College Football Transfer QB Breakdown

In the modern era of college football, the transfer portal window is arguably the most important time for every team across the country. From the top contenders to the worst teams in the sport, the portal is what sets the foundation for the coming season, good or bad. And without a spring transfer window this year, the period that begins on January 2 is even more important.

With all of the chaos that surrounds the transfer portal, the quarterback position is arguably the most important. How a team fares in this window is usually a major difference between a great season and a poor one. A team like Indiana has enjoyed wild success due to hitting on Fernando Mendoza in the portal. On the other hand, a team like North Carolina struggled due to not nailing their signal-caller in the portal.

2026’s crop of quarterbacks is, to be frank, quite loaded. From top to bottom, countless players can make an impact for a new team in 2026. And in that spirit, I wanted to dive into some of these quarterbacks as we approach the opening of the portal. These are my thoughts and opinions on these quarterbacks, so please do not take them as facts.

But without further ado, let us dive into the 2026 transfer portal quarterback breakdown.

College Football Transfer Portal QB Rankings

1. Drew Mestemaker, North Texas 

People may scoff at this because of the school he played at (they shouldn’t), but Drew Mestemaker was one of the better quarterbacks in the country this season.

In 14 games this season, the freshman threw for 4384 yards and 34 touchdowns while adding 24 big-time throws. Mestemaker was extremely impressive in attacking deep down the field, but he was also effective over the middle of the field. The North Texas standout had great mechanics, footwork, and overall feel as a first-year player. He understood how to get through his reads, bail from pockets when necessary, and deliver strikes under pressure when necessary.

While he is prone to making some mistakes when being aggressive, Mestemaker is a great overall player. He should garner significant interest in the portal, and no matter where he lands, expect Mestemaker to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country in 2026.

2. Byrum Brown, USF

Doubt Byrum Brown at your own risk.

After an injury-plagued 2024 season, the former USF quarterback responded with a career-best 2025 campaign. As a passer, Brown threw for 3129 yards and 28 touchdowns on a 65.8-percent completion rate. He not only had 21 big-time throws and an ADOT of 9.7, but also lowered his turnover-worthy plays to 11. Furthermore, Brown was fantastic in the deep and intermediate areas of the field. The standout quarterback saw 22 of his touchdowns come from 10 yards or more and was well over a 50-percent completion rate from both areas.

As a runner, Brown might have been even better. On 159 carries, he posted 1107 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 7.0 yards per attempt. He forced 59 missed tackles, had 702 yards after contact, and had 35 runs of 10 yards or more. Additionally, he also accounted for 60 first downs as a runner for USF.

With those numbers, Brown became only the 12th player in college football history to record 3000 passing yards and 1000 rushing yards in a single season.

Auburn is the obvious link for Brown, but plenty of schools will be after the USF graduate. And wherever he lands, expect the star quarterback to be one of the better players at his position once again.

3. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State

He was hampered by injuries this season, but make no mistake, Sam Leavitt is well worth the hype as one of the best transfer portal quarterbacks in 2026.

Despite playing in only seven games this year, Leavitt threw for 1628 yards and 10 touchdowns on a 60.3 completion percentage. He had 18 big-time throws and had four games of 250 yards or more, finding a solid amount of success at every level of the field. However, found his most success with passes of 15+ yards.

It was not all great for Leavitt in 2025, though. Outside of his injury, Leavitt’s amount of turnover-worthy plays spiked from five to 12, despite only registering three interceptions. He made big plays for the Sun Devils, but was a bit more inconsistent than most people expected him to be in 2025.

For the 2026 season, Leavitt has all of the talnet to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He has a huge arm and can make plays with his legs, too. But to capitalize on his talent, Leavitt needs to land in a spot with nice surrounding talent and a coaxhing staff that can allow him to continue his devellopment. As a result, Leavitt’s portal process will be a fun one to monitor.

4. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati

Like many quarterbacks before him, Brendan Sorsby has the opportunity to elevate from good to great after this transfer portal cycle.

In his 2024 campaign with Cincinnati, Sorsby improved in every possible way. The quarterback threw for 2783 yards, 26 touchdowns, and had 23 big-time throws. He elevated his ADOT to 10.6, while also adding 596 yards, 22 missed tackles forced, and nine touchdowns as a runner.

Sorsby struggled at times this season, especially against tougher defenses that did not allow much separation for his wideouts. He had moments of inaccuracy and poor decisoon making, too. Those aspects combined limit his true ceiling, even in a good season.

Sorsby should be one of the most sought after players, let along quarterbacks, in the portal. He has even more room to grow, and in the right landing spot, he can easily be a top pick in the 2027 NFL draft.

5. DJ Lagway, Florida

Yes, Lagway still makes this list. However, it is for a very specific reason.

Lagway’s 2025 season was a disappointment, to say the least. He had 16 touchdowns, but matched that with 14 interceptions. Lagway still showed off his great arm talent with 12 big-time throws, but had a disaterous 18 turnover-worthy plays. To make matters worse, he was brutal as a passer in the deep and intermediate areas of the field. Lagway had less than a 50-percent completion rate in both areas and saw six of his interceptions occur from 10 yards or more.

