With the spring transfer portal window closed, college football rosters across the ACC are essentially set for the 2026 season, giving analysts a clearer picture of what each team will look like under center.
Sports Illustrated has taken that snapshot and projected every Power‑4 starting quarterback for the conference, evaluating their 2025 performances, experience levels and the challenges they are likely to face.
The ACC’s Projected Signal‑Callers
Miami’s Darian Mensah arrives as the most prolific returning passer, having completed 66.8% of his throws in 2025 and topping the ACC in attempts, yards and touchdowns.
At NC State, CJ Bailey posted a 68.8% completion rate, positioning him among the most accurate quarterbacks in the league.
Virginia Tech’s Ethan Grunkemeyer finished his final four games at Penn State with a 73.8% completion rate, suggesting a high ceiling heading into his first full season as a starter.
Boston College welcomes Mason McKenzie, a transfer from Division II Saginaw Valley State who logged a 59.8% completion rate in 2025, while California’s Jaron‑Keawe Sagapolutele posted a 64.2% rate and ranked fifth nationally in completions per game.
Clemson’s Christopher Vizzina showed promise in his lone start, completing 63.4% of his passes, and Duke added Walker Eget, a San José State transfer with a 59.0% rate.
Florida State’s Ashton Daniels, a former Auburn player, managed a 57.1% completion rate in 2025, while Louisville’s Lincoln Kienholz transferred from Ohio State with limited game experience.
North Carolina’s Billy Edwards Jr. is returning from a PCL sprain that limited his statistics, and Pittsburgh’s Mason Heintschel, a true freshman, seized a mid‑season opportunity and led the Panthers to five straight wins.
SMU’s Kevin Jennings brings extensive experience, having helped guide the Mustangs to the playoffs in 2024, while Stanford’s Davis Warren is a medical redshirt after a season‑ending injury in December 2024.
Other storylines include Syracuse’s Steve Angeli, who tore his Achilles in his first year, Virginia’s Beau Pribula, who dislocated his ankle but avoided a fracture, and Wake Forest’s Gio Lopez, a North Carolina transfer with a 65.1% completion rate.
The convergence of established veterans, high‑profile transfers and emerging freshmen creates a dynamic quarterback room that could shape the ACC’s competitive balance throughout the 2026 campaign.