The College QB Hype Machine Kicks Into Gear

The AP’s Top 25 College Football poll had few surprises; many of the top schools dominated their respective conferences last season. Some of the NIL’s richest only got richer with strong portal classes. With little polling intrigue as we begin the season this Labor Day weekend, we’ll give you one bold prediction as we head into our first true college football Saturday (let’s ignore week zero).

At the helm of each of these powerhouse programs are blue-chip quarterbacks fueling one of the most hyped draft classes of the century. That’s not hyperbole. We picked a tight five below as a primer, but our WAY, WAY, WAY too early prediction is the 2027 draft class will feature five or more QBs selected by pro teams in the first round, on par with the 1983 class, headlined by John Elway and Dan Marino, and 2024, led by Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye.

Even with a mostly unregulated transfer portal, minimal starter continuity across college football beyond this list of returners below, and defenses finally innovating enough to limit shootouts, QBs still play an outsize role in a team’s success. 

Let’s take a closer look at the five starters hellbent on taking their programs deep into the College Football Playoff this January.

A powerhouse program will almost certainly attract a powerhouse quarterback, and with his 2025 stat line, Julian Sayin deserves plenty of accolades. With 3,610 passing yards, 32 TDs, and a QBR of 88.4, the junior QB statistically beats most of his contemporaries by a country mile.

Where he struggled, however, were the high pressure moments. Last season, Ohio State’s back-to-back National Championship hopes were cut short after a disappointing loss to future champions Indiana. An abysmal second half offensive performance shut down any chances of the Buckeyes making it past the unstoppable 2025 Hoosiers. Ohio State’s only other loss last season was a similar offensive disappointment; a 24-14 loss to Miami in the Cotton Bowl saw Sayin complete one TD and throw two interceptions.

Sayin averages 12 yards per completion. That’s a first down every time he completes a play, which he does a lot (77% of the time, to be exact). If he can keep those numbers up while staying cool when the lights are brightest—the moments that define a legacy—he’ll take Ohio State to familiar championship heights.

The question remains for Oregon: can they break through and win a national title? Dante Moore is largely responsible for a season of high highs and low lows during the 2025 season, which collapsed in epic fashion at the hands of 34-point loss to Indiana in the CFP semifinal.

Moore is entering his second year as a starter for Oregon and his third year as a Power 4 starting QB. In nine of the 12 games he started with the Ducks, he recorded 3,565 passing yards and 30 TDs. However, he also threw 10 interceptions, and Oregon’s brutal loss in the Peach Bowl to Indiana wasn’t helped by an offense that was outscored by more than 30 points. 

Rumors were abound about Moore entering the NFL draft, but he stayed with Oregon, saying he didn’t feel ready for the pros. Now, as a senior with another offseason of training under his belt, Moore is locked in and looking to finish the job for the Ducks.

Few QBs are as efficient as senior Bulldog Gunner Stockton. He throws short, quick passes with nearly 70% accuracy. Stockton was a competitive QB in the SEC, beating Texas, Ole Miss, and Alabama. He’s also stuck with Georgia since his first season, a commendable trait for a QB in the Transfer Portal era. 

However, Stockton has also flailed in some key situations. Despite beating Ole Miss in the regular season, Georgia lost in the Sugar Bowl in a close 39-34 shootout. His ability to throw quick and short doesn’t help when a team needs an explosive play to close out the game. 

Stockton may not be the most exciting QB to watch, but he does deliver. He’s earned his high QBR, and he’ll be battle-tested as the Dawgs attack the always-tough SEC schedule.

Junior CJ Carr, somewhat confoundingly, found himself at the top of ESPN’s pre-season QB ranking. He threw for 2,741 yards last season, ranking just 51st out of all Division 1 QBs. He rarely gave up sacks, but was also behind one of the best offensive lines in the country in 2025, and he was supported by a very strong run game. 

However, for all the excuses people can make, Carr can throw. He averages 14.1 yards per completion and works well under pressure. He led the Fighting Irish to several blowouts and fought hard in several extremely close losses.

Whether or not he deserves his top rankings, or if Notre Dame deserves its top rankings as a whole, Carr is a phenomenal athlete. He’ll put any doubts to rest this season as he enters his second year starting for the Irish. 

This season is make-or-break for the latest member of the Manning Football Dynasty. The first half of last season left some truly awful stats for Manning. He completed just under half of the passes he threw when outside of the pocket, and his overall completion rate of 61.4% isn’t that high compared to many of his opponents. 

However, Manning’s late-season propulsion put him first in QBR after October. He even ranked above Heisman-winning Fernando Mendoza, according to ESPN. Many pre-season rankings this year put Manning in a top spot, emphasizing his growth throughout last season to justify his continued relevance. 

As he enters his junior year, Manning has a lot left to prove, but the sun has yet to set on the Manning Dynasty. 

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RIP Dolly Parton: The Tennessee Volunteers are honoring the late country music icon with a special Dolly helmet decal this season.

Darian Mensah Hates Our QB Primer: Yes, we left the Duke transfer off the list. In his first game as a Miami Hurricane, he threw for a cool 401 yards and five touchdowns against Stanford on Friday night in the Bay. We look silly. He looks great. Expect him rise up our theoretical draft board quickly.

U.S. Open: As the Grand Slam enters its famed Labor Day weekend slate, revisit one of our favorite tennis covers, featuring the legendary Jimmy Conners.

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