Where Power 4 teams stand at quarterback heading into transfer portal season
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Antonio Morales
The transfer portal opens on Friday, and each Power 4 program enters the window with varying degrees of need at quarterback.
The transfer portal opens on Friday, and each Power 4 program enters the window with varying degrees of need at quarterback. Some need an immediate starter. Some need to find competition for an unproven starter. Some need depth. And some don’t need to dip into the portal at all.
Let’s take a tour around the nation to see where each team stands.
ACC
Boston College: The Golden Eagles just went 2-10 and will reset at QB. Grayson James has no eligibility remaining, and Dylan Lonergan is headed to the portal. BC’s staff needs to bring in someone it can trust to provide some stability at the position.
Cal: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele had a very promising true freshman campaign (3,453 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, nine interceptions) and announced his return to the school for 2026 — a major victory for new head coach Tosh Lupoi.
Clemson: Redshirt sophomore Christopher Vizzina is in line to start — unless coach Dabo Swinney shockingly decides to bring in a transfer.
Duke: Redshirt sophomore Darian Mensah led Duke to an ACC championship after transferring from Tulane last offseason. He will return to school for 2026 and should be one of the sport’s top QBs.
Florida State: Coach Mike Norvell has a 7-17 record over the past two seasons, so he has to operate with urgency. Starter Tommy Castellanos is declaring for the NFL Draft, which means the Seminoles will likely target an experienced starter in the portal.
Georgia Tech: Starter Haynes King is out of eligibility, backup Aaron Philo is transferring and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner left for Florida. Redshirt freshman Graham Knowles could be an option, but it’s probably best for the Yellow Jackets to bring in a proven veteran.
Louisville: Jeff Brohm has a good track record with quarterbacks, and he’s started a transfer in each of his three seasons at his alma mater. Expect Louisville to dip back into the portal for its 2026 starter.
Miami: The Hurricanes have lived in the portal QB market the past two years (Cam Ward and Carson Beck), and they figure to be a major player in that space again in the coming weeks.
NC State: Retention will be paramount for the Wolfpack, who hope to bring back CJ Bailey for his third season.
North Carolina: This will be an interesting situation. It looks like Bobby Petrino will take over the Tar Heels offense. He has no ties to redshirt sophomore starter Gio Lopez or incoming freshman Travis Burgess. The Heels have already lost some depth at the position, so expect them to be active in the portal. We’ll have to see whether that’s to provide depth or to have someone compete for the starting role.
Pittsburgh: Mason Heintschel was a revelation as a true freshman and, barring something unexpected, will be the starter in 2026.
SMU: Kevin Jennings, the starter for the past two years, will return in 2026 for his final season of eligibility. Jennings led SMU to the College Football Playoff in 2024 and will try to help the Mustangs win their first ACC championship after coming up just short the past two seasons.
Stanford: Former Cardinal quarterback Tavita Pritchard takes over as head coach and has to thoroughly evaluate the position. Redshirt freshman Elijah Brown has the most experience on the roster and incoming freshman Michael Mitchell Jr. is intriguing, but the best route is probably to bring in someone more proven.
Syracuse: Steve Angeli played really well until a torn Achilles cut his season short in late September. He’ll be the starter when healthy, but the Orange will need to bring in more quality depth via the portal.
Virginia: Redshirt senior Chandler Morris, who led the Cavaliers to the ACC Championship Game, applied for a waiver for a seventh season and is awaiting word from the NCAA. The program is confident it will get a favorable decision but must plan for all scenarios.
Virginia Tech: James Franklin is in charge of the program, and multi-year starter Kyron Drones is gone. The Hokies will be starting over in many ways, including at quarterback.
Wake Forest: Deshawn Purdie served as the backup to redshirt senior starter Robby Ashford this season. The Demon Deacons can roll with him or add a transfer to breathe some more life into an offense that ranked 73rd nationally in scoring (26.8 ppg).
Big 12
Arizona: There had been some concern about Noah Fifita transferring the past two offseasons, but he’s still in Tucson. The Southern California native enjoyed a bounce-back 2025 season and, unless there’s a surprise, should be Arizona’s starter in 2026 for his final year.
Arizona State: The Sun Devils have an opening with Sam Leavitt’s impending departure. With Kenny Dillingham’s reputation as a QB whisperer, Arizona State projects to be a solid landing spot for a transfer this offseason. Incoming freshman Jake Fette, a fringe top-100 prospect, is also arriving soon.
BYU: True freshman Bear Bachmeier won 12 games in his debut season and is entrenched as the starter.
Baylor: Sawyer Robertson has no eligibility left, and coach Dave Aranda is on the hot seat. It would make sense for the Bears to bring in a transfer with some experience.
