College Football’s Top 10 QB Rooms: A Comprehensive Review
As the college football season approaches, teams are gearing up for another thrilling year of competition. One key aspect of a team’s success is its quarterback room, and we’re taking a closer look at the top 10 QB rooms in the country. From experienced signal-callers to promising young guns, these teams have the talent and depth to make a run at the national title.
Oregon Ducks: The Gold Standard
The Oregon Ducks boast one of the most impressive QB rooms in the country, led by Dante Moore. The talented quarterback returned to Oregon after turning down life-changing money, and his decision has paid off. With 42 combined starts on a loaded roster, the Ducks have the kind of quarterback depth that’s almost impossible to find in today’s college football landscape.
Moore’s experience is complemented by Dylan Raiola, who started the last few seasons for Nebraska. Raiola’s addition gives Oregon one of the rare quarterback rooms with both high-end talent and real experience behind the starter. The Ducks’ quarterbacks have been resurrected by learning behind Dillon Gabriel for a year, and Raiola is poised to replicate that come 2027.
Texas Longhorns: A Talented Roster with Depth
The Texas Longhorns have added MJ Morris, a veteran option with 10 career starts across multiple programs. Morris gives the Longhorns an experienced fallback plan if needed, which matters for a team with national title expectations. The future of the room is just as interesting, with two promising young gunslingers in Dia Bell and KJ Lacey. Both are talented enough to factor into the long-term picture, and fall camp could help sort out who is next in line – not only for the future, but potentially for the 2026 season if Texas needs another option out of the transfer portal.
Utah Utes: A Dual-Threat QB Room
The Utah Utes have one of the more intriguing quarterback rooms in the country, with both of its top options having experience and the ability to beat defenses with their legs. Devon Dampier is an exciting dual-threat quarterback with proven production as both a passer and runner. He has accounted for more than 7,250 total yards and 65 touchdowns over the last two seasons, and he made clear improvement as a passer last year. If that growth continues, the ceiling is extremely high.
Byrd Ficklin also raised eyebrows as a change-up option last season, accounting for 13 touchdowns while averaging an explosive 8.4 yards per carry. The southpaw looked comfortable throwing the football, too, and he will be a name to watch in 2027 – if not sooner – as a potential future star.
Ole Miss Rebels: A Safe and Efficient QB Room
The Ole Miss Rebels have hit the jackpot by getting Trinidad Chambliss another year of eligibility. Based on last season, I think he is one of the top five returning players in the country. Chambliss is an accurate passer who protects the football as well as anyone in college football. He also uses his legs just enough to stress opposing defenses without making recklessness part of his game. That combination gives Ole Miss one of the safest and most efficient quarterback options in the country.
The Rebels also got Deuce Knight into the portal to be the starter, and now have a very nice developmental piece in the room. Knight is a dual-threat quarterback who got 60 snaps at Auburn last season and looked the part in his only start. That gives Ole Miss both a high-end starter and an exciting long-term option.
Ohio State Buckeyes: A Talented QB Room
The Ohio State Buckeyes return Julian Sayin, who looked elite for most of last season before the Buckeyes’ offensive line was outmatched late in the year. Sayin showed ridiculous accuracy, completing 77% of his passes for more than 3,600 yards while doing a strong job protecting the football as a first-year starter. He should have more authority this season to check plays and audible at the line of scrimmage, and Ohio State is once again loaded across the entire offense.
Behind him, Tavien St. Clair is one of the more talented backup options in the country. He got 13 reps last season, was a top recruit in the 2024 class, and looked fantastic in the spring game. His biggest hurdle may simply be waiting to see whether Sayin returns for another season or leaves for the NFL.
Lane Kiffin’s QB Room: A Strong Plan B
Lane Kiffin has had a strong reputation for developing quarterbacks throughout most of his coaching career, and this season should be no different. Sam Leavitt is coming off an injury and somewhat of a down season in 2025, but his 2024 tape was excellent. His athletic ability as a runner is elite, and I expect a major rebound season from him if he is healthy.
Kiffin also got Husan Longstreet to hit the portal, giving LSU a strong Plan B if Leavitt is not fully healthy. Longstreet, a former five-star prospect from USC, got 44 reps last season and was able to get his feet wet. He is also a legitimate long-term solution for the Tigers as a dual-threat quarterback.
USC Trojans: A Talented QB Room
The USC Trojans have a strong option at the top of the room with Jayden Maiava, who took a real jump last year in his first season as a full-time starter. He had a fantastic season, throwing for more than 3,400 yards and 24 touchdowns. Lincoln Riley has already proven he knows how to coach and develop quarterbacks, and Maiava gives the Trojans a strong option.
Behind him, Sam Huard is likely the backup – or at least the veteran option – after an interesting college career that included starting experience at Cal Poly. The future of the room is talented freshman Jonas Williams, who has all the tools to be great. He is likely the next big thing at USC, and he gives the Trojans another high-upside piece in a room that already has proven production.
Miami Hurricanes: A High-End Starter
The Miami Hurricanes have essentially become QB Portal University over the last three seasons, and the Hurricanes went all-in financially to land Darian Mensah. Mensah is a fantastic player with weapons all around him, and he gives Miami the kind of high-end starter it has aggressively pursued in recent years.
Behind him, Luke Nickel is a talented pro-style quarterback who got six snaps last season and is likely the backup. Dereon Coleman is another talented prospect who will try to take over the No. 2 spot. I would expect both young quarterbacks to get some reps during the season, because Miami’s schedule should include plenty of blowouts.
Houston Cougars: A Talented QB Room
The Houston Cougars did a nice job maximizing Connor Weigman’s skills after an up-and-down career at Texas A&M. Weigman was much improved last season, throwing for more than 2,700 yards and 25 touchdowns while doing a strong job taking care of the football. He also became a legitimate running threat, adding 700 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
That development must have caught Keisean Henderson’s eye, because the top recruit in the country chose Houston over every other program. There is no doubt Henderson will get some playing time this year, and the Cougars are positioned well to be a factor in the Big 12 for the next few seasons.
CJ Carr: A Future NFL Starter
CJ Carr made a major jump last season after a difficult two-game start to his career against Miami and Texas A&M. Carr looks like a future NFL starter. He showed the ability to hit all areas of the field and threw only six interceptions all season. Now he will have a tough decision to make after the year: return for another season or leave for the NFL.
