Every Power Four Team's Quarterback Situation for 2026

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Every Power Four Team's Quarterback Situation for 2026

Pete Fiutak · College Football News

Mon, Feb 2, 2026 ·

7 min read

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What's happening in all of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC quarterback battles as we dive into the offseason?

Really, almost all of the top college football quarterback derbies are settled? In a transfer portal era, yeah, if you don't have your pecking order figured out before going into spring ball, there's a problem.

There's more of a fight for the depth chart, but a few starting jobs will need the next several months to decide the starter.

For now, here's who will likely start, who could push for jobs, who the top options are, and the key losses for every team.

Breaking Down the 2026 Power Four Quarterback Rooms

Dec 6, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

ACC Quarterback Situations for 2026

Boston College

Likely 2026 Starter: Mason McKenzie (Saginaw Valley State)
Key Option: Grayson Wilson (Arkansas)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Dylan Lonergan to Rutgers, Shaker Reisig to Texas State

With Lonergan gone, it'll be a battle between McKenzie - great runner, LOTS of picks - and Wilson for the job.

Cal

Likely 2026 Starter: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele
Key Option: Jackson Brousseau (Colorado State)
Transfer Portal Loss: Devin Brown to Weber State

It's a minor miracle that new head coach Tosh Lupoi was able to keep JKS. The sophomore has No. 1 overall draft pick potential.

Clemson

Likely 2026 Starter: Christopher Vizzina
Key Option: Chris Denson
Transfer Portal Loss: None

There will be a quarterback derby with Cade Klubnik done, but no transfers are on their way. As always, Clemson promotes from within.

Duke

Likely 2026 Starter: Walker Eget (San Jose State)
Key Option: Ari Patu (North Alabama)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Darian Mensah to Miami, Henry Belin IV to Missouri State

Talk about scrambling. Duke had Mensah, doesn't have Mensah, and now it'll be a battle between Eget and Patu. They're not bad options, but they're not Mensah.

Florida State

Likely 2026 Starter: Ashton Daniels (Auburn)
Key Option: Kevin Sperry
Transfer Portal Loss: Brock Glenn to WKU

It's not that Tommy Castellanos wasn't good last year, but if Daniels can find a groove, look out. The offense should take off.

Georgia Tech

Likely 2026 Starter: Alberto Mendoza (Indiana)
Key Option: Graham Knowles
Transfer Portal Loss: Aaron Philo to Florida

No pressure, Alberto. All you have to do is walk into the shoes of a heart-and-soul leader like Haynes King, all while having to follow the season that your brother, Fernando, just had at Indiana.

Louisville

Likely 2026 Starter: Lincoln Kienholz (Ohio State)
Key Option: Davin Wydner (West Georgia)
Transfer Portal Losses: Deuce Adams to Wisconsin, Brady Allen to Indiana State, Mason Mims to East Tennessee State

Keinholz isn't the normal sure-thing veteran Jeff Brohm brings in, like Miller Moss last year, but the talent is undeniable.

Miami

Likely 2026 Starter: Darian Mensah (Duke)
Key Option: Dereon Coleman
Transfer Portal Loss: Emory Williams to East Carolina

Mensah brings something that the Miami program doesn't have - an ACC Championship on the resume. No pressure, just be better than Cam Ward and Carson Beck, and ... STAY HEALTHY. There's zero depth.

NC State

Likely 2026 Starter: CJ Bailey
Key Option: Will Wilson
Transfer Portal Loss: Lex Thomas to the portal

It was a huge hold of serve keeping a great young talent like Bailey around. However, there's zero developed depth behind him.

North Carolina

Likely 2026 Starter: Billy Edwards (Wisconsin)
Key Option: Miles O'Neill (Texas A&M)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Gio Lopez to Wake Forest, Bryce Baker to Virginia Tech, Max Johnson to Georgia Southern

Is Edwards healthy? He had horrible luck at Wisconsin, and Bill Belichick didn't go get a high-end other option.

