Top 15 College Football Quarterbacks to Watch in 2025: Rising Stars and Proven Leaders

The Evolving Quarterback Landscape

The 2025 college football season brings a fascinating mix of established stars and promising new faces under center. With only six College Football Playoff teams returning their primary starting QBs, transfer portal moves and emerging talents are reshaping the quarterback hierarchy. This analysis incorporates insights from over a dozen coaches and defensive coordinators who faced these players last season.

15. Darian Mensah, Duke

Vitals: Sophomore, 6'3", 200 lbs
2024 Stats: 2,723 yards, 22 TDs, 6 INTs (65.9% completion)
Analysis: The Tulane transfer led AAC QBs in yards/attempt (9.49) and brings elite deep-ball accuracy to Duke's offense. Coaches praise his live arm but question how his play-action style fits in Duke's quick-pass system.

14. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor

Vitals: Senior, 6'4", 220 lbs
2024 Stats: 3,071 yards, 28 TDs, 8 INTs (62.2% completion)
Breakout Potential: Finished 2024 with nine straight 200-yard games, including a 445-yard Texas Bowl performance against LSU. His late-season surge has Big 12 coaches buzzing.

13. Luke Altmyer, Illinois

Vitals: Senior, 6'2", 205 lbs
Clutch Factor: The only FBS QB with three game-winning TD passes in final two minutes/overtime in 2024. His third year in the system makes him a dark horse Big Ten contender.

12. Arch Manning, Texas

Vitals: Sophomore, 6'4", 225 lbs
Limited Tape: Posted 10 TDs in just three extended appearances, showing elite athleticism (15+ yard runs vs four opponents). Coaches cite his "effortless" playmaking as he takes over the starting role.

11. Kevin Jennings, SMU

Vitals: Junior, 6'0", 185 lbs
ACC Dominance: Led conference in passing efficiency (171.5 rating) despite CFP struggles. His dual-threat ability (354 rush yards) pairs perfectly with Rhett Lashlee's system.

10. DJ Lagway, Florida

Vitals: Sophomore, 6'3", 241 lbs
Freak Athlete: Went 6-1 as true freshman starter with 12 completions of 40+ yards. SEC coaches marvel at his "elite" arm talent and physical gifts, predicting Heisman contention.

9. Haynes King, Georgia Tech

Vitals: Senior, 6'3", 215 lbs
Dual-Threat Machine: One of just two QBs with 2,800+ pass yards, 25+ pass TDs, 700+ rush yards and 10+ rush TDs since 2023. Cut INTs from 16 to 2 last season.

8. Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee

Vitals: Sophomore, 6'6", 220 lbs
Physical Marvel: Added 25 pounds of muscle since freshman year. SEC coaches rave about his rare combination of size, arm strength, and underrated mobility.

7. Carson Beck, Miami

Vitals: Senior, 6'4", 220 lbs
Redemption Arc: The Georgia transfer enters Miami's QB-friendly system looking to rebound from midseason struggles. Completed 64.7% with 28 TDs despite shaky receiver play.

6. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State

Vitals: Sophomore, 6'2", 200 lbs
Big 12 Rising Star: Threw 3+ TDs in five of final seven games, including Big 12 title bout. Coaches praise his "perfect blend" of passing accuracy and scrambling ability.

5. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Vitals: Sophomore, 6'3", 240 lbs
SEC Breakout: 2024 SEC Freshman of Year with 166 rush yards vs Clemson. Combines uncommon size (240 lbs) with impressive accuracy (65.6% completions).

4. John Mateer, Oklahoma

Vitals: Junior, 6'1", 224 lbs
Stat Beast: Led FBS with 44 total TDs (29 pass, 15 rush) at Washington State. Follows OC Ben Arbuckle to revamp OU's 119th-ranked passing attack.

3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Vitals: Senior, 6'2", 200 lbs
Air Raid Specialist: One of six 4,000-yard passers nationally in 2024 - the only one returning. Fifth-year senior poised for huge final campaign.

2. Drew Allar, Penn State

Vitals: Senior, 6'5", 235 lbs
NFL Prospect: School record-holder in completion percentage (62.9%). Second year under OC Andy Kotelnicki could unlock his elite physical tools.

1. Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Vitals: Senior, 6'2", 210 lbs
Most Improved: Nearly tripled TD output (36 vs 19) while cutting INTs from 9 to 6. ACC coaches note his dramatic passing improvement and gritty leadership.

Final Thoughts

This QB class features remarkable diversity - from NFL-ready prototypes (Allar) to electrifying dual-threats (Mateer, King) and promising sophomores (Manning, Lagway). The transfers (Beck, Mensah) add another fascinating layer as teams integrate new systems. With spring practice underway, these 15 signal-callers will shape the 2025 championship race.