College Football QB Power Rankings: Dante Moore, Arch Manning Lead Top 50

Gazing throughout Oregon’s projected broad receiver depth chart, Dante Moore’s choice to spurn the NFL Draft for an additional season of college football begins to make a bit extra sense. He handed up a golden alternative to be one of many first names referred to as. But he’ll make a ton of cash slinging the rock for the Ducks, and he’ll even have lots of enjoyable throwing to one of many most-talented pass-catching teams within the sport.

A 12 months in the past, accidents at receiver and tight finish hampered the Ducks’ explosiveness, although Moore nonetheless threw for practically 3,600 yards and led Oregon to the CFP semifinals. This time round, Oregon is fortified with a deep group of targets who ought to solely additional elevate Moore’s sport.

The headline trio of Evan Stewart, Jeremiah McClellan and Dakorien Moore will give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares, and they’re backed up by former five-star prospects Jalen Lott and Gatlin Blair. Throw in Iverson Hooks, who caught 72 passes at UAB final season, and also you get a deep and confirmed group that shall be suited to face up to regardless of the rigors of the season carry. Tight finish Jamari Johnson can be again after a 500-yard marketing campaign.

Because of his improved supporting forged at receiver and his personal successes in 2025, Moore is starting the 2026 season atop the CBS Sports Quarterback Power Rankings.

Here is the complete 1-50 breakdown of the QBPR coming into Week 1. Week 0 outcomes have been factored into the rankings.

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1. Dante Moore, Oregon

Oregon’s receiver room is improved and in vastly higher well being than it was for a lot of final season. The enchancment of Moore’s supporting forged shall be greater than sufficient to offset any minor problems that will come up from the transition to a brand new offensive coordinator. Look for him to surpass final season’s totals of three,565 yards and 30 touchdowns whereas guiding the Ducks deep into the postseason.

2. Arch Manning, Texas

Manning handled a nagging foot harm all through the 2025 season and overcame an abysmal begin to end with over 3,500 complete yards and 36 mixed touchdowns as a passer and runner. Texas went all in to bolster its supporting forged this 12 months, and Manning had his foot situation addressed via surgical procedure. He’s acquired an actual shot at turning into the primary member of his household to win the Heisman Trophy. That journey will start in earnest with a Week 2 residence showdown in opposition to Ohio State, an opportunity at redemption after his lackluster Week 1 efficiency in opposition to the Buckeyes final season.

3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

College soccer’s top breakout star of 2025 is again for extra in 2026 as he pairs with elite working again Kewan Lacy to present Ole Miss the top QB/RB duo within the nation. Chambliss totaled practically 4,500 yards from scrimmage final season and is poised for an additional monster season after profitable a authorized battle to play yet another 12 months. He’ll have an opportunity to make an early impression because the Rebels tackle Louisville on Sunday in Nashville to open the season.

4. Darian Mensah, Miami

Mensah completed second within the FBS and first amongst Power Four quarterbacks with 3,973 passing yards final season at Duke. Now at Miami, he’ll have stud sophomore receiver Malachi Toney in his arsenal in addition to fellow Duke switch Cooper Barkate, who completed second within the ACC behind Toney in receiving yards final season with 1,106. If Mensah would not match his Duke numbers, it’s going to probably be as a result of Miami is working the soccer whereas profitable in blowout trend.

5. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

The knock on Sayin’s in any other case spectacular debut marketing campaign as Ohio State’s starter is that he did not play properly within the postseason in opposition to high-end competitors. He’ll have a number of redemption alternatives in 2026 as 5 of the top 16 groups within the AP preseason ballot are on the Buckeyes’ schedule. A Week 2 journey to No. 5 Texas shall be significantly impactful in establishing the trajectory of Sayin’s redshirt sophomore season.

6. CJ Carr, Notre Dame

Carr ranked third nationally in yards per try at 9.4 throughout a powerful redshirt freshman season. But after good showings in losses to Miami and Texas A&M, the opposing defenses have been largely horrendous. With star working backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price gone, much more shall be requested of Carr this season. He ought to completely be a top-10 school soccer quarterback, however the preseason Heisman buzz feels overdone.

7. Jayden Maiava, USC

Maiava began in model by finishing 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns whereas working for an additional in USC’s Week 0 thrashing of San Jose State. As a productive, veteran quarterback in Lincoln Riley’s QB-friendly system, you may go forward and pencil Maiava in for an enormous 12 months. With No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon and No. 6 Indiana on the schedule, Maiava may have some “Heisman moment” alternatives.

8. Josh Hoover, Indiana

Indiana’s final switch quarterback went from good to nice as soon as he joined the Hoosiers. Following in Fernando Mendoza’s footsteps is a tall job, however Hoover is the lively passing yards chief in FBS. Don’t sleep on him. No one was predicting an all-time nice season from Mendoza this time final 12 months after he transferred in from Cal. It seems that higher teaching and a greater supporting forged can do wonders for a clearly gifted quarterback.

9. Kevin Jennings, SMU

Given how porous and undaunting the Florida State protection appeared in an uninspiring Week 0 win over New Mexico State, we’re already elevating Jennings within the QBPR. Unless the Seminoles right a ton of defensive points this week, Jennings will completely feast. Regardless, he’s in line to turn out to be the varsity’s all-time chief in a slew of classes this season.

