Top 10 Best Quarterbacks in College Football 2025-2026 Rankings

Ranking the best Quarterbacks in College Football for the 2025-2026 NCAA season as Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers leads the way

By Sunday Umoh | December 23, 2025

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NFL Draft 2026 Quarterback Rankings

The landscape of college football continues to evolve every season, but no position drives conversation quite like quarterback. This year’s quarterback class might be one of the deepest delivering a loaded Top 10 Best College Football Quarterbacks 2025-2026 rankings list.

Headlining the list of the best quarterbacks is the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers. The list doesn’t stop there as the game is loaded with talented quarterbacks each redefining what excellence under center looks like in college football each week.

Each year, the cycle of quarterback stardom brings new storylines: the five-star recruit living up to the hype, the transfer finding a new home, the Group of Five phenom forcing national analysts to pay attention. The 2025 season is no different. We’ve seen quarterbacks lead game-winning drives, break passing records, and showcase development that puts them on NFL radars. What sets this group apart isn’t just statistical dominance, but command—those moments in the fourth quarter where the outcome hinges on one play, and they deliver.

As all eyes are on Mendoza, the list of talented quarterbacks are deep including Deigo Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores, Julian Sayin of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Darian Mensah of the Duke Blue Devils, and Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide to name just a few. Here is a look at the Top 10 Best College Football Quarterbacks 2025-2026 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Haynes King

School: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Just missing the Top 10 Best College Football Quarterbacks 2025-2026 rankings list is the talented dual threat option of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Haynes King.

King was a driving force all season for a Yellow Jackets team that remained alive in the College Football Playoffs for most of the season and being ranked inside the AP Top 25 rankings. The talented senior capped off his final season passing for 2,697 yards to go along with 12 touchdowns to just five interceptions while also adding 922 rushing yards with 15 rushing touchdowns.

As his raw stats might fall short of some top-tier passers, his leadership and knack for keeping plays alive make him a cornerstone for Georgia Tech’s resurgence. King’s name consistently appears on NFL draft boards, and deservedly so.

Sawyer Robertson

School: Baylor Bears

Another talented quarterback falling just outside of the best quarterbacks list is the Baylor Bears senior Sawyer Robertson.

Robertson gives Baylor the kind of steady, system-friendly quarterback the Bears needed to stay competitive in the new-look Big 12 Developing from season to season, Robertson has become one of the top potential quarterbacks entering the 2026 NFL Draft while improving his all around performance each season. The Bears quarterback capped off his final season throwing for 3,681 yards with 31 touchdown passes and completing 60.4 percent of his 503 passing attempts.

Within Baylor’s offensive concepts, his ability to find outlets against pressure and keep the chains moving stands out, especially in tight fourth quarters making Robertson a threat each week.

Top 10 Best Quarterbacks in College Football 2025-2026 Rankings

10. Arch Manning

School: Texas Longhorns

Closing out the Top 10 Best College Football Quarterbacks 2025-2026 rankings list is the talented Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.

Manning, who recently announced he would be returning for another season with the Longhorns, instantly becomes a favorite for the 2026 Heisman Trophy Award. Manning’s rise from blue-chip prospect to Texas centerpiece has reshaped the Longhorns’ ceiling as they dive deeper into SEC play. His game blends the poise and processing expected from the Manning lineage through the air along with the speed and athleticism to make the big play with his feet not seen with his talented uncles.

The redshirt sophomore capped off his first full season as the starting quarterback throwing for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdowns as well as adding 244 rushing yards with eight rushing touchdowns. While his peak statistical profile still trails the elite tier, the combination of pedigree, trajectory, and big-game temperament makes him a clear top-10 presence.

9. Jake Retzlaff

School: Tulane Green Wave

A name that has gone under the radar for most of the 2025-2026 College Football season and among the quarterbacks list is Jake Retzlaff of the Tulane Green Wave.

