Ahead of the 2026 college football season, quarterbacks are sure to be front and center. With spring ball wrapping up around the country, Greg McElroy released his Top 10 rankings.<\/p>\n
McElroy said the criteria for his quarterback rankings include what each player is, what each player has been and where each one is going. He also noted they don\u2019t include anything with regard to NFL Draft potential or how a player will perform at the next level, but solely based on how much the quarterbacks on the list can impact their teams.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma State\u2019s<\/a> Drew Mestemaker<\/a> and Auburn\u2019s<\/a> Byrum Brown<\/a> just missed out on the top 10, according to McElroy. Here are his full rankings, as he unveiled on Always College Football<\/a>. <\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note: McElroy released his rankings before news broke of the NCAA\u2019s investigation<\/a> into Texas Tech\u2019s Brendan Sorsby.<\/p>\n 1. Julian Sayin, Ohio State<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s leader in completion percentage, Julian Sayin<\/a> is back for Year 2 as Ohio State\u2019s<\/a> starting quarterback. He completed 77% of his passes a year ago for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns, to eight interceptions, while becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist. But the separator for him this year, according to Greg McElroy, is his ability to run, which he showed in the spring game.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first play he made with his legs was in the spring game. \u2026 Ryan Day<\/a> has confirmed, as well, the importance of mobility at the position,\u201d McElroy said. \u201cThat it\u2019s been an emphasis point. You can see that he\u2019s very aware, based on what we\u2019ve seen so far, there is a willingness to take off that did not exist last year.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Dante Moore, Oregon<\/p>\n After passing on the NFL Draft<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a decision he told On3<\/a> had nothing to do with NIL<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Dante Moore<\/a> is back for Year 2 at Oregon<\/a>. He completed 71.8% of his passes for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns, to 10 interceptions, in his first year as the starter. But Greg McElroy ranked him behind Julian Sayin because of some questions he has beyond the box score.<\/p>\n \u201cI have him at No. 2 because the concerns have really been about high-leverage decision-making,\u201d McElroy said. \u201cIf he\u2019s getting hit, is he affected? Well, his first year as a real full-time starter in that offense. So I\u2019m of the belief that last year was probably the baseline of what\u2019s expected moving forward. He\u2019s one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Arch Manning, Texas<\/p>\n After shaking off an up-and-down start to his time as Texas\u2019<\/a> starter, Arch Manning<\/a> finished strong and set himself up for high expectations once again in 2026. He threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns, to seven picks, while adding 399 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. If he can stay on track, Greg McElroy said Arch Manning will continue to prove himself as a top quarterback in 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cI think if you can put it all together right now \u2026 and you pick up exactly where you left off at the end of the season and start Week 1 where you finished against Michigan, he\u2019s absolutely appropriately ranked here in the Top 10,\u201d McElroy said. \u201cBecause the talent\u2019s never been a question. The question\u2019s always been timing, the question\u2019s always been resilience. I think he learned more about himself last year than any of us could have imagined.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. Jayden Maiava, USC<\/p>\n Through his first year as USC\u2019s<\/a> full-time starter, Jayden Maiava<\/a> threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns, to 10 interceptions, with plenty of talent at wide receiver. While Greg McElroy noted the Trojans will have to replace that production, he sees the praise Lincoln Riley<\/a> has had for Maiava and said that\u2019s why he has him in his top five quarterbacks for 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cNow in Year No. 2 of Lincoln Riley\u2019s system, that\u2019s a big opportunity for him to take a huge step,\u201d McElroy said. \u201cThere have been plenty of great players that have looked much better in Year 2 under Lincoln Riley\u2019s tutelage than they did in Year 1. Maiava\u2019s concern, though, is replacing the key weapons. \u2026 I believe that Maiava is poised to have a massive season this year, and that\u2019s why I have him ranked higher than most when it comes to the Top 10 quarterbacks in college football.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. CJ Carr, Notre Dame<\/p>\n After an 0-2 start to the year, CJ Carr<\/a> helped lead Notre Dame<\/a> to a 10-game win streak to end the season. He threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns, to six interceptions, and analysts consider him to be one of the top returning quarterbacks in 2026. Greg McElroy ranked Carr at No. 5 because of the production from the top four on his list, but said there\u2019s plenty of potential going forward.