Notre Dame

Likely 2026 Starter: CJ Carr
Key Option: Teddy Jarrard
Transfer Portal Loss: Kenny Minchey to Kentucky

(No, the Irish didn't move to the ACC, but they do have their deal with the conference.) Notre Dame has a superstar under center. Everything will revolve around Carr, and if he goes down ... uh oh.

Pitt

Likely 2026 Starter: Mason Heintschel
Key Option: Cole Gonzales (Charlotte)
Transfer Portal Loss: Eli Holstein to Virginia

The Panthers have their franchise quarterback for the next few years, but the coaching staff has work to do to develop the depth.

SMU

Likely 2026 Starter: Kevin Jennings
Key Option: Ty Hawkins
Transfer Portal Loss: None

Jennings is still around as one of the best all-around playmakers in the ACC. He has won a lot of games for the Mustangs.

Stanford

Likely 2026 Starter: Davis Warren (Michigan)
Key Option: Michael Mitchell Jr.
Transfer Portal Loss: Elijah Brown to Washington

New head coach Tavita Pritchard, for the moment, is putting a ton of eggs in the Warren basket with former starter Ben Gulbranson done. But there are some decent prospects still around.

Syracuse

Likely 2026 Starter: Amari Odom (Kennesaw State)
Key Options: Steve Angeli, Malachi Nelson (UTEP)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Rickie Collins to Kennesaw State, Luke Carney to Houston

Easily the stickiest situation in the ACC, if Angeli's leg is healed, he's the guy. Two interesting transfers are coming in if the main man can't go, with Odom the likely starter.

Virginia

Likely 2026 Starter: Beau Pribula (Missouri)
Key Option: Eli Holstein (Pitt)
Transfer Portal Losses: Bjorn Jurgensen to Hawaii, Daniel Kaelin to Nebraska

This could be a battle until Week 1 to replace Chandler Morris. Pribula and Holstein can both play.

Virginia Tech

Likely 2026 Starter: Ethan Grunkemeyer (Penn State)
Key Option: Bryce Baker (North Carolina)
Transfer Portal Losses: Garret Rangel to UT Rio Grande Valley, William Watson III to UMass

James Franklin brought over his guy to run the show from the start. The QB depth needs to be developed with 2025 starter Kyron Drones done.

Wake Forest

Likely 2026 Starter: Robby Ashford
Key Option: Gio Lopez (North Carolina)
Transfer Portal Losses: Elijah Oehlke to Bryant, Deshawn Purdie to Liberty

The Demon Deacons have two strong options in Ashford and Lopez to work around all offseason.

Big Ten Quarterback Situations for 2026

Jan 9, 2026; Atlanta, GA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws a pass during the fourth quarter of the 2025 Peach Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Illinois

Likely 2026 Starter: Kaitin Houser (East Carolina)
Key Option: Maurice Smith (Chowan)
Transfer Portal Losses: Ethan Hampton to Southern Miss, Trey Petty to Western Michigan

It flew under the national radar, but Houser's a veteran baller who fits perfectly to replace Luke Altmyer

Indiana

Likely 2026 Starter: Josh Hoover (TCU)
Key Option: Grant Wilson
Transfer Portal Loss: Alberto Mendoza to Georgia Tech

It's Curt Cignetti, so there's no questioning any talent evaluation whatsoever, after what he did with Fernando Mendoza, but he could've had just about anyone. All Hoover has to do is follow that .

Iowa

Likely 2026 Starter: Jeremy Hecklinski
Key Option: Hank Brown
Transfer Portal Loss: Jackson Stratton to the portal

Iowa didn't do anything splashy after the success of landing Mark Gronowski last year. Hecklinski is a former Wake Forest transfer, Brown came in last year from Auburn, and they both have a little experience. It'll be a neck-and-neck battle.

