In the coming months, college coaches will be buzzing about their quarterback situations, but as we all know, what they do often speaks louder than what they say. Let’s cut through the usual coach talk and see what these programs are really telling us about their quarterback plans, especially regarding their actions or inactions in the transfer portal this off-season.
Let’s dive right in.
ACC
Over at Boston College, Bill O’Brien seems to have settled on his quarterback choices. Last season he benched Thomas Castellanos for Grayson James, and James is poised to start this year. O’Brien also snatched up Dylan Lonergan from Alabama, a kid he had an eye on back when he was coordinating the Tide’s offense.
California’s Golden Bears addressed their quarterback needs by snapping up Ohio State transfer Devin Brown for the now and planning ahead with blue-chip freshman Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele, who switched to Cal soon after a brief commitment to Oregon. This strategic move came after two-year starter Fernando Mendoza moved to Indiana.
In Clemson, there’s really nothing new here. Cade Klubnik is expected to helm one of the nation’s top passing offenses in 2025.
For Duke, Maalik Murphy led the team to nine wins last season, yet the coaches seemed to be betting more on Tulane transfer Darian Mensah. The Californian standout was a top-rated Group of 5 quarterbacks in 2024.
The Florida State Seminoles are taking a gamble with transfer quarterbacks. Thomas Castellanos, who found himself benched at Boston College last season, is now under the spotlight. The hope is that his partnership with offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn pays off, especially after the DJ Uiagalelei stint didn’t go as planned. There’s some synergy here as Malzahn first recruited Castellanos back during his UCF days as part of the 2022 class.
Georgia Tech’s Haynes King stands as one of the more resilient quarterbacks out there. The big questions this season concern his health and how the team compensates for any key losses on the offensive line and among the receivers.
In Louisville, Miller Moss is Jeff Brohm’s third transfer quarterback, and it’s clear the Cardinals aren’t ready to abandon the transfer market just yet.
Miami isn’t shying away from exploring their options either. While there was past enthusiasm over Emory Williams, Miami has shown commitment to Georgia transfer Carson Beck this off-season. Beck is undoubtedly a step up, though he carries some risk due to recent elbow surgery he’s since recovered from and the need for cleaner play than what was seen last season.
C.J. Bailey stands firm as the starting quarterback at NC State, but there’s a push to improve his and the offense’s overall performance. The question remains whether Kurt Roper, who joins as coordinator with less fanfare, can address the issues.
At North Carolina, it appears coach Bill Belichick is keeping the starting spot open. Max Johnson is coming back from a bad leg injury, with four-star recruit Bryce Baker and Purdue transfer Ryan Browne also in the running.
Pittsburgh is relying on Eli Holstein, whose promising season was derailed by injury. Keeping him healthy will be crucial for the Panthers.
For SMU, despite Kevin Jennings’ challenging performance in the playoff loss to Penn State, he’s the starter. Should he falter, the team has a backup plan with Wisconsin transfer Tyler Van Dyke.
Stanford finds itself pressing forward with Elijah Brown after losing the only other quarterbacks who had in-game experience last season. They haven’t sought a transfer, indicating a commitment to Brown.
Syracuse is leaning towards starting inexperienced quarterbacks unless a spring transfer is added, placing faith in LSU transfer Rickie Collins and redshirt freshman Jakhari Williams, who combine for just seven career pass attempts.
Virginia is optimistic that Chandler Morris, a North Texas transfer, can invigorate an offensive unit that’s stumbled under Tony Elliott’s tenure.
For Virginia Tech, Kyron Drones remains the starting quarterback despite a regression last year. New offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery has his work cut out to get Drones back to his 2023 form.
At Wake Forest, new head coach Jake Dickert is trusting South Carolina transfer Robby Ashford as his main man, making Ashford the only experienced quarterback on his roster.
Big 12
Arizona has made its intentions clear with a new offensive coordinator, Seth Doege, and some astute transfer signings. They want to help Noah Fifita regain his 2023 form after a lackluster 2024.
For Arizona State, last year’s offensive fulcrum, Cam Skattebo, will hopefully inspire Sam Leavitt to step up and lead the team this season.
BYU’s quarterback, Jake Retzlaff, is entrenched as the starter after leading them to an impressive 11-win season, stirring hopes for a Big 12 title.
Baylor added Auburn transfer Walker White to provide some depth behind Sawyer Robertson, who had a standout 2024, especially flourishing in the latter half of the season.
Cincinnati saw decent production from Brendan Sorsby last season but sought more explosiveness in their passing game by enhancing the supporting cast through transfers.
