Quarterbacks inspire confidence. If you have a good or great signal caller on your side, you’re going to feel pretty good about your chances every time your favorite team takes the field. That feeling is only amplified when the postseason rolls around.

So as we embark on the 2025 College Football Playoff, we’re examining the quarterbacks who have led their programs to the field and ranking them from 12th to first.

12. Alonza Barnett III, James Madison

2025 stat line: 2,533 passing yards, 21 touchdown passes, eight interceptions, 544 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns

Barnett played against one Power 4 program this season, and it was ugly. He completed 15 of his 25 passes for just 102 yards against Louisville and was sacked four times, which contributed to his minus-23 rushing total that night. Barnett also fumbled in the end zone, which the Cardinals recovered for a touchdown.

To be fair, JMU (12-1) used a junky QB rotation in that game, but Louisville went 8-4 this season and was a middle-of-the-road ACC team. What will happen when he faces Oregon’s defense in the first round?

Some might try to make an argument that Barnett should be a spot or two higher, but we’ve seen everyone else on the list have success against Power-conference programs this season. The jury is still out on whether he can.

He possessed a 15.8 off-target pass percentage mark, which ranked 11th highest nationally among QBs with at least 250 attempts.

11. John Mateer, Oklahoma

2025 stat line: 2,578 passing yards, 12 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions, 416 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns

Does Mateer have the potential to rank higher than this? Yes. We’re looking at these players in their current state, though, and Mateer hasn’t looked the same since he suffered a thumb injury on his throwing hand against Auburn on Sept. 20.

In the seven games since coming back from surgery, Mateer has thrown just six touchdowns and seven interceptions. Oklahoma’s offense hasn’t reached the end zone more than twice in a game since Oct. 25 against Ole Miss.

Mateer is still a work in progress as a passer, which was the case when he transferred into the program. In games against FBS competition, Mateer has nine touchdown passes and nine interceptions. His running hasn’t been as dynamic against SEC competition this year.

Oklahoma (10-2) has stayed afloat because of big plays and its excellent defense, but it needs Mateer to be a lot better if it wants to make a deep run this postseason.

Brent Venables when asked why John Mateer wasn’t wearing tape on his hand at practice this week:

“He still has some soreness, so he’s not pain free… From a stability standpoint, he’s better than he’s been gripping the ball.” #Sooners

— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) December 17, 2025

10. Jake Retzlaff, Tulane

2025 stat line: 2,862 passing yards, 14 touchdown passes, six interceptions, 610 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns

Retzlaff joined Tulane’s program right before training camp after a controversial exit from BYU. The Green Wave had a major question mark at quarterback after Darian Mensah transferred to Duke last offseason.

Retzlaff settled the problem for Tulane (11-2). The Green Wave’s passing game isn’t prolific by any means. Retzlaff passed for more than 250 yards just four times in 13 games, but the rushing element has helped him make up for it.

He delivered strong performances in some of Tulane’s biggest games. Retzlaff went over 100 yards passing and rushing to open the season against Northwestern. He passed for 245 yards and rushed for 111 yards and four touchdowns against eventual ACC champion Duke. He passed for 332 yards, rushed for 43 more and accounted for four touchdowns against Memphis.

The thing is, Retzlaff had his worst game of the season against Ole Miss in a 45-10 loss back in September. He completed just 5 of 17 passes for 56 yards and rushed eight times for 51 yards. It can’t be that bad this time around, but chances are it might not be a lot better.

9. Behren Morton, Texas Tech

2025 stat line: 2,643 passing yards, 22 touchdown passes, four interceptions

The Red Raiders (12-1) possess an elite defense that should be strong enough to keep them in any game during the Playoff. Texas Tech has surrendered more than 21 points just once this season (in a 26-22 loss to Arizona State).

The major question will be Morton. He has dealt with a lower-leg injury this season, which forced him to miss two games (the loss to ASU and a blowout win against Oklahoma State). He also took a nasty hit against Utah, which forced him to miss time in that game as well.

Also, BYU is the best defense Texas Tech and Morton have faced this season. The Cougars rank 35th nationally in yards per play allowed and 20th in scoring. Oregon, which is likely to face the Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl, and all three of Texas Tech’s potential semifinal opponents are rated higher in both categories.

How will Morton hold up physically, and how will he play against some of the best defenses he’ll see all year? The Red Raiders’ national championship hopes will likely ride on those answers.

8. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

2025 stat line: 2,932 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions, 466 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns

Reed took a step forward as a passer this year and helped turn the Aggies (11-1) into a top-25 offense in terms of scoring and yards per play.

His stats weren’t as impressive against power-conference opponents (including Notre Dame): Just 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

He’s a dangerous runner, but teams will force Reed to beat them through the air. It remains to be seen whether he can do that against elite competition, which Texas A&M hasn’t seen a lot of this season, in four consecutive games.

7. Ty Simpson, Alabama

2025 stat line: 3,268 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes, five interceptions

Simpson started well this season, his first as the Crimson Tide’s starter, but he and Alabama’s offense have hit a rough patch during the last month of the season.

