facing a significant increase in competition.

Colorado: Julian Lewis

Lewis spent his freshman season as a backup, playing in just four games as he acclimated to the college game. Now, the former top recruit will take the reins as Colorado's starter for the first time, which means he will experience a fair share of growing pains along the way. Still, Lewis should be able to help the Buffaloes improve on their three total wins from 2025.

Houston: Conner Weigman

After three years as a backup at Texas A&M, Weigman finally got the chance to start at Houston last year, and he took advantage of it. Weigman produced over 2,700 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in his first year as a starter, showing why he was a five-star recruit years ago. He enters the season as one of the more under-the-radar quarterbacks in the country.

Iowa State: Jaylen Raynor

Iowa State is in a new era with Matt Campbell and Rocco Becht off to Penn State, and that includes bringing in Raynor from Arkansas State. Raynor has plenty of experience, as he's played in 37 games and led the Sun Belt in passing attempts in both 2024 and 2025, which included leading the conference in passing yards last year.

Kansas: Isaiah Marshall

Marshall beat out Cole Ballard for the starting job, taking over in his sophomore season. Last year, Marshall played in nine games for the Jayhawks, but that was mainly as a rushing option, as he had 15 rushing attempts to three passing attempts on the year. Kansas is hopeful that Marshall has developed enough as a passer to present a true dual-threat ability.

Kansas State: Avery Johnson

Johnson is now in his fourth season with the Wildcats, having played in 33 total games and serving as the starter since 2024. Johnson's numbers took a step down last year but showed both passing and rushing abilities while leading Kansas State to six wins. The senior should bounce back this year for Kansas State under new head coach Collin Klein, the guy who recruited him to Manhattan half a decade ago.

Oklahoma State: Drew Mestemaker

Mestemaker is a popular pick to break out on the national stage as he enters his first year with Oklahoma State. Last season, Mestemaker threw for over 4,300 yards, which led all of FBS, along with producing 34 touchdowns for North Texas. Mestemaker is on the NFL radar but needs to repeat his production in the Big 12 first.

TCU: Jaden Craig

TCU needed to find someone to replace Josh Hoover, so Sonny Dykes went with Harvard transfer Jaden Craig. The senior played in 28 games across three seasons for the Crimson, totaling over 2,400 yards and at least 23 passing touchdowns in each of the last two years. Like many quarterbacks on this list, Craig will need to perform against better competition this year.

Texas Tech: Will Hammond

Texas Tech expected Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby to be its starter, but Sorsby's gambling scandal means he is no longer with the team. Instead, the Red Raiders will turn to Will Hammond, who served as the team's backup in each of the last two years. Hammond does have over 1,000 career passing yards and nine touchdowns but limited starting experience.

UCF: Alonza Barnett II

Barnett joins UCF following four seasons at James Madison, the last two of which were as the team's starter. Barnett combined for over 5,400 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns in the last two years, along with over 1,000 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. He is an explosive dual-threat athlete who will give the Knights a highlight-reel offense.

Utah: Devon Dampier

Dampier transferred to Utah from New Mexico before the 2025 season, and his first year with the Utes went incredibly well. He totaled over 2,400 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 835 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns as one of the conference's most exciting players. The talent is there for Dampier to reach the national conversation.

West Virginia: Michael Hawkins Jr.

Hawkins Jr. joins West Virginia from Oklahoma, where he was a backup for two years and primarily a running quarterback. Now, the junior will have a chance to prove he can produce through the air as well, but there could be a rocky road to that point. If Hawkins Jr. hits, though, he will provide excitement for the Mountaineers.

ACC (and Notre Dame)

Boston College: Mason McKenzie

McKenzie is making one of the biggest jumps in competition of any transfer, coming over to Boston College from Division II Saginaw Valley. McKenzie surpassed 2,000 passing yards in each of the last two seasons and had 27 total touchdowns in 2025, but also struggled with turnovers on the season. He could start slow as he acclimates to the ACC.

California: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele

Sagapolutele was one of the country's most impressive true freshman in 2025, producing over 3,400 passing yards and 18 touchdowns for the Golden Bears. The lefty quarterback is already on the NFL's radar, especially considering he is still just 20 years-old. The upside is sky high, which includes being a potential darkhorse Heisman Trophy candidate.

Clemson: Christopher Vizzina

In classic Clemson fashion, Dabo Swinney stayed in-house by promoting Vizzina to replace Cade Klubnik. Vizzina has been the Tigers' backup for the past three year, attempting just 105 passes since 2023, but at one point was a four-star high school recruit. Swinney is banking on program familiarity and development to overshadow Vizzina's lack of starting experience.