Maryland

Likely 2026 Starter: Malik Washington
Key Option: Jackson Hamilton
Transfer Portal Losses: Justyn Martin to Ohio State, Khristian Martin to Fresno State

The Terps kept their main man, and now it's up to Washington to be even better.

Michigan

Likely 2026 Starter: Bryce Underwood
Key Options: Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (Colorado State), Colin Hurley (LSU)
Transfer Portal Losses: Mikey Keene to Arizona State, Jadyn Davis to East Tennessee, Jake Garcia to the portal

Kyle Whittingham got the job done to keep Underwood. Fowler-Nicolosi is a very, very nice backup option who could shine with the parts around him.

Michigan State

Likely 2026 Starter: Alessio Milivojevic
Key Option: Cam Fancher (UCF)
Transfer Portal Loss: Aidan Chiles (Michigan State)

Pat Fitzgerald has two decent quarterbacks to play around with this offseason after Milivojevic replaced Chiles. Fancher is a solid veteran.

Minnesota

Likely 2026 Starter: Drake Lindsey
Key Option: Michael Merdinger (Liberty)
Transfer Portal Loss: Jackson Kollock to UC Davis

He's not a national thing quite yet, but Minnesota is banking on Lindsey growing into a next-level prospect. If Max Brosmer could get a start with the Vikings ...

Nebraska

Likely 2026 Starter: TJ Lateef
Key Options: Anthony Colandrea (UNLV), Daniel Kaelin (Virginia)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Dylan Raiola to Oregon, Marcos Davis to Abilene Christian

Easily the most interesting Big Ten quarterback situation this offseason, the Huskers lost Raiola, had Kenny Minchey from Notre Dame, Minchey flipped to Kentucky, and now it'll be a battle between Lateef and two decent - not amazing - options from the portal.

Northwestern

Likely 2026 Starter: Aidan Chiles (Michigan State)
Key Option: Ryan Boe
Transfer Portal Loss: None

Chiles has a ton of talent, but he was too inconsistent at Oregon State and then Michigan State. Now he gets to run the Chip Kelly offense.

Ohio State

Likely 2026 Starter: Julian Sayin
Key Options: Justyn Martin (Maryland), Tavien St. Clair
Transfer Portal Loss: Lincoln Kienholz to Louisville

It would be nice to have developed backups, or a solid transfer for an emergency, but it's obviously Sayin's team to run.

Oregon

Likely 2026 Starter: Dante Moore
Key Option: Dylan Raiola (Nebraska)
Transfer Portal Losses: Luke Moga to New Mexico, Austin Novosad to Bowling Green, Bryson Beaver to Georgia

Easily the best quarterback situation in college football, once Raiola is healthy, the Ducks are loaded.

Penn State

Likely 2026 Starter: Rocco Becht (Iowa State)
Key Option: Alex Manske (Iowa State)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Ethan Grunkemeyer to Virginia Tech, Jaxon Smolik to Temple, Bekkem Kritza to Alabama A&M

Of course Matt Campbell was going to bring in his guys from Iowa State. And, of course, Grunkemeyer was going to follow James Franklin to Virginia Tech.

Purdue

Likely 2026 Starter: Ryan Browne
Key Option: Bennett Meredith
Transfer Portal Loss: Malachi Singleton to App State

Barry Odom didn't hit the portal, and there's no experience waiting in the wings. It's Browne or bust.

Rutgers

Likely 2026 Starter: Dylan Lonergan (Boston College)
Key Option: AJ Surace
Transfer Portal Loss: None

There might be more of a battle than it seems to replace Athan Kaliakmanis. Lonergan was a good get from the portal, but Surace will make a push.

UCLA

Likely 2026 Starter: Nico Iamaleava
Key Options: Ty Dieffenbach (Cal Poly), Luke Duncan (Nevada)
Transfer Portal Loss: Henry Hasselbeck to App State

Iamaleava is better than you think. Bob Chesney needs him to carry things until the backup situation works itself out.