Retzlaff has quietly pieced together one of the most efficient and productive seasons in the country at Tulane. He led the Green Wave to an 11–2 mark, completing 62.4% of his passes for 2,862 yards with 14 touchdowns against only six interceptions, while also adding 610 rushing yards and 16 scores on the ground. That dual-threat output makes him a nightmare in the red zone and on third-and-medium, where Tulane leans heavily on his legs in designed and scramble situations. Retzlaff’s ability to operate the offense at tempo, protect the football, and manufacture explosives without elite Power Five weapons earns him national respect and a deserved place in these rankings.

The big question now is can the transfer quarterback lead the Green Wave on a College Football Playoff run?

8. Joey Aguilar

School: Tennessee Volunteers

Joey Aguilar has brought fireworks to Knoxville from game one of the 2025-2026 season, translating his proven production into the SEC spotlight.

Despite making the jump from the Sun Belt to the talented SEC, Aguilar shined all season completing a career high 66.8 percent of his passes for 3,444 yards to go along with 24 passing touchdowns to 10 interceptions. In Joey Halzle offensive scheme, Aguilar thrived attacking vertically and exploiting space, showing both touch on deep shots and confidence ripping seams. His willingness to challenge tight windows can lead to turnovers, but it also fuels the explosive-play profile that keeps Tennessee in every shootout.

If he trims the interception rate, the statistical ceiling and NFL intrigue rise even higher each week while elevating him into one of the top NFL prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft.

7. CJ Carr

School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

CJ Carr has stepped into one of college football’s most scrutinized jobs and looked remarkably comfortable from day one of his freshman season.

Since joining the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Notre Dame’s offense leans on his polish: clean footwork, tight release, and a willingness to work the middle of the field with anticipation throws that resemble a seasoned veteran. Even as a young starter, Carr’s pre-snap command is evident, he diagnosed pressure looks, adjusted protections, and rarely appeared rushed in the pocket. Carr capped off a strong first season passing for 2,741 yards with 24 passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and just six interceptions while completing 66.6 percent of his passing attempts.

Despite a disappointing ending to the season, Carr’s performance is well worth the mention while also elevating his stock leading into the 2026 College Football season.

6. Byrum Brown

School: South Florida Bulls

Byrum Brown has become one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, fueling South Florida’s rise to AAC contender.

Within Alex Golesh’s offense, Brown has sharpened his timing and progressions while maintaining the dynamic open-field ability that makes him a constant headache for defensive coordinators. After an injury-filled 2024 season, Brown returned as dynamic as ever, throwing for 3,158 yards with 28 passing touchdowns to just seven interceptions.

On the ground the talented dual threat added 1,008 rushing yards with 14 rushing touchdowns. His passing numbers show a steady production, but the real value lies in how his legs change the math for defenses, zone reads, QB draws, and off-script scrambles routinely flip field position.

5. Ty Simpson

School: Alabama Crimson Tide

Rounding out the Top 5 quarterbacks on the Top 10 Best Quarterbacks 2025-2026 rankings list is the Alabama Crimson Tide star Ty Simpson.

Simpson, who played at a Heisman level all season, capped off his first full season as the Crimson Tide quarterback posting a big season. Under Kalen DeBoer, Simpson’s arm talent is on full display in a system built around layered route concepts and deep play-action shots. He’s cut down on earlier-career inconsistency, lifting his completion percentage and yards per attempt while maintaining the ability to attack every quadrant of the field.

Simpson finished the season passing for 3,268 yards while completing 64.3 percent of his passes to go along with 26 passing touchdowns and just five interceptions. Playing against some of the top talent in college football, Simpson showcased his potential as a potential top tier prospect for the NFL.

4. Darian Mensah

School: Duke Blue Devils

One name to learn entering the next College Football season is the Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah.

