CBS Sports has just published its highly anticipated ranking of the top ten backup quarterbacks set to influence the 2026 college football season, a list that underscores how programs are increasingly investing in depth at the sport’s most critical position.
Emerging talent and seasoned reserves
Among the names that stand out is Keisean Henderson from Houston, the highest‑rated recruit in Cougar history, who is viewed as the future cornerstone of the program. Equally compelling is Dylan Raiola, who after a high‑profile transfer to Oregon is expected to assume the Ducks’ starting role in 2027, while his backup duties at the collegiate level remain a focal point of analysis.
The rankings also highlight veterans such as Mikey Keene, whose 39 career games and 65 touchdowns make him the most experienced backup on the list, and Brayden Fowler‑Nicolosi, who transferred to Michigan after amassing nearly 7,000 passing yards in his collegiate career.
Programs reshaping with backup moves
Trinidad Chambliss’ surprise leadership of Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff after stepping in as a backup illustrates how a single player can alter a team’s trajectory. The Rebels’ official site, olemisssports.com, has chronicled the run, while other programs like Utah, whose official site utahutes.com notes running back Byrd Ficklin’s 513 yards and ten touchdowns as a freshman, are also watching backup developments closely.
At Virginia, Eli Holstein arrived after losing his starting spot at Pittsburgh, bringing a fresh perspective to the Cavaliers’ offense, a move documented on virginiasports.com. Meanwhile, Arizona State’s thesundevils.com reports on the competition between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell for the backup role at Alabama, a battle that could influence the Crimson Tide’s depth chart.
Other notable backups include Amari Odom, who transferred to Syracuse and has compiled 4,251 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, and Deuce Knight, a contingency plan for Ole Miss should Chambliss be unavailable. Both Ohio State’s Tavien St. Clair, the No. 4 recruit in the Class of 2025, and Michigan’s future plans are tracked on ohiostatebuckeyes.com and mgoblue.com respectively.
The list also features Keisean Henderson’s Houston teammate, the Cougars’ rising star, and the broader narrative of how backup quarterbacks are no longer mere placeholders but potential game‑changers. Their performances will be closely followed as the 2026 season unfolds, with each program hoping to translate depth into on‑field success.