USC

Likely 2026 Starter: Jayden Maiava
Key Option: Jonas Williams
Transfer Portal Loss: Husan Longstreet to LSU

Losing Longstreet to LSU hurts, but it means Maiava is still around. Lincoln Riley needs freshman Williams to be great right away.

Washington

Likely 2026 Starter: Demond Williams
Key Option: Elijah Brown (Stanford)
Transfer Portal Loss: None

Yeah, after all of that with the contract situation, Williams is still around. As long as everyone is happy, the Huskies have a star.

Wisconsin

Likely 2026 Starter: Colton Joseph (Old Dominion)
Key Option: Deuce Adams (Louisville)
Transfer Portal Loss: Billy Edwards to North Carolina

The Badgers haven't had a lick of quarterback luck since Luke Fickell took over. Joseph is a baller's baller who can run. There's depth now, if something happens to Joseph.

Big 12 Quarterback Situations for 2026

Arizona

Likely 2026 Starter: Noah Fifita
Key Option: Oscar Rios
Transfer Portal Loss: Braedyn Locke to Tarleton State

It's Fifita's job, but the offseason is about finding a true pecking order - and a future starter - behind him.

Arizona State

Projected Starter: Cutter Boley (Kentucky)
Key Options: Jake Fette, Mikey Keene (Michigan)
Transfer Portal Loss: 2025 starter Sam Leavitt to LSU

You don't get better by losing Leavitt, but Keene is a solid veteran, Fette is a good-looking prospect, and Kenny Dillingham got Boley for a reason.

Baylor

Likely 2026 Starter: DJ Lagway (Florida)
Key Option: Nate Bennett
Transfer Portal Loss: Walker White to Central Arkansas

Lagway should be a statistical superstar in the Baylor attack in place of Sawyer Robertson.

BYU

Likely 2026 Starter: Bear Bachmeier
Key Option: Treyson Bourguet
Transfer Portal Loss: McCae Hillstead to Utah State

Bachmeier is the franchise for the next few years. He's only going to get better with more experience - the program works around him.

Cincinnati

Likely 2026 Starter: JC French (Georgia Southern)
Key Option: Samaj Jones
Transfer Portal Loss: 2025 starter Brendan Sorsby to Texas Tech

Sorsby was the main quarterback star in the transfer portal, but don't be shocked when French turns out to be almost as productive for the Bearcats.

Colorado

Likely 2026 Starter: Julian Lewis
Key Option: Isaac Wilson (Utah)
Transfer Portal Loss: Ryan Staub to Tennessee

Lewis was and is young, and he needs a line that will give him time, but the talent is there.

Houston

Likely 2026 starter: Conner Weigman
Key Option: Luke Carney (Syracuse)
Transfer Portal Loss: Zeon Chriss-Gremillion to Tulane

It was a wonderful hold to keep Weigman around for another year. He's the grizzled veteran who has seen it all.

Iowa State

Likely 2026 Starter: Jaylen Raynor (Arkansas State)
Key Option: Zane Flores (Oklahoma State)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Rocco Becht to Penn State, Alex Manske to Penn State

Matt Campbell took his quarterbacks with him to Penn State, but Raynor is a veteran playmaker who should be okay.

Kansas

Likely 2026 Starter: Chase Jenkins (Rice)
Key Options: Cole Ballard, Isaiah Marshall, David McComb (Maryland)
Transfer Portal Loss: None

Wide open doesn't begin to describe the Kansas quarterback situation to replace Jalon Daniels. Jenkins is a dangerous option who can run, but the Jayhawks kept around their main backups. It'll be a fight all offseason.

Kansas State

Likely 2026 Starter: Avery Johnson
Key Option: Blake Barnett
Transfer Portal Loss: None

Collin Klein walks into a turn-key situation. Johnson is the starter, the backups are in place, and it's all solid.