Mensah, who transferred in from the Tulane Green Wave, did not disappoint in his first season with the Blue Devils. The talented sophomore completed a career high 67.9 percent of his passes for 3,646 yards with 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. A gifted athlete with a live arm, Mensah stresses defenses both horizontally and vertically, hitting deep posts and go routes while also punishing man coverage with scrambles and designed QB runs.

As his pocket discipline has improved, so have his efficiency metrics, with a rising completion percentage and more consistent success on early downs. Duke’s offensive structure gives him freedom to improvise, and he’s rewarded that trust with a strong total touchdown count and a highlight reel full of high-degree-of-difficulty plays. Mensah now looks like one of the most complete playmakers in the country.

3. Julian Sayin

School: Ohio State Buckeyes

Entering the final week of the regular season and Conference Championships, the race for the Heisman Trophy was down to three top tier quarterbacks including Julian Sayin.

Sayin, who led the Ohio State Buckeyes to another strong run to the Big Ten Championship Game, however came up just short both in the Championship and in the Heisman race. Nonetheless, the Buckeyes’ nearly undefeated or near-undefeated profile in 2025 is tightly linked to Sayin’s growth during his first full season. Sayin completed the season completing a staggering 78.4 percent of his passes for 3,323 yards with 31 touchdown passes to just six interceptions.

His strengths are exactly what Ohio State’s scheme demands: rapid processing, a quick and compact release, and elite anticipation on in-breaking routes and vertical shots. Expectations continue to remain high as Sayin looks to lead the Buckeyes on a deep playoff run during the College Football Playoffs.

2. Diego Pavia

School: Vanderbilt Commodores

Diego Pavia has authored one of the great transformation stories of the 2025 season, dragging Vanderbilt from SEC afterthought into genuine problem status within the league.

The former New Mexico State star brought his edge and improvisational brilliance to Nashville, and the Commodores’ offense has followed his lead. Pavia’s stat line reflects a true dual-threat: strong passing production complemented by significant rushing value. Pavia, who some had considered as the potential Heisman Trophy winner, finished off his final season throwing for 3,192 yards and rushing for 826 yards. In addition the Commodores quarterback threw for 27 touchdowns to just eight interceptions while also adding nine rushing touchdowns including six straight games to end the season with a rushing touchdown.

His fearlessness, willing to attack tight coverage, extend plays deep into the down, and absorb hits—sets the tone for a program that now believes it can punch above its weight every Saturday. In terms of pure value to team success, few in the country can match him.

1. Fernando Mendoza

School: Indiana Hoosiers

Ultimately landing at number one on the Top 10 Best College Football Quarterbacks 2025-2026 Rankings is the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

Mendoza capped off a brilliant season leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated regular season and the Big Ten Championship over the Ohio State Buckeyes. Mendoza, who is expected by many to be the top overall pick during the 2026 NFL Draft finished off his only season with the Hoosiers throwing for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and just six interceptions. The talented quarterback who has a big arm also was strong with his feet when needed, adding six rushing touchdowns.

That blend of accuracy, explosiveness (9.4 yards per attempt), and ball security has powered one of the top offenses in the country all season. Now the talented quarterback has a chance to lead the Hoosiers to the National Championship with a deep College Football Playoff run.

How would you rank the Best College Football Quarterbacks in the 2025-2026 season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings

Sunday Umoh

Sunday Umoh is the visionary founder and CEO of Fan Rankings LLC, a platform that merges sports passion with technology to create an engaging and interactive space for fans worldwide. With a background in Information Science and Systems and experience as a Software Engineer, Umoh has built a brand that blends analytical insights with emotional connection, offering unique coverage of Football, Basketball, MMA, and Boxing. A graduate of Morgan State University and a former collegiate Track and Field athlete, Umoh previously gained attention for his impactful Washington Wizards blog, fireerniegrunfeld.com. His journey exemplifies how technology can amplify sports fandom, with Fan Rankings setting a new standard in sports media, providing a community for fans to connect, debate, and celebrate their favorite teams and athletes.

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