The 2026 quarterback class has not turned out the way that many had hoped heading into the season. Nobody has separated themselves as the top quarterback in the class and those that were thought to be among the best have dropped off significantly. We’ve officially completed the first half of the college football season, which means it’s a good time to take a look at where things stand.
Every week throughout the college football season, I will be watching some of the top quarterback prospects for 2026 and rating their performances. Let’s take a look at who will be worth watching over the second half of the year.
Dante Moore, Oregon
Halfway through the college football season, Dante Moore has been rising to the top. It’s very possible that he returns to school for another year, but in what has been a weaker quarterback class, he could be one of the first drafted. Moore didn’t have his best game at home against Indiana and the Penn State win looks less impressive after they just lost to Northwestern. Still, the arm talent and athleticism are evident. Despite throwing two interceptions on Saturday, Moore showed some of the things he’s capable of and why he might be an exciting prospect. Again, his arm talent and athleticism are evident, but he’s also shown the ability to remain poised under pressure and deliver an accurate ball.
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
It’s very possible that Fernando Mendoza ends up being QB1. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked his top-3 quarterbacks and had Mendoza as QB1. According to Brugler, “His physical traits aren’t remarkable, but his accuracy and football IQ are evident every time I study his game.”
It doesn’t get much more impressive than leading Indiana to a win over Oregon on the road. He was 20-for-31 for 215 yards with a touchdown and an interception. While the arm talent is evident, the modern NFL quarterback needs to be able to create out of structure. A lot of what Mendoza does is within the framework of Frank Cignetti’s offense. That’s not a bad thing, but it is fair to wonder how much Mendoza could carry an offense.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
The talent with LaNorris Sellers is clearly evident every time you watch him. His supporting cast hasn’t been great and the South Carolina interior offensive line has struggled immensely at times. Still, Sellers’ ability to process and play on time within an offense remains a question mark. The range of outcomes is simply too vast right now. It’s very possible that Sellers becomes a bigger and stronger version of Lamar Jackson. However, if he doesn’t improve his processing, he may also be the next Anthony Richardson or Justin Fields. In the NFL, you have to be able to win from the pocket. The talent is clearly there, but any team that takes him will be buying a lottery ticket hoping that it cashes out.
Carson Beck, Miami
Carson Beck made the correct decision to return to school and transfer to Miami. While he may not have the ceiling of players such as Moore and Mendoza, he offers a very high floor. He’s most certainly benefitting from a good situation in Miami and that should be part of the evaluation. It’s a fair question to wonder how Beck would perform if the situation around him wasn’t ideal. Is this someone that can elevate an offense or just keep it on track? At the very least, Beck is a high-end backup with a replacement-level starter ceiling in the NFL. Miami is a team with National Championship aspirations and it’ll be up to Beck if he can keep that train on the tracks.
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Nussmeier had been managing a torso injury since the beginning of the season and over the past month, it’s clearly had an impact on his performance. Coming into the season, there were questions about Nussmeier’s consistency and he hasn’t necessarily put those to rest. He threw two interceptions against South Carolina, including one in the red zone. There is a lot to like about Nussmeier’s game, but he hasn’t taken the step forward that many were expecting. He still looks the part, but his ceiling may not be as high as some thought. Similar to Beck, he may be more of a replacement-level starter or high-end backup in the NFL.
Ty Simpson, Alabama
Ty Simpson continues to rise and he had a fantastic game against Mizzou on the road. He went 23-for-31 for 200 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday and is continuing to trend up. Simpson could make his way into the top-5 QBs over the next few weeks. The big question with Simpson is his lack of experience. The game against Mizzou was just his sixth career start and this is his first season as the starter. That’s not to take away from what he’s done, but that lack of experience is something to note.
John Mateer, Oklahoma
It was honorable for John Mateer to return to play 17 days after having surgery on his hand. However, any talk that he is a first round quarterback should be put to rest. That’s not to say that Mateer isn’t good, but he’s likely closer to a third-round player than a first-round player. He doesn’t always see the field clearly and at times against Texas he seemed hesitant to push the ball downfield. That was especially the case after his second interception. He’s still an exciting player, but he’s a player with limitations.
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
No matter how many times it gets said, the effect of good coaching is often forgotten when it comes to quarterback play. Through the first four weeks of the college football season, Nico Iamaleava was extremely disappointing, especially considering the transfer drama in the summer. He’s played his best football over the past two weeks and I’m ready to circle the game against Indiana in two weeks. If Iamaleava has a strong second half to the season, he could enter the first-round conversation once again.
Jayden Maiava, USC
Jayden Maiava may not be a top quarterback in this class, but he’s starting to catch some eyes with his play recently. Watching against Illinois, he reminds me a little bit of Dak Prescott. He loves a good seam ball and isn’t afraid to push the ball downfield into tight windows. USC will have a big game this weekend against Notre Dame and if Maiava plays well, it will be hard for people not to start talking about him. Through seven weeks, he’s been the most efficient quarterback in college football.
Cole Payton, North Dakota St.
It’s unlikely that Cole Payton will get a lot of buzz as an FCS prospect, but he will almost certainly be among the quarterbacks who get drafted next April. SIUE was ranked top-10 in the country and Payton threw for 243 yards on 13 completions and added 48 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground. He’s a dual threat player, but can still make plays with his arm. He shows good timing, rhythm, and ball placement as a passer. While PFF grades don’t mean anything in draft evaluations, he is the highest graded passer in all of college football, including FBS. Payton leads the country in yards per attempt and big time throws.
Others to Note
- Drew Allar, Penn State
- Cade Klubnik, Clemson
- Sam Leavitt, ASU
- Taylen Green, Arkansas
- Conner Weigman, Houston
In one sense, it’s commendable that Drew Allar remained loyal to Penn State. At the same time, it’s hard not to wonder what would have happened had he transferred. What if Allar had replaced Beck at Georgia? Now he’s heading into the NFL Draft coming off of a bad season and an injury. Klubnik remains on my radar, but needs to show improvement. Leavitt was starting to play well, but is now managing an injury. Taylen Green is someone with a lot of arm talent and athleticism that I need to watch over the second half of the year.
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