The 2026 college football season is shaping up to be a wild ride—especially if you love fast-paced offenses and quarterbacks who can sling it. A surprising number of elite QBs are coming back for another year instead of jumping to the NFL, so the position’s going to be stacked.
This list breaks down the top 10 returning quarterbacks for 2026, with a quick look at what sets each apart. If you want the full rankings, here’s the link to Pro Football Focus.
Julian Sayin: Ohio State’s Record-Setter
Julian Sayin isn’t just Ohio State’s top guy—he’s probably the best returning player in college football for 2026. His accuracy is honestly ridiculous; he completed 77.0% of his passes last year, which is the third-best mark in college football history.
He also set a new single-season PFF College record with a 74.2% accurate throw rate. With a PFF grade of 92.9, he led all FBS quarterbacks and is already getting serious Heisman buzz—and, yeah, first overall pick talk for 2027.
Dante Moore: Oregon’s Phenomenal Playmaker
Dante Moore surprised a lot of people by sticking around at Oregon, even though he was projected as a top-three pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. His 90.2 PFF passing grade put him sixth in the country, and he tied for the most big-time throws in the FBS with 30.
Moore also led the nation with a 98.5 passing grade on deep throws. He took the Ducks to the College Football Playoff semifinals, and with him back, Oregon looks like an early favorite for the title.
Arch Manning: The Dual-Threat Dynamo
Arch Manning had a slow start in 2025, but he came on strong—he was sixth in the FBS with an 89.5 PFF grade from Week 9 on. His overall grade of 87.3 still landed him among the top 15 QBs nationwide.
Unlike his famous uncles, Manning can run, too. He tied for fifth in the Power Four with 10 rushing touchdowns. His late-season surge made it clear the hype’s not just a family thing.
Trinidad Chambliss: Ole Miss’s Resilient Leader
Trinidad Chambliss got a sixth year of eligibility and made it count, leading Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He was second in the Power Four with 3,934 passing yards and fourth in the country with 29 big-time throws.
Chambliss added 585 yards on the ground and was second nationally with a 76.1 PFF grade against pressure. He’s tough and just seems to find ways to win when it matters.
CJ Carr: Notre Dame’s Heisman Hopeful
CJ Carr is right up there with Arch Manning in the Heisman odds. As a redshirt freshman, he put up an 83.5 PFF passing grade, tying for 14th in the country.
With Notre Dame losing star running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price to the NFL, Carr’s going to have to carry a lot more of the offense in 2026. No pressure, right?
Miller Maiava: USC’s Consistent Performer
Miller Maiava has put together back-to-back 80-plus PFF grades since taking over at USC. He was fifth in the FBS with 3,711 passing yards, even though he didn’t play a full 14-game slate.
He’s especially good from a clean pocket, posting a 92.3 PFF grade there. Still, he does need to rein in his gunslinger side—his turnover-worthy play rate was pretty high last season.
Brady Sorsby: Texas Tech’s New Leader
After a huge year at Cincinnati, Brady Sorsby is heading to Texas Tech to try and win back-to-back Big 12 titles. His 90.5 PFF grade tied for fifth in the nation, and he added nine rushing touchdowns on top of his passing numbers.
Sorsby was the best quarterback under pressure in 2025, posting a nation-leading 78.4 PFF grade under pressure. That’s the kind of thing you want in a big-game QB.
Jaden Leavitt: LSU’s New Hope
Jaden Leavitt is Lane Kiffin’s first quarterback at LSU, transferring in from Arizona State. Even with a foot injury that limited him to just seven games last year, he notched an 87.8 PFF grade over the last two seasons.
He’s got a knack for big-time throws and doesn’t wilt under pressure. If he can cut down on turnover-worthy plays, he might sneak into the Heisman conversation.
Kwame Mensah: Miami’s Championship Aspirant
Kwame Mensah, after a messy split with Duke, is now at Miami and looking to get the Hurricanes back to the heights of their 2025 National Championship Game run. He led all Power Four quarterbacks with 3,951 passing yards and tied for second with 34 touchdown passes.
With an 85.0 PFF passing grade and 28 big-time throws, Mensah’s going to be central to Miami’s ACC title hopes. Can he get them over the hump this time?
Noah Fifita: Arizona’s Experienced Veteran
Noah Fifita is back in the top 10 after posting a career-high 83.3 passing grade in 2025. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s fearless about throwing downfield and doesn’t turn the ball over much.
With 26 big-time throws and a 1.9% turnover-worthy play rate, Fifita is about as steady as they come. Arizona fans have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic.
Brock Stockton: Georgia’s Accurate Arm
Brock Stockton led Georgia to an SEC championship in his first season as a starter. His 81.2% adjusted completion rate was second in the Power Four, showing off just how sharp his accuracy really is.
Still, there’s a catch—his average depth of target was pretty low. Can he keep up that accuracy if he’s asked to throw deeper in 2026? It’s a fair question, and honestly, I’m not sure anyone knows for sure yet.
If you want the full scoop, check out Pro Football Focus. They’ve got the numbers and a lot more detail if you’re into that sort of thing.
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