Oklahoma State

Likely 2026 Starter: Drew Mestemaker (North Texas)
Key Option: Grant Jordan (UMass)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Zane Flores to Iowa State, Hauss Hejny to Colorado State

In the least surprising thing of the offseason, Mestemaker comes along with Eric Morris to throw and throw some more for what should be one of the Big 12's most dangerous attacks.

TCU

Likely 2026 Starter: Jaden Craig (Harvard)
Key Option: Adam Schobel
Transfer Portal Loss: 2025 starter Josh Hoover to Indiana

Don't just assume the TCU offense will melt down without Hoover. He was good, but Craig can throw - he'll be a statistical star in the attack.

Texas Tech

Likely 2026 Starter: Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati)
Key Option: Kirk Francis (Tulsa)
Transfer Portal Loss: Mitch Griffis to East Carolina

Darian Mensah turned out to be the best quarterback in the transfer portal, but Sorsby was a top get. 2025 starter Behren Morton was good, Sorsby is better.

UCF

Likely 2026 Starter: Alonza Barnett III (James Madison)
Key Options: Kaleb Annett (Boise State), Keyone Jenkins (FIU)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Tayven Jackson to North Texas, Davi Belfort to James Madison, Cam Fancher to Michigan State

Now it's on. For those who saw Barnett fight the impossible fight against Oregon in the College Football Playoff, get ready for more of that with the Knights.

Utah

Likely 2026 Starter: Devon Dampier
Key Option: Byrd Ficklin
Transfer Portal Loss: Isaac Wilson to Colorado

Dampier keeps it all going for the Utah offense. The veteran depth isn't there, and there's some developing to do.

West Virginia

Likely 2026 Starter: Michael Hawkins Jr. (Oklahoma)
Key Option: Scotty Fox Jr.
Transfer Portal Losses: Jaylen Henderson to Liberty, Nicco Marchiol to the portal, Khalil Wilkins to Marshall

Hawkins Jr. should be the perfect fit to handle the Rich Rodriguez offense, but it's going to be a 1A vs 1B quarterback battle with Fox all offseason. You don't get a quarterback like Hawkins, though, unless you know what he's about to do.

SEC Quarterback Situations for 2026

Oct 18, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) runs for a touchdown against the during the second quarter at Sanford Stadium. © Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Alabama

Likely 2026 Starter: Keelon Russell
Key Option: Austin Mack
Transfer Portal Loss: None

If you've noticed throughout this, just about everyone has a veteran or a transfer who's ready to roll. Russell might have the biggest New Starter spotlight on him this season as he tries to take over for Ty Simpson.

Arkansas

Likely 2026 Starter: KJ Jackson
Key Option: Hank Hendrix, AJ Hill (Memphis)
Transfer Portal Losses: Trever Jackson to Coastal Carolina, Grayson Wilson to Boston College

There will be a quarterback derby under new head coach Ryan Silverfield to replace Taylen Green, but keeping Jackson around was big.

Auburn

Likely 2026 Starter: Byrum Brown (USF)
Key Option: Tristan Ti'a (Oregon State)
Transfer Portal Losses: Deuce Knight to Ole Miss, Jackson Arnold to UNLV, Ashton Daniels to Florida State

New head coach Alex Golesh brought along his quarterback to make the O go right away.

Florida

Likely 2026 Starter: Aaron Philo (Georgia Tech)
Key Option: Will Griffin
Transfer Portal Loss: 2025 starter DJ Lagway to Baylor

Philo should be fine, but he's not the big prospect/star you'd think Florida would grab. New head coach Jon Sumrall needs Philo to be instantly great.

Georgia

Likely 2026 Starter: Gunner Stockton
Key Option: Bryson Beaver (Oregon)
Transfer Portal Loss: None

It's all good with great continuity, but Stockton is the leader and star of the 2026 Bulldogs. Now the depth has to rise up.