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, in Year 2 as the starter entering the season as one of the great players in the sport, sitting behind what should be one of the better offensive lines in the sport with a lot of really talented pieces that have now been added to that wide receiver room, the ceiling on the season is enormous,\u201d McElroy said. \u201cBut right now, he\u2019s in at No. 5, but the arrow for CJ Carr is likely pointing up as he works in the 2026 season.\u201d<\/p>\n 6. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss<\/p>\n After a legal journey, Trinidad Chambliss<\/a> is officially back at Ole Miss<\/a> in 2026 after a breakout season in Oxford. He threw for 3,937 yards and 22 touchdowns, to just three picks. Even though Lane Kiffin<\/a> and Charlie Weis Jr.<\/a> left, Greg McElroy pointed to comments from Chambliss about new OC John David Baker<\/a> this offseason to show why a repeat performance could be in the cards.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you listen to Trinidad, he said, \u2018It\u2019s basically the same offense.\u2019 Which is big that there\u2019s a lot of similarities to what \u2026 John David Baker runs and what Charlie Weis Jr. ran. That\u2019s the type of continuity that can lead to improved performance from their quarterback.\u201d<\/p>\n 7. Darian Mensah, Miami<\/p>\n In one of the highest-profile transfer moves of the offseason, Darian Mensah<\/a> left Duke<\/a> and is now the quarterback at Miami<\/a>, which is fresh off a national title game appearance. He threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns last season and walks into a great situation in Coral Gables. That\u2019s why Greg McElroy said Mensah made his Top 10 quarterback rankings.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s a guy right now that is way under the radar when it comes to the Heisman Trophy conversation,\u201d McElroy said. \u201cHe\u2019s walking into by far the most loaded offensive environment he\u2019s ever had. And if you look at what Miami\u2019s done the last couple years \u2013 Cam Ward<\/a> two years ago, Carson Beck<\/a> last year\u00a0\u2013 there\u2019s a lot to like about the opportunity that sits right in front of Darian Mensah as he continues to build on what\u2019s been a terrific college career at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n 8. Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note: McElroy\u2019s rankings came out before news broke of the NCAA\u2019s investigation into Sorsby.<\/p>\n Considered one of the top transfer quarterbacks this year, Brendan Sorsby<\/a> was the big addition for Texas Tech<\/a> after its first Big 12 title a season ago. He threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns, to five interceptions at Cincinnati<\/a> and committed as the heir apparent to Behren Morton<\/a> in Lubbock. McElroy had him at No. 8 in his rankings, but admitted he could move higher throughout the year.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an offense that is really well-suited to what he does. We\u2019re about to find out if some of the efficiency that we saw at Cincinnati translates to Lubbock. I am really bullish on this young man, though. This is about as low as he can be, sitting there at No. 8.\u201d<\/p>\n 9. Gunner Stockton, Georgia<\/p>\n Gunner Stockton<\/a> got his shot last year as Georgia\u2019s<\/a> starting quarterback and showcased his dual-threat ability. He threw for 2,894 yards and 24 touchdowns, to five interceptions, while adding 462 rush yards and 10 touchdowns. But Greg McElroy\u2019s big question for Stockton is how well he can push the ball downfield, and he\u2019ll be watching that close this year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe big question, though, is how well will he push it down the field if necessary?\u201d McElroy said. \u201cIf you look at his numbers, a lot of his damage was done on throws that were at or behind the line of scrimmage. He had very few attempts that traveled more than 20 yards downfield. So he\u2019s a point guard and has been great. \u2026 Now is about just taking that next step, entering Year 2 as the starter under Kirby Smart.\u201d<\/p>\n 10. Demond Williams Jr., Washington<\/p>\n Although it appeared he\u2019d leave Washington<\/a> at one point in the offseason, Demond Williams<\/a> is back once again in Seattle. He threw for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns last year to go with 611 rushing yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. Now back for his junior year, Greg McElroy hopes to see Williams take a leap, particularly against high-level opponents.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is his now junior year in Jedd Fisch\u2019s offense, which is going to be very helpful to unlock the potential of this skill set,\u201d McElroy said. \u201cI think if you look at these games \u2013 he\u2019s got some big opportunities this year. \u2026 It didn\u2019t really materialize for him last year against top-tier competition. But if he plays the way he\u2019s capable of playing in November when he gets the Indianas and the Oregons of the world, this conversation could change very, very fast.\u201d<\/p>\n Summer workouts are now on the horizon, meaning teams are continuing their march toward training camp. Talking season is also just a few months away, to set the table for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ahead of the 2026 college football season, quarterbacks are sure to be front and center. 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