Cincinnati: Brendan Sorsby is transferring, leaving a pretty big vacancy here. Samaj Jones was a blue-chip prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle but has played in one game in two seasons. Will he get his turn, or will the staff look toward the portal?
Colorado: Julian Lewis should be the primary contender to start next season after he displayed some promising flashes as a true freshman. The Buffaloes need to improve the situation around him, though.
Houston: Conner Weigman passed for 2,711 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading the Cougars to 10 wins in his first season at Houston. He’ll start next year — his final season of eligibility — while incoming five-star freshman Keisean Henderson waits in the wings.
Iowa State: New coach Jimmy Rogers has some work to do. Starter Rocco Becht entered the portal, as did true freshman Alex Manske, a former four-star recruit. Connor Moberly, who will be a third-year sophomore in 2026, has thrown 12 passes in two years. The new staff will need to add talent and depth to this group.
Kansas: With Jalon Daniels out of eligibility, it figures to be a battle between rising junior Cole Ballard and rising sophomore Isaiah Marshall. Ballard, who has attempted 64 passes in his career, is more experienced.
Kansas State: New coach Collin Klein recruited Avery Johnson, a junior, to Kansas State when he was an assistant on Chris Klieman’s staff. Now, Johnson, a two-year starter, is slated to be Klein’s QB as he takes over at his alma mater.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys have one of the best QB evaluators in the country in new head coach Eric Morris. Will Drew Mestemaker, who starred for Morris at North Texas, follow his coach to Stillwater? It’s possible, but Mestemaker will have a ton of options. Cowboys fans should feel confident in whoever Morris settles on at QB, though.
TCU: Josh Hoover, who has been TCU’s starter since midway through the 2023 season, is set to enter the portal. It’s probably too early to turn to 2025 blue-chip signee Adam Schobel, so the Horned Frogs will likely be in the mix for an experienced transfer.
Texas Tech: With Behren Morton out of eligibility and redshirt freshman Will Hammond recovering from an ACL tear, the Red Raiders will be a prominent program in the transfer market. Brendan Sorsby, a Texas native who is leaving Cincinnati, is a logical fit.
UCF: Tayven Jackson was the primary starter this season but is expected to transfer. Rising senior Jacurri Brown and rising sophomore Davi Belfort are two in-house options, but a transfer would make sense for the Knights, who need more dynamic playmakers on offense.
Utah: If offensive coordinator Jason Beck follows Kyle Whittingham to Michigan, the future seems uncertain here. Junior Devon Dampier has started for Beck the past two seasons (first at New Mexico, then Utah). Freshman Byrd Ficklin is a talented player and a good fallback plan should anything unexpected happen with Dampier.
West Virginia: It was a slog all season for the Mountaineers ‘ offense. Three quarterbacks attempted more than 30 passes, and none of them fared that well, so adding a fresh face through the portal would probably be for the best.
Big Ten
Illinois: Bret Bielema’s best seasons with the Fighting Illini have come with transfer quarterbacks (Tommy DeVito and Luke Altmyer). Even though there might be some contenders on the roster — such as rising senior Ethan Hampton and Carson Boyd, who redshirted in 2025 — it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Illinois dip into the portal to find a starter once again.
Indiana: With Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza likely off to the NFL, the Hoosiers are all but certain to head to the portal once again. There seems to be a lot of buzz about a potential reunion between one-time Indiana commit and TCU transfer Josh Hoover, who is one of the top options in the market.
Iowa: It seems like the Hawkeyes like what they have on the roster, so it might be shaping up to be a competition between rising sophomore Jeremy Hecklinski and rising junior Hank Brown for the starting role next year.
Maryland: Malik Washington will return for his sophomore season and should be the face of the program in 2026.
Michigan State: Alessio Milivojevic, a redshirt freshman in 2025, played well down the stretch and could be a good piece for Pat Fitzgerald to build around on offense.
Michigan:Kyle Whittingham said Bryce Underwood has the “it” factor and believes the offense he’s bringing in will suit the former five-star quarterback “to a tee.” It’s clear how much Michigan’s new coach is prioritizing Underwood.
Minnesota: Drake Lindsey had a solid first season as the Golden Gophers’ starter and should hold that role again in 2026 as a third-year sophomore.
Nebraska: Dylan Raiola left the program, so coach Matt Rhule has to search for a new quarterback. TJ Lateef gained some valuable experience as a true freshman, but he probably isn’t ready for the full-time starting role yet.
Northwestern: Preston Stone has exhausted his eligibility. Ryan Boe, a sophomore in 2026, is the only other QB who attempted a pass this season. So the Wildcats figure to dip into the portal once again.