To bridge the gap between Shedeur Sanders and blue-chip 2025 recruit Julian Lewis, Colorado brought in Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, a promising player to fill that transitional role effectively.
Houston’s Conner Weigman, despite underperforming his five-star recruit status at Texas A&M, gets a new chance under coach Willie Fritz to unlock his potential.
At Iowa State, there’s little to stir up since Rocco Becht is back. His significant strides led the Cyclones to 11 wins and the Big 12 Championship Game last year.
Kansas faces an ongoing challenge with Jalon Daniels’ health. He’s limited this spring due to knee surgery and must recover his form under new offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski. Despite appearing in all 12 games last year, his performance dipped.
Kansas State’s Avery Johnson, rich in talent but still developing, gets another year alongside his returning top receiver and some new transfer additions at wideout to refine his game.
Oklahoma State’s quarterbacks were below par last year. Although they retained three from that batch, their real belief appears vested in former four-star recruit Hauss Hejny. He arrived from TCU with new offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, signaling he’s their front-runner.
TCU’s Josh Hoover is the clear starter after a stellar 2024 featuring 3,949 yards and 27 touchdowns. Maintaining Ken Seals as a seasoned backup who’s familiar with starting games is beneficial.
Texas Tech’s Behren Morton returns to a team that made a serious transfer splash last December. The mission is clear: Morton, coach Joey McGuire, and the program need to fight for a conference title.
UCF’s Scott Frost seems set on investing in Indiana transfer Tayven Jackson, whose spot duties for the Hoosiers caught the eye last season. He’ll be competing with FAU transfer Cam Fancher.
Utah chose to shed the constant concerns over Cam Rising’s availability, opting for an exciting quarterback-coordinator duo from New Mexico, quarterback Devon Dampier and coordinator Jason Beck.
West Virginia’s Nicco Marchiol, who’s had a taste of starting the last two seasons, has a chance to consolidate his role. Yet, he faces competition from Texas A&M’s Jaylen Henderson and Charlotte transfer Max Brown.
Big Ten
In Illinois, Luke Altmyer is the bona fide leader. The former Ole Miss Rebel, with his two-season stint, led Illinois to a solid 10-3 record in 2024. To uphold their high 2025 expectations, they wisely added Northern Illinois transfer Ethan Hampton as a safety net.
Indiana tasted success with the portal last year, employing Kurtis Rourke at quarterback. They went the same route, this time landing Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza, a top choice this winter.
Iowa has been mired in a cycle of underwhelming quarterback performances for ages. They’re crossing fingers that South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski, an FCS player of the year, can change that narrative in 2025.
For Maryland, Mike Locksley looks comfortable with raw talent, with UCLA transfer Justyn Martin, a one-time starter, and blue-chip freshman Malik Washington in the quarterback contest.
At Michigan State, Aidan Chiles played like the first-time starter he was in 2024. Improving his supporting cast with several transfer recruits at receiver and on the offensive line shows their commitment to his development under coach Jonathan Smith.
Michigan has worked diligently to avoid a repeat of their quarterback woes from last year. The arrival of five-star freshman Bryce Underwood on a significant NIL deal, plus veteran backup Mikey Keene from Fresno State, is strategic for reassuring stability until Underwood is prepared.
Minnesota’s quarterback scenario is tricky. Their choice will be between a redshirt freshman, Drake Lindsey, and a raw passer, Georgia Tech transfer Zach Pyron. Lindsey’s familiarity with the system might give him an edge.
Nebraska is keen on smoothing the way for prestigious former prospect Dylan Raiola. Aided by the hiring of Dana Holgorsen as OC and bolstered with high-ranked offensive line transfers and more robust receiving options, they seem set to divest all excuses and elevate his performance.
Northwestern hasn’t had a quarterback quite like Preston Stone, notwithstanding his benching last year at SMU. They hope he brings the offensive spark they’ve been missing.
Ohio State made no secret quarterback moves, indicating a clear path for Julian Sayin unless five-star rookie Tavien St. Clair adapts quickly and claims the starting role.
Oregon’s Dan Lanning resisted bringing on an experienced quarterback transfer, unlike in past years with Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel. That decision signals confidence that Dante Moore, the job’s frontrunner, and Austin Novosad can maintain the offense’s tempo.
For Penn State, Drew Allar returns for his senior year with a restructured receiver lineup. Whether these new plays can help the senior quarterback elevate his game will soon be revealed.