It did just enough to get by Auburn, even though Simpson was limited to a season-low 122 passing yards. And the passing attack struggled mightily against Georgia in a 28-7 loss in the SEC title game

Simpson has thrown four of his five interceptions in the final four games of the season. Alabama has one of the worst rushing attacks in the country (3.56 yards per rush, 120th nationally). The Crimson Tide are struggling to protect Simpson, who was sacked 10 times across Alabama’s final three SEC games.

Simpson and Alabama (10-3) have hit a major wall lately, and the road ahead doesn’t get any easier against a stout Oklahoma defense on the road.

6. Carson Beck, Miami

2025 stat line: 3,072 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions

It was a bounce-back year for Beck, who will be starting a CFP game for the first time in his career. He missed Georgia’s playoff game last season because of an elbow injury.

Miami (10-2) has a good offensive line, but its run game isn’t dynamic. The Hurricanes average 4.19 yards per rush, which ranks 80th among all FBS schools.

A lot will be placed on Beck’s shoulders. In Miami’s losses, the turnover issues that plagued Beck last year at Georgia popped up again. He threw four interceptions in a three-point loss to Louisville and two more picks in an overtime loss to SMU.

Playing clean, mistake-free football will be paramount for Beck and Miami as it faces Texas A&M in the first round.

5. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

2025 stat line: 3,016 passing yards, 18 touchdown passes, three interceptions, 470 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns

An ankle injury to starter Austin Simmons after two games opened the door for Chambliss’ stunning emergence. The Division II Ferris State transfer has played incredibly for Ole Miss (11-1) in 10 starts this season.

He’s a true dual-threat who can apply pressure on opposing defenses with his legs while also being a prolific passer, throwing for more than 250 yards in all but one of his starts.

His only loss came against Georgia, which could be the Rebels’ semifinal opponent in the Sugar Bowl should Ole Miss beat Tulane.

Chambliss led Ferris State to the Division II national championship last season, so he’s no stranger to the playoff format. Naturally, everyone will monitor how he and his teammates navigate this postseason without coach Lane Kiffin, who left for LSU.

4. Dante Moore, Oregon

2025 stat line: 2,733 passing yards, 24 touchdown passes, six interceptions, 191 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown

Moore hasn’t been required to win games often because Oregon (11-1) has a decided talent advantage against nearly everyone they play, but he did step up in a lot of those moments this year.

He was clutch in the second half and two overtimes against Penn State with crucial third-down throws and the eventual game-winning touchdown pass. He threw a perfect strike to Malik Benson for a 24-yard gain to set up a game-winning field goal at Iowa. His 64-yard touchdown to Benson allowed the Ducks to gain some separation in a tight rivalry game against Washington. He’s a talented passer, and he’s displayed strong poise this season.

Moore’s worst game of the season came against Indiana (186 passing yards, a touchdown, two interceptions, sacked six times). If Oregon can win its first two Playoff games, a potential rematch against the Hoosiers’ defense awaits in the semifinals.

3. Gunner Stockton, Georgia

2025 stat line: 2,691 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, 442 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns

Stockton’s stats aren’t eye-popping, but he’s had a very good season for the Bulldogs (12-1) in his first year as the starter. He’s had clutch moments like the fourth-down touchdown pass against Tennessee to send that game to overtime. He outdueled Chambliss in their matchup with 289 passing yards, 59 rushing yards and five total touchdowns. He outplayed Arch Manning in a 35-10 win over Texas (24-for-29 for 229 yards, four touchdowns and a rushing score). And he played clean football while throwing for three touchdowns in an SEC title win.

Stockton has done without an electric receiver group and without an overly dominant run game. Georgia ranks 60th nationally in yards per rush (4.47). But at nearly every big moment, Stockton has stepped up and performed.

That bodes well for Georgia’s national title aspirations.

2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

2025 stat line: 3,323 passing yards, 31 touchdown passes, six interceptions

It’s been a great debut season as the Buckeyes’ starter for Sayin, who finished fourth in Heisman voting. Sayin is blessed to play with two of the best receivers in the country, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, but he still has to go out there and make the throws.

And for the most part, Sayin has delivered the season. He owns the best completion percentage in the country (78.4) while being tied for fifth nationally in yards per attempt (9.3)

Ohio State (12-1) plays at a slow pace, so it doesn’t run a ton of plays. In a high-profile season-opening matchup against Texas, the staff kept the shackles on Sayin and the downfield passing attack.

Indiana came up with a great game plan against the Buckeyes in the Big Ten championship game, which kept Sayin off balance, and he was sacked five times. He completed 72.4 percent of his passes that night (21 of 27), which was his second-lowest mark of the season.

Sayin will see more defenses like that over the next few weeks, so we’ll see if he rises to another level.

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

2025 stat line: 2,980 passing yards, 33 touchdown passes, six interceptions, 240 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns

The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner tops the list. The Hoosiers were good last season. Mendoza has elevated them to elite status. He’s a smart decision maker whose accuracy is his strength, and he’s a good enough athlete to make plays when necessary. Indiana’s system is built well for him, and that marriage has proved beneficial for both sides.

The Hoosiers (13-0) are national title contenders. Mendoza is viewed as the potential top quarterback in next year’s NFL Draft.

And Mendoza has had clutch moments through the season, notably the game-winning touchdown pass against Penn State in the final seconds of a 27-24 road win.

Will he be able to deliver more clutch moments like that during Indiana’s Playoff run?