10. Byrum Brown, Auburn

Brown is among the many few who could make an enormous Week 1 impression as Auburn takes on Baylor in Atlanta. Watching him final 12 months at South Florida, it was exhausting to inform that Brown was coming off a damaged leg suffered halfway via the 2024 season. He ran the soccer with vigor and physicality, tallying 1,008 yards and 14 scores on the bottom to go together with one other 28 touchdowns and three,158 yards passing. Auburn is getting a veteran star who is aware of coach Alex Golesh’s system. If he can keep wholesome via the pains of a nine-game SEC schedule, he may have a monster 12 months.

11. Sam Leavitt, LSU

Leavitt is getting back from a foot harm that derailed his 2025 season at Arizona State and can be studying a brand new offense inside an overhauled LSU program. If he returns to his 2024 kind, he’ll be a Heisman contender. But after a restricted spring, he’ll should be nice instantly. The Tigers open in opposition to Clemson and play Ole Miss and Texas A&M earlier than the tip of September. Leavitt’s play will decide the ceiling for an costly and already controversial Year 1 of the Lane Kiffin regime.

12. Gunner Stockton, Georgia

Stockton proved he is acquired a excessive flooring throughout his first season because the full-time starter in 2025, guiding Georgia to an SEC title. But Georgia’s ceiling as a staff will, to some extent, rely upon Stockton’s capability to raise from “reliably efficient” to one thing extra. The Bulldogs want an alpha to emerge inside their receiver room to assist Stockton, who ranked 129th amongst FBS quarterbacks in air yards per try at simply 6.6 in 2025.

13. Noah Fifita, Arizona

No FBS quarterback has thrown for extra yards with their present program than Fifita, who’s prone to surpass 10,000 profession passing yards with Arizona early this season. He had the most effective season of his profession in 2025 whereas guiding the Wildcats to a 9-4 mark and is again for an encore as Arizona seeks to make itself an element within the Big 12 race.

14. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Reed is able to flexing up into the top 10 if he cuts again on turnovers and continues to enhance his effectivity as a passer. But in 2025, he ranked final amongst Heisman contenders in EPA per dropback. He’s freelancer, however he is not fairly a Johnny Manziel-level playmaker. Reed’s ceiling can even rely upon how the Aggies mesh with new offensive coordinator Holman Wiggins, who was promoted from inside to interchange Collin Klein.

15. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

Mestemaker led all of FBS in passing yards with 4,379 final season, tied for second in landing passes with 34 and completed fourth in passing effectivity. The previously ignored prospect had a myriad of choices within the portal however opted to comply with Eric Morris, the coach who gave him an opportunity. The Cowboys additionally signed two of Mestemaker’s top targets from North Texas in Wyatt Young and Miles Coleman. All the items for a splashy season are in place.

16. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, California

The retention of Sagapolutele amid the teaching transition from Justin Wilcox to Tosh Lupoi marked an enormous win for the Bears. The lefty gunslinger is a uncommon expertise able to serving to the Bears’ new regime get off to a robust begin. If he meshes with an intriguing group of portal-heavy receiver expertise, the returns could possibly be good. With two gettable Power Four opponents on the schedule out of the gate (UCLA and Syracuse), the stage is about for Sagapolutele to pop early.

17. Demond Williams Jr., Washington

Williams referred to as an audible and returned to Washington after asserting he would enter the switch portal. It did not replicate properly on Williams, who had already signed a cope with UW. But the state of affairs acquired resolved, and he is gifted sufficient to earn the forgiveness of any Huskies followers who should still be disgruntled over the ordeal. After totaling over 3,700 complete yards final season, there is a cause why different colleges wished Williams.

18. Bear Bachmeier, BYU

Bachmeier was a revelation in 2025, main BYU to a 12-2 season after coming into as a three-star true freshman. The dual-threat dynamo is barely a sophomore, however he is on observe to turn out to be a legend at a program that has seen its share of nice quarterbacks. The cause he is not larger is that the Cougars have a ton of pass-catching manufacturing to interchange and could possibly be apt to experience star again LJ Martin every time sensible.

19. Keelon Russell, Alabama

Russell edged veteran Austin Mack for the beginning job and owns breakout star potential coming into the 2026 season. Head coach Kalen DeBoer’s observe report with quarterbacks is strong and was additional confirmed final season, when Ty Simpson developed right into a first-round draft choose. Russell is extra cell than Simpson, which can assist if a revamped offensive line is gradual to gel.

20. Conner Weigman, Houston

Weigman lastly discovered his area of interest at Houston final season after three tumultuous seasons at Texas A&M. He was one in every of solely 4 quarterbacks within the nation to throw for 25 touchdowns and run for 10 extra as he guided the Cougars to a 10-3 mark in Willie Fritz’s second season. With top receiver Amare Thomas again and the Cougars projected to discipline one of many Big 12’s finest offensive strains, Weigman ought to shine once more.

21. Devon Dampier, Utah

22. John Mateer, Oklahoma

23. Beau Pribula, Virginia

24. Bryce Underwood, Michigan

25. Rocco Becht, Penn State

26. Anthony Colandrea, Nebraska

27. Katin Houser, Illinois

28. Austin Simmons, Missouri

29. Alonza Barnett III, UCF

30. Lincoln Kienholz, Louisville

31. Malik Washington, Maryland

32. Ethan Grunkemeyer, Virginia Tech