All-New 2026 College Football Week 1 QB Rankings: Where Does Arch Manning Land in Our Top 10?

Similar to the NFL, a gifted quarterback can turn a college football program into a playoff contender. This season's crop of QB talent is filled with players who should hear their names called in Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2027 NFL Draft . But which signal callers stand above the rest as the best of the best entering the new season?

We look to answer that question with our brand new rankings of the top 10 QBs heading into Week 1 of the 2026 college football season.

There was a lot of buzz about South Carolina's Lanorris Sellers before last season because he was coming off a breakout campaign in 2024, when he tossed for 2,534 yards, ran for 674 and had 25 total TDs as a sophomore. Unfortunately, he and the Gamecocks took a disappointing step backward last year.

If South Carolina can be more like the team they were two years ago, Sellers definitely has the talent to become a household name in 2026.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and his staff worked their magic with Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza last year. Turning him into the latest Heisman winner and the leader of a team that brought the school its first football national title. They are hoping to do it again in 2026, this time with former TCU star Josh Hoover.

The senior had two rock-solid seasons for the Horned Frogs in 2024 and 2025. Peaking with a career-best 29 TDs last year. However, he also had a career-high 13 INTs. If he can cut down on his mistakes, he has the talent and support around him to be an elite QB all season.

Outside of Miami landing Mensah, Lane Kiffin making Sam Leavitt his first starting QB at LSU was one of the top stories that came out of the transfer portal in the spring. Heading into the 2025 season, the former Arizona State QB was on a lot of early Heisman candidate lists. However, a Lisfranc injury limited him to just seven games last year.

Not only is Leavitt dangerous in the passing game, but he can also put the ball down and make plays with his feet. He will have even better weapons around him in Baton Rouge and can end up in the Heisman conversation again as the year progresses.

Being the starting QB for an iconic program like Notre Dame comes with a lot of pressure. The type of pressure freshmen are not usually ready for. However, CJ Carr won the QB1 job last summer and was impressive in his first year as a starter in South Bend.

The youngster posted 2,741 passing yards, with 24 TDs to 6 INTs, and a noteworthy 168.1 passer rating. While he lost a pair of great running backs to the NFL, he continues to have his name thrust into the Heisman conversation because of the expectation that 2026 will be a breakout year for Carr.

Trinidad Chambliss was one of the best stories in college football last year. The junior college star lost the QB1 battle in camp to Austin Simmons. However, Simmons suffered a serious injury in Ole Miss' Week 2 game against Kentucky . Thrusting Chambliss into the starting role for a significant amount of time. Well, he never gave Simmons a chance to get the job back.

The senior threw for nearly 4,000 yards, ran for over 500 more, and posted 30 total TDs to 3 INTs last season. His strong showing in the playoffs only added to his legend, and it likely played a role in Mississippi judicial officials granting him another year of eligibility in 2026.

Oregon QB1 Dante Moore has put himself in an interesting position. He likely would have been at least the No. 2 pick in April's NFL Draft but chose to return for another season in Eugene. That was not planned, so the Ducks added former Nebraska starter Dylan Raiola in the transfer portal. It puts unexpected pressure on the junior because a talented QB is waiting in the wings.

However, if Moore takes another step forward in 2026 like he did last year when he threw for over 3,500 yards, 30 touchdowns, and hit on 71.8 percent of his passes, he should be just fine. While the Oregon QB tailed off late last year, he is getting a lot of Heisman buzz heading into this season.

A case can be made that Texas QB Arch Manning is the most famous player in college football right now. But it's not because he was amazing in his first year as a starter in 2025. It's because he has two former NFL stars as uncles, and he was the most hyped high school player of the decade two years ago.

However, he did perform well as a sophomore last year despite sky-high expectations. Throwing for 3,163 yards, ran for 399 more, with 36 total TDs and 7 INTS. If Manning can cut down on his mistakes and be more accurate, the talent is there to be in the conversation as the best player in the nation this season.

One of the biggest signings in the transfer portal this spring was Miami replacing Carson Beck with Duke star Darian Mensah. The former Blue Devils QB had a dynamite year in his lone season at Durham as he finished second in the nation in passing yards (3,973) and touchdowns (34).

If he can put up those numbers at Duke, with even better talent around him at the U, Mensah is primed to become a household name and Heisman Trophy finalist this year.

Ohio State's Julian Sayin had big shoes to fill last season. Will Howard wasn't one of the best QBs in the country when he started for the Buckeyes in 2024. But he did something many of his predecessors didn't by helping lead OSU to a national title. Yet, despite the high expectations as the QB1 for a program looking to repeat as champs, Sayin delivered in 2025.

The first-time starter posted 3,610 yards through the air with 32 TDs and 8 INTs. He was also one of the most efficient passers in the country. Tallying a 77.0 completion percentage last year. Sayin has all the skills and the talent around him to put up big numbers again against tough competition in 2026.

When healthy, USC's Jayden Maiava is one of the most dangerous passers in the country. He showed that last season when the Trojans star posted 3,711 passing yards with 24 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.

The QB has a quick release and may be the best deep ball thrower in the nation. Maiava's biggest issue has been his riskiness with the ball. But in his 2026 debut, he showed the peaks of his talent by hitting on 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions against San Jose State .