Purdue’s new coach Barry Odom made his quarterback preferences clear with three transfer arrivals. Malachi Singleton from Arkansas, boasting the highest potential, appears to be Odom’s favorite for the role.
Rutgers seems committed to Athan Kaliakmanis as their quarterback after his 2,696 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. No transfer interest denotes a solidified belief in his capabilities leading the team.
UCLA’s Deshaun Foster, opting not to retain OC Eric Bieniemy, brought on Tino Sunseri. They’re fortunate to have landed productive App State transfer Joey Aguilar after experiencing two significant position turnovers with backup Justyn Martin and top recruit Madden Iamaleava parting ways.
USC’s Lincoln Riley observed the transfer market without indulging this offseason. This indicates comfort with Jayden Maiava, who stumbled in consistency over four starts last year, and five-star newbie Husan Longstreet forming their QB team.
In Washington, the keys are handed to Demond Williams Jr., fulfilling his role as the anticipated starter. The once five-star pledged to Arizona and shadowed coach Jedd Fisch to Washington, indicating a new era.
Wisconsin moved from their previous coordinator, parting with all related scholarship quarterbacks. Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. appears likely to start, although Danny O’Neil from San Diego State teems with relative youthful experience after his performance with the Aztecs.
SEC
Alabama’s quarterback role appears to be Ty Simpson’s for the taking after backing up Jalen Milroe. No transfer quarterback enterings suggest an undisturbed path unless freshman Keelon Russell quickly matures and vies for the role.
Arkansas’s QB duties will depend on Taylen Green, who threw for over 3,000 yards and amassed 602 rushing yards last year. The development of two fresh faces, Madden Iamaleava and Grayson Wilson, is worth keeping an eye on for future purposes.
Auburn boasts a rich roster of skill players but believed last year’s quarterback group needed a revamp. This led to three departures countered by three arrivals, headlined by former Oklahoma Sooner Jackson Arnold and five-star newcomer Deuce Knight. Arnold is ahead of the pack for starting duties.
Florida kicked off their transition last season, now fully trusting DJ Lagway to be the face of the program from hereon.
In Georgia, the Bulldogs are taking a shot with Gunner Stockton, though they did express interest in acquiring Fernando Mendoza before the latter decided to go to Indiana.
Kentucky placed their faith in Zach Calzada, who, after running various offenses at Texas A&M and Arkansas, now settles as a two-year starter at FCS Incarnate Word. This is critical after the offense faltered under Brock Vandagriff last season.
Garrett Nussmeier secured LSU’s starting QB role for 2024. Yet losing Bryce Underwood’s commitment to Michigan caused a stir; the addition of Mississippi State transfer Mikeal Van Buren may offer the ideal backup solution going forward.
At Mississippi State, Blake Shapen, who once started 2024 before injury ended his season, likely leads. Despite this, the Bulldogs meticulously sought and secured Florida State transfer Luke Kromenhoek, plus a four-star rookie, KaMario Taylor.
Missouri eyed Beau Pribula for his gadget-play notoriety during his tenure at Penn State. Yet the team saw in those snaps enough promise to entrust him as their starting quarterback.
Brent Venables at Oklahoma went all-in, signing Washington State transfer John Mateer alongside the former Cougars OC Ben Arbuckle. Venables needs immediate results after two losing seasons in his three-year tenure, making Mateer’s success crucial.
Ole Miss found rumors tying them to several transfer quarterbacks, though expect Austin Simmons to become the starting favorite after shadowing Jaxson Dart the past two years.
South Carolina can expect LaNorris Sellers to be a dynamic presence in their league. Accompanying him, Ohio State transfer Air Noland should set the Gamecocks up for future readiness beyond Sellers’ tenure.
Tennessee’s quarterback position is all about Nico Iamaleava. While his previous season was adequate, the full-time starter’s potential remains high.
Texas A&M’s quarterback mantle is officially Marcel Reed’s. Initially a backup, the focus now shifts to reinforcing the receiving corps to augment the aerial attack.
Texas stands firm; it’s Arch Manning’s reign. Not much else needs to be shared on the matter.
And in Vanderbilt, the "Diego Pavia Show" gets a second run in Nashville. Clark Lea and his coaching team will be eager to maximize its impact wherever feasible.
And finally
At Notre Dame, following two seasons of transfer quarterback stewardship, the team now has a homegrown competition between Steve Angeli, who served as backup last year, and CJ Carr, previously a top-rated recruit.
(Photo of Jackson Arnold: William Purnell / Imagn Images)
