2026 College Football QB Tiers: Arch Manning, Dante Moore Head Top Prospects

College football's 2026 quarterback class is shaping up to be a star-studded group headlined by several recognizable names at big brand schools. Dante Moore ( Oregon ) and Arch Manning ( Texas ) top the list as players who were draft-eligible but chose to return for another season. Heisman contention and College Football Playoff victories are where the expectations start for those two.

While Moore, Manning and a handful of their peers are obvious Heisman candidates, there are a multitude of other tiers. As the countdown to a new season continues, we are analyzing the entire Power Four landscape and categorizing each projected QB starter.

Not every quarterback battle is finished, and some players could fit into multiple categories. But we are taking our best guess on who will emerge from ongoing competitions and categorizing each QB based on where they fit best.

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Inevitably, there will be surprises. Trinidad Chambliss would not have appeared on this list a year ago because Austin Simmons entered the 2025 season as the Ole Miss starter. Now, Chambliss is a legitimate Heisman contender who just led the Rebels to their greatest season in modern history.

Similarly, 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza likely would not have been considered an "obvious Heisman candidates" entering the 2025 season, yet he hoisted the trophy at season's end. You never know where this sport's next star will come from, which is part of college football's allure.

Without further ado, here are the 2026 Power Four quarterback tiers.

Obvious Heisman Candidates

These quarterbacks are the cream of the crop entering the 2026 college football season. Each of them are proven stars leading the charge for programs that expect to be in the College Football Playoff.

1. Dante Moore, Oregon

Moore turned down a chance to be one of the top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to run it back with Oregon. With some better health for the Ducks' pass-catchers, he will likely surpass last year's totals of 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns.

2. Arch Manning, Texas

With targets like Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo in the fold and left tackle Trevor Goosby spurning the NFL Draft, Manning has the supporting cast required to lead Texas back to the CFP and play himself into Heisman contention.

3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

The NCAA denied Chambliss a medical redshirt season dating back to his time at Division II Ferris State. But it couldn't win in court, paving the way for Chambliss to make a Heisman charge one year after leading Ole Miss to its greatest season in program history.

4. Darian Mensah, Miami (via Duke)

Mensah finished second in the FBS and first among Power Four quarterbacks with 3,973 passing yards last season at Duke . Now at Miami , he'll have stud sophomore receiver Malachi Toney in his arsenal as well as fellow Duke transfer Cooper Barkate , who finished second in the ACC behind Toney in receiving yards last season with 1,106.

5. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

Uninspiring performances in postseason losses to Indiana and Miami brought a sour end to Sayin's otherwise spectacular redshirt freshman season. The nation's leader in completion percentage is now a veteran with elite skill talent who will be playing behind an experienced offensive line.

6. C.J. Carr, Notre Dame

Carr had not attempted a pass before last season, but he played like a seasoned veteran in his redshirt freshman season. He enters 2026 even with Manning as the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. With a revamped running back room and an upscale receiving corps, expect the Fighting Irish to rely more on their rising star QB.

7. Jayden Maiava, USC

Is he a quarterback? Yes. Does he play for Lincoln Riley? Yes. Therefore, whatever you think of USC as a team, Maiava is a Heisman contender. After he threw for 3,711 yards last season, it would be silly to suggest otherwise.

8. Josh Hoover, Indiana (via TCU)

Indiana's last transfer quarterback went from good to great once he joined the Hoosiers. Following in Fernando Mendoza's footsteps is a tall task, but Hoover is the active passing yards leader in FBS. Don't sleep on him.

All-conference caliber vets

This group comes in just a tick below the tier of obvious Heisman contenders. They are proven, high-quality players with realistic aspirations of all-conference recognition and perhaps even invitations to New York for the Heisman ceremony.

1. Gunner Stockton, Georgia

Last season, Stockton put questions around his viability as a high-level starter by taking the reins and leading Georgia to an SEC title. Whether he's good enough to lead the Bulldogs to a national title is the next question.

2. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Reed is capable of flexing up into the Heisman contender tier if he cuts back on turnovers and continues to improve his efficiency as a passer. But in 2025, he ranked last among Heisman contenders in EPA per dropback. He's a good freelancer, but he's not quite a Johnny Manziel-level playmaker.

3. Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech (via Cincinnati)

A district court judge in Texas issued a temporary injunction in Sorsby's favor on June 8 , clearing a path for him to play for the Red Raiders in 2026. The Cincinnati transfer was previously ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA for allegedly gambling on games involving his team while at Indiana. He should be one of the Big 12's top QBs.

4. CJ Bailey, NC State

Retaining Bailey for 2026 was a huge win for NC State . At 6-foot-6 and with a strong arm, he would have been in high demand as a transfer. He has the attention of NFL scouts and could go off the board early in the 2027 draft if he can follow up last year's strong sophomore campaign.

5. Noah Fifita, Arizona

Few quarterbacks of Fifita's caliber would have stayed loyal to Arizona through a coaching change. But even after Brent Brennan's first season in 2024 went poorly, Fifita hung around and got the Wildcats back on track last season. As he enters his final season, he's tracking to leave Tucson as one of the most decorated players in program history.

