Coaches Scout 43 CFB QBs for 2026 Season
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- The 2026 college football QB class returns seven College Football Playoff starters after only Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and Ty Simpson (Alabama) heard their names called in the first two rounds of the April NFL draft, with several others projecting as top 2027 prospects.
- Arch Manning produced multiple touchdowns in five of his final six starts of 2025 and rushed for 208 yards and three scores on just 16 carries against Texas A&M and Michigan; SEC defensive coordinators said his velocity, accuracy and new weapons Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo will make him extremely difficult to defend this fall.
- Trinidad Chambliss threw for 921 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions across three CFP games and was granted an injunction in February to play this fall; one SEC coach told ESPN "Lane probably gets too much credit for Trinidad," noting Chambliss must now adjust to a new offensive playcaller after Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss for LSU.
- Gunner Stockton completed 69.7% of his passes for 2,894 yards, 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions with an 84.9 QBR (sixth nationally) while leading Georgia to the SEC title; coaches called him a "great college quarterback" and "tough" runner, though one defensive coordinator questioned whether he's an "NFL specimen."
- Sam Leavitt transferred to LSU from Arizona State after a foot injury limited his 2025 effectiveness and his accuracy stayed below 62% for a second straight year; coaches praised his elusivity and ability to extend plays but said he is "not the talent level that a normal LSU quarterback would be."
- Marcel Reed answered passing-game doubts with 360 yards against Notre Dame and 439 against South Carolina, but Texas A&M closed 2025 with four interceptions and no touchdown passes in losses to Texas and Miami, taking seven sacks against the Hurricanes.
Why it matters: With seven CFP starters back and only Mendoza and Simpson going in the first two NFL draft rounds, this returning class will dominate both the Heisman conversation and 2027 draft positioning. Texas's bid to return to the playoff now depends on Manning's growth alongside Coleman and Wingo, while Ole Miss must rebuild its offense around Chambliss under a new playcaller after Kiffin bolted for LSU.
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