Duke: Walker Eget

Duke unexpectedly saw Darian Mensah transfer to Miami, losing one of the better quarterbacks in the country late in the offseason. The Blue Devils will instead go with Eget, a sixth-year player who played at San Jose State previously, as his experience had the edge over redshirt freshman Dan Mahan. Eget does have over 5,500 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns in his college career.

Florida State: Ashton Daniels

Daniels is on his third team three seasons, a sign that he hasn't quite found his footing in college. The fifth-year senior played in 33 games across three seasons for Stanford, largely as a dual-threat option at quarterback, but his 2025 year at Auburn saw him play in just four games. Florida State hopes to tap into Daniels dual-threat talent more this year.

Georgia Tech: Alberto Mendoza

The younger brother of Fernando Mendoza, Alberto spent the past two years at Indiana, including last year as Fernando's backup. Now, Mendoza gets a chance to prove he can succeed in his own right, as he joins Georgia Tech for the 2026 season. Mendoza has very limited experience, totaling just 292 passing yards in his college career so far.

Louisville: Lincoln Kienholz

Kienholz was part of the Ohio State program for the past three seasons, but he chose to transfer instead of backing up Julian Sayin again. A former four-star recruit out of high school, Kienholz has appeared in 12 college games but attempted just 36 passes in that span. He now gets his first chance at being a starting quarterback.

Miami: Darian Mensah

Miami put on a blitz to find a Carson Beck replacement after the National Championship, eventually luring Mensah to South Beach. This will be Mensah's third team in three years, as his success at Tulane in 2024 led him to Duke, where he led the ACC in passing attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2025. He has the ability to help the Hurricanes return to the biggest stage in the sport.

NC State: CJ Bailey

Bailey's first two years at NC State were solid, producing over 5,500 passing yards and 42 touchdowns combined in 2024 and 2025. Now, the junior hopes to make the next leap in his game, which would put him among the best quarterbacks in the country. He is an accurate passer, completing over 68 percent of his passes last year, but enough of a threat as a runner to be dangerous.

North Carolina: Billy Edwards Jr.

Edwards Jr. is another player on his third team, as he was a backup at Maryland for three years before transferring to Wisconsin last year. His best season remains in 2024, when he totaled over 2,800 passing yards for the Terrapins in his lone season as a starting quarterback. Edwards was supposed to start for Wisconsin in 2025, but a knee injury held him to just two games.

Notre Dame: CJ Carr

Carr took over as Notre Dame's starter to begin the 2025 season, and he performed very well for someone with no previous playing experience. He ended the season with over 2,700 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns, putting his name on the national map. Carr returns to South Bend with National Championship aspirations.

Pittsburgh: Mason Heintschel

Heintschel took over as Pitt's starter midseason last year, and he more than held his own with over 2,300 yards in 10 games. The Panthers ended the season 8-5, with six wins coming under Heintschel's control, but sputtered more against better competition. A full offseason as the starter should help Heintschel entering his sophomore season

SMU: Kevin Jennings

Jennings broke out in 2024, when he led SMU to the College Football Playoff for the first time, In the past two years, he has combined for over 6,800 passing yards with 58 total touchdowns, passing and rushing, but he led the conference in interceptions last year with 13. Jennings also had just 55 rushing yards in 2025, which was notable concidering how successful he was as a rusher the year prior. 

Stanford: Davis Warren

Warren is most known for his tenure at Michigan, where he was a backup for two years but had an underwhelming season as a starter in 2024. Warren didn't play in 2025 as he recovered from a torn ACL, but now returns to the starting spotlight with Stanford this year. He has yet to prove, though, that he can play with the best quarterbacks in the country.

Syracuse: Steve Angeli

Angeli was supposed to be Syracuse's starter in 2025, but he tore his Achilles early in the season to end his season short. The former Notre Dame backup spent three seasons in South Bend before joining the Orange, and now faces the task of returning from such a serious injury. When he was healthy last year, however, he looked good, producing 10 passing touchdowns to two interceptions in those games.

Virginia: Beau Pribula

Pribula transferred from Penn State to Missouri in 2025 after Drew Allar returned to the Nittany Lions, which allowed him to get his first starting action. However, Pribula battled injuries as he played in just 10 games for the Tigers, leading to his transfer away from the program. He now has a fresh start with the Cavaliers.

Virginia Tech: Ethan Grunkemeyer

James Franklin brought Grunkemeyer along with him from Penn State, as the two were together for the past two years. Grunkemeyer got playing time in 2025 after Drew Allar suffered a season ending injury, totaling just under 1,400 passing yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games. His familiarity with Franklin should be a benefit for the Hokies.

Wake Forrest: Gio Lopez

After two years at South Alabama, Lopez joined Bill Belichick at North Carolina for the 2025 season. That didn't go great, though, as he took a step back in every statistical category and failed to develop as a passer. Lopez hopes a fresh start with the Demon Deacons will help him return to his Sun Belt performances.