6. Kevin Jennings, SMU

Jennings is in line to become SMU's all-time leader in a slew of categories this season. The redshirt senior has already guided the Mustangs to a CFP appearance (2024) and could do it again this season. A reduction in interceptions is tops on the to-do list if Jennings wants to be considered one of the nation's best QBs.

7. Demond Williams, Washington

Williams called an audible and returned to Washington after announcing he would enter the transfer portal. It didn't reflect well on Williams, who had already signed a deal with UW. But the situation got resolved, and he's talented enough to earn the forgiveness of any Huskies fans who may still be disgruntled over the ordeal.

8. Conner Weigman, Houston

Weigman finally found his niche at Houston last season after three tumultuous seasons at Texas A&M . He was one of only four quarterbacks in the country to throw for 25 touchdowns and run for 10 more as he guided the Cougars to a 10-3 mark in Willie Fritz's second season.

Proven and predictable

You know what you are going to get from this group. Expectations aren't through the roof, but they are veterans with relatively high floors who know the terrain.

1. Devon Dampier, Utah

Dampier is established as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country after totaling 29 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards on the ground over his past two seasons. He will be adapting to new offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven after Jason Beck left to follow Kyle Whittingham to Michigan .

2. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA

Iamaleava's career hasn't gone as scripted and is still defined by an acrimonious split with Tennessee . The arrival of Bob Chesney at UCLA gives Iamaleava a needed fresh start after he soldiered through a dismal 3-9 season with the Bruins in 2025, just one year after helping the Volunteers reach the CFP.

3. Drake Lindsey, Minnesota

Lindsey did an adequate job while stepping into the starting role as a redshirt freshman, especially when you consider that Minnesota's signature rushing attack was down again. If the Gophers give him some help on the ground, it could free Lindsey up to take a leap in 2026.

4. Avery Johnson, Kansas State

Illusions of a junior year jump for Johnson fizzled amid a frustrating season for the Wildcats. Now, he reunites with former Kansas State offensive coordinator Collin Klein, who is back to provide Johnson with a fresh slate in his final season of eligibility.

5. Beau Pribula, Virginia (via Missouri)

Moving from Missouri to Virginia shouldn't bring much volatility in Pribula's game. He proved himself a solid player but not a star with the Tigers last season, and it would be a surprise if he deviated too far in either direction with the Cavaliers.

6. Ryan Browne, Purdue

You don't often see teams run it back with the same quarterback after a 2-10 season, especially when that quarterback signed under a prior coaching regime. But Purdue didn't sign a transfer QB, and Browne didn't leave. Second-year coach Barry Odom is apparently a huge believer in Brown's potential.

Internal promotions

Patience paid off. These players did not transfer and are now in line to earn starting jobs after they spent most or all of the 2025 season as reserves.

1. Chris Vizzina, Clemson

After sitting behind Cade Klubnik for three seasons, Vizzina gets his crack at the starting job. A four-star prospect from the Class of 2023, he's attempted 105 passes in reserve duty over the years.

2. KJ Jackson, Arkansas

Jackson did enough in limited action as a redshirt freshman last season to inspire some confidence. But as the Ryan Silverfield regime begins, it starts without a proven quarterback in the fold.

3. Alessio Milivojevic, Michigan State

After an encouraging four-game starting stint to cap the 2025 season, Milivojevic has some reps. But it wasn't a huge body of work, so we'll call him an internal promotion. With the Spartans rebooting under Pat Fitzgerald and new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, there is still plenty that's unknown about how this will go.

4. Cole Ballard, Kansas

Ballard is entering his fourth season in the program with 64 career pass attempts. He must beat out Isaiah Marshall , who is a fleet-footed redshirt sophomore. Regardless of who wins the battle, the Jayhawks will rely on an unproven internal option as they seek a return to bowl eligibility after consecutive 5-7 seasons.

5. Jeremy Hecklinski, Iowa

Whether it's Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown , the Hawkeyes are leaning into the unknown at a position that always seems to give them trouble. The last time an Iowa QB threw for 2,000 yards in a season was 2019. That streak might continue through 2026.

Sophomore stars (5)

A strong class of true freshman quarterbacks from 2025 is now a year older. Are sophomore slumps coming, or will this group take another big step toward college football stardom?

1. Bear Bachmeier, BYU

Bachmeier was a revelation in 2025, leading BYU to a 12-2 season after entering as a three-star true freshman. The dual-threat dynamo is only a sophomore, but he's on track to become a legend at a program that has seen its share of great quarterbacks.

2. Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele, Cal

The retention of Keawe-Sagapolutele amid the coaching transition from Justin Wilcox to Tosh Lupoi marked a huge win for the Bears. The lefty gunslinger is a rare talent capable of helping the Bears' new regime get off to a strong start.

3. Bryce Underwood, Michigan

Underwood's potential fit within new Michigan offensive coordinator Jason Beck's power spread scheme is a significant Big Ten plot line. But he's got the dual-threat chops to thrive. The Wolverines also bring ba

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-qb-tiers-arch-manning-dante-moore/)._