The 2026 college football season is slated to begin on August 29, and many programs have already entered the grind of preseason training, using the extra weeks to evaluate the most critical position on the field.
Across the Power 4 conferences, teams are navigating a spectrum of quarterback scenarios, from seasoned returnees who have already logged dozens of starts to high‑profile transfers seeking a fresh start, and a new wave of freshmen who are already generating Heisman chatter.
Key Transfers and Fresh Faces
Among the most talked‑about moves is Boston College’s addition of Mason McKenzie, a transfer from Division II Saginaw Valley State, who is expected to compete for the starting role. At Duke, Walker Eget, a San Jose State transfer, will inherit the starting job, while Florida State’s Ashton Daniels, who arrived from Auburn, is the clear No. 1 option for the Seminoles. Louisville will rely on Lincoln Kienholz, a former Ohio State transfer, to lead the offense, and Miami’s Darian Mensah is poised to step into the role after the departures of Cam Ward and Carson Beck. The list also includes Davis Warren at Stanford, a Michigan transfer, and Steve Angeli at Syracuse, who will be the starter provided he stays healthy, with backups Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson waiting in the wings.
Programs that have opted to keep their starter from a season ago include Arizona’s Noah Fifita, now entering his fourth year as the Wildcats’ leader, and BYU’s Bear Bachmeier, who has locked down the starting job for the foreseeable future. DJ Lagway at Baylor, a former five‑star prospect, is being watched closely as a potential all‑conference talent, while Arkansas’s KJ Jackson and AJ Hill are among the contenders for the Razorbacks’ top spot.
Freshmen and sophomore quarterbacks are also generating buzz. Oregon’s Dante Moore is being discussed as a top Heisman candidate, while Michigan’s Bryce Underwood is in a make-or-break season after an underwhelming freshman year. At Texas, Arch Manning headlines a quarterback room that also includes Dia Bell, and at USC, Jayden Maiava could emerge as a Heisman contender if the Trojans enjoy a breakout year. Other notable names include Colorado’s Julian Lewis, entering his second year with the Buffaloes, and Iowa State’s Jaylen Raynor, a transfer from Arkansas State who is now the Cyclones’ starter.
The depth charts will be tested early in the season, and the performance of these quarterbacks will likely set the tone for their teams’ ambitions, whether that means contending for conference titles, securing a spot in the College Football Playoff, or simply building momentum for the next era of college football.