Ohio State: Julian Sayin, a redshirt freshman, led the Buckeyes to the Playoff and was a Heisman Trophy finalist in his first season as the starter. He’ll be one of the favorites for the award in 2026.
Penn State: This is Matt Campbell’s program now, and there is no clear answer at quarterback currently on the roster. Will Iowa State transfer Rocco Becht join Campbell in Happy Valley?
Purdue: Ryan Browne was the Boilermakers’ primary starter as a sophomore this season and figures to be QB1 in 2026 unless the staff looks for another option in the portal.
Rutgers: With Athan Kaliakmanis out of eligibility, it looks like AJ Surace, who has a couple of seasons in the program, could be the frontrunner among in-house options. But don’t rule out the Scarlet Knights adding a transfer to compete for the starting role.
UCLA: Nico Iamaleava announced that he will return in 2026 and will be a key building block for new coach Bob Chesney. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
USC: Jayden Maiava will return to USC in 2026 and figures to be one of the most productive QBs in college football as he enters his third season with coach Lincoln Riley. The real intrigue lies with the future of Husan Longstreet, who was a five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle but has no clear path to playing time in the short term.
Washington: Demond Williams Jr. was solid in his first full season as the starter and should take another step forward as a junior under coach Jedd Fisch in 2026.
Wisconsin: The Badgers have had one of the worst passing offenses in the country over the past two seasons and need to add an experienced veteran through the portal. Carter Smith, a four-star prospect in the Class of 2025, started the final three games of his freshman season and is expected to return.
Independent
Notre Dame: CJ Carr gives the Fighting Irish a strong starting quarterback, but the Irish’s depth took a hit with the loss of Steve Angeli last year and the expected loss of Kenny Minchey during the January window. So, is it possible Notre Dame adds more experience through the portal?
SEC
Alabama: Ty Simpson could come back for his final season of eligibility. If he does, he’s the guy. If not, it could be Keelon Russell’s time to shine. Russell was the No. 2 overall player and a five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle.
Arkansas: KJ Jackson received extensive snaps in the final two games of his redshirt freshman season, which will provide some game tape for new coach Ryan Silverfield to evaluate. Even if Jackson proves to be the answer, it wouldn’t hurt to bring in some competition.
Auburn: Will new coach Alex Golesh bring Byrum Brown from USF? That seems like the most sensible plan, but would Deuce Knight, a former five-star prospect who played in two games in 2025, want to wait another season before receiving a starting opportunity?
Florida: The Gators will have a new quarterback with DJ Lagway on the move. Does Tramell Jones Jr. have a chance to take over the starting role as a redshirt freshman? Is Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo a candidate to follow offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to Gainesville? This will be one of the more interesting programs to watch in the next few weeks.
Georgia: Redshirt junior Gunner Stockton will return for another season after leading the Bulldogs to an SEC title this year.
Kentucky: Cutter Boley, a redshirt sophomore in 2025, did some good things after taking over as the starter in late September. New coach Will Stein could be a boost for his development if Stein opts to bypass the transfer market and stick with Boley as QB1 for 2026.
LSU: Lane Kiffin makes the Tigers an attractive option for any available transfer, and he should be able to land one of the best players at the position.
Mississippi State: Kamario Taylor has the potential to be a special player for the Bulldogs, and it’ll be his job as a sophomore in 2026. Mississippi State will have to add some depth, though.
Missouri: Freshman Matt Zollers gained valuable experience in 2025, but was it good enough to make him the unquestioned starter? Probably not. He didn’t pass for more than 140 yards in any game and really struggled in the Gator Bowl loss to Virginia. So the Tigers should probably try to add a transfer to throw into the mix.
Oklahoma: John Mateer did not play well enough to leave for the NFL and wasn’t healthy for most of the season, so he’s expected to be the starter in 2026. Incoming freshman Bowe Bentley is an intriguing long-term option who will arrive on campus soon.
Ole Miss: Everyone is waiting on word from the NCAA regarding Trinidad Chambliss’ waiver for an additional season of eligibility. Once that is decided, a lot of dominoes will fall in Oxford and potentially elsewhere.
Tennessee: Incoming five-star freshman Faizon Brandon is the future of the position, but Tennessee might need to find a veteran starter for the 2026 season — and that could be Joey Aguilar, who is trying to gain another year of eligibility.
Texas A&M: Even though Marcel Reed didn’t have the most inspiring end to the season, he’s in line to be the starter once again as a fourth-year junior.
Texas: We’re headed into Season 2 of the Arch Manning Show, though incoming freshman Dia Bell’s development will be worth watching.
Vanderbilt: It’s difficult to imagine incoming five-star freshman Jared Curtis signed with the Commodores without an indication he’d be the starter in 2026. Vanderbilt might need to add an older player through the portal for depth.