Kentucky

Likely 2026 Starter: Kenny Minchey (Notre Dame)
Key Option: JacQai Long (Marshall)
Transfer Portal Losses: 2025 starter Cutter Boley to Arizona State, Stone Saunders to San Diego State

Just when it seemed like the Kentucky quarterback situation was a problem ... YOINK. New head coach Will Stein flipped Minchey from Nebraska.

LSU

Likely 2026 Starter: Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)
Key Options: Landen Clark (Elon), Husan Longstreet (USC)
Transfer Portal Losses: Colin Hurley to Michigan, Michael Van Buren to USF

It's Lane Kiffin, so he'd like to have 43 good quarterback options to replace Garrett Nussmeier. But getting Leavitt was massive, Clark is a sleeper-good option, and Longstreet is the superstar of the near future.

Mississippi State

Likely 2026 Starter: Kamario Taylor
Key Options: Jaden Rashada (Sacramento State), AJ Swann (App State)
Transfer Portal Loss: Luke Kromenhoek to USF

The Bulldogs have a budding star in Taylor. Rashada and Swann are decent backup options, but this is Taylor's gig.

Missouri

Likely 2026 Starter: Austin Simmons (Ole Miss)
Key Options: Nick Evers (UConn), Matt Zollers
Transfer Portal Loss: 2025 starter Beau Pribula to Virginia

Simmons has the talent and upside to be an SEC superstar with the keys to the Mizzou offense. There might be a wee bit of a quarterback competition, but ... nah.

Oklahoma

Likely 2026 Starter: John Mateer
Key Option: Whitt Newbauer
Transfer Portal Loss: Michael Hawkins Jr. to West Virginia

Do NOT forget about this guy. Mateer got hurt, was just okay, and the problems in the playoff loss to Alabama are what everyone remembers. He might just be Heisman-worthy this year, but at the moment, there aren't any other options if something happens.

Ole Miss

Likely 2026 Starter: Deuce Knight (Auburn)
Key Options: Trinidad Chambliss, Walker Howard (Louisiana)
Transfer Portal Loss: Austin Simmons to Missouri

OF COURSE Chambliss is the starter if he can find the right ruling to get him eligible for another year - but until that happens, don't overlook just how good Knight will be if this is his offense.

South Carolina

Likely 2026 Starter: LaNorris Sellers
Key Option: Lucian Anderson (Bowling Green)
Transfer Portal Loss: Air Noland to Memphis

Sort of like John Mateer at Oklahoma, don't forget about Sellers. He's a future NFL starter who'll blow up if he gets the time to work.

Tennessee

Likely 2026 Starter: George MacIntyre
Key Options: Joey Aguilar, Faizon Brandon, Ryan Staub (Colorado)
Transfer Portal Loss: Jake Merklinger to UConn

Can Aguilar get another year or eligibility? Probably not, so the Vols will likely stay in-house and hope MacIntyre is ready.

Texas

Likely 2026 Starter: Arch Manning
Key Options: Dia Bell, KJ Lacey, MJ Morris (Coastal Carolina)
2025 Main Starter: Arch Manning
Transfer Portal Loss: Trey Owens to Arkansas State

Boom. Manning is back, he got through the storm, and now, LOOK OUT.

Texas A&M

Likely 2026 Starter: Marcel Reed
Key Option: Helaman Casuga
Transfer Portal Loss: Miles O'Neill to North Carolina

Reed will probably fall through the cracks a bit when it comes to SEC quarterback hype, but he's about to have another amazing season. However, there's nothing if the Aggies need someone else to step in.

Vanderbilt

Likely 2026 Starter: Jared Curtis
Key Option: Blaze Berlowitz
Transfer Portal Losses: Jeremy St-Hilaire to Arkansas State, Drew Dickey to Arkansas State

No, Diego Pavia doesn't have any eligibility left. Curtis is a totally different player, but he can throw, and now he should be the franchise guy for the next few years.

This story was originally published by College Football News on Feb 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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