With all of that being said, a change of scheme and scenery can make Lagway one of the better quarterbacks in the country again.

The former five-star prospect needs to trust his eyes and abilities. He needs to be able to play within the offense and execute plays at a high level. Most of all, he needs to be in an offense that utilizes all of his best traits and allows him to develop the other areas of his game.

Lagway is far from guarenteed to succed, especially after this season. But there is a reason he was seen as a future top quarterback once upon a time. Lagway can be a great quarterback in college, but it is up to him, and his new team’s offensive staff, to make it happen.

College Football: Other Transfer Portal Quarterbacks to Know

Outside of these five quarterbacks, there are still plenty of other names to know. These players may not be the other “best” quarterbacks in the portal, but they all can make an impact for a variety of reasons. Talent can be found anywhere at this position, and as a result, these are some other names you absolutely need to know.

AJ Hill

One of the top high school quarterbacks in the class of 2025, Hill is a player who can attack anywhere on the field with ease. He has a cannon of an arm and room to continue growing into a player who can attack any defense at the college level. Hill could not get on the field at Memphis, but depending on where he lands, the quarterback could break out in a big way in 2026.

Deuce Knight

Knight showed his all-world talent in his only start this year, lighting up Mercer both on the ground and through the air. The former 2025 four-star prospect has all of the talent and upside to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football. And, until recently, it looked like that would likely be for Auburn. He has room to grow, but it would not be a surprise to see Knight be one of the more sought-after quarterbacks in this cycle.

Marcus Stokes

A standout at West Florida, Stokes is a dual-threat that can make winning plays for an offense all over the field. He has a great arm, pocket presence, and ability to use touch with his throws. Stokes can also outrun defenses with great speed. There is a great chance that, regardless of position, Stokes could be the steal of the portal season.

Cutter Boley

A player who came on strong for Kentucky in 2025, Boley has tremendous upside as a passer. He struggled with turnovers at times this season, but he also made some incredible throws and made progress in his first true season of college football. Like many of these quarterbacks, the situation and coaching matters for Boley. But if he lands in the right spot, the former Wildcat could take another leap forward.

Colton Joseph

A standout for Old Dominion, Joseph is another dual-threat who can do it all for an offense. He took yet another leap as a passer this season, while also continuing to be a force as a ball carrier. Joseph should thrive in an up-tempo scheme that needs the quarterback to handle a variety of things, just as he did with the Monarachs. He is a name that people should not overlook.

Kenny Minchey

One of the highest-rated quarterbacks in the 2023 class, Minchey has tremendous upside as a player. He can make every throw and has the necessary mobility to succeed at the college level. At this point, Minchey just needs a real shot to play. If he does, do not be surprised to see him break out in 2026.

Colin Hurley

One of the best quarterbacks in the class of 2024, Hurley is one of the biggest sleepers in the portal. Between a car crash that set him back and a crowded room at LSU, Hurley never really had a chance to get on the field for the Tigers. More than anything else, Hurley must go to a situation where he knows he is going to play. If that occurs, he is going to break out in 2026.

Jaden Craig

A New Jersey native, Craig was the engine of the Harvard offense in a very successful career at the school. While he can run in spurts, Craig thrives throwing the football. He understands how to get through reads, has the touch to attack the middle of the field, and the ability to thrive as a deep downfield passer. Like Stokes, Craig could be one of the steals of the transfer portal cycle.

Amari Odom

Like Byrum Brown, Amari Odom is a dynamic dual-threat player who thrived this season. As a passer, Odom showed great arm talent throughout the year for Kennesaw State, notching an ADOT of 9.8. As a runner, Odom was even better, making big plays for the Owls all season long on their way to a C-USA Championship. There are some shortcomings that Odom has to correct, namely lowering his 16 turnover-worthy play number. In the right offense, though, Odom should be a standout in 2026.

Playing Matchmaker: Ideal Team Pairings

Byrum Brown: Florida

The popular pick is Auburn, but it would be great to see Brown stay in the state and suit up for the Gators. With a large part of Georgia Tech’s offensive staff heading to Gainesville, including Buster Faulkner, the former USF standout is a player who would easily be able to replicate what Haynes King did in that offense. Add in the ridiculous skill talent that the Gators still possess, and this feels like a situation that would allow Byrum Brown to light it up in the SEC in 2026.

DJ Lagway: LSU

Out of the situations he could land in, LSU would be one of the best for DJ Lagway. Lane Kiffin would be able to tailor an offense to his strengths. And, the Tigers will have more than enough skill talent to allow the quarterback to thrive. Most importantly, Lagway would not be required to carry things by himself. Or, at least in theory, he would not need to. Baylor is another great option for the former Gator, but LSU could seriously elevate Lagway back to his old level.

Sam Leavitt: Oregon

This landing spot is a bit more of a question mark with Will Stein at Kentucky, but Leavitt and Oregon feel like a match made in heaven. Oregon, like it has this year with Dante Moore, thrives with a quarterback who can attack every level of the field. Leavitt would fit that description easily.

The former Sun Devil, on the other hand, needs a spot known for development and turning quarterbacks into the best versions of themselves. Oregon, whether it is Bo Nix, Justin Herbert, or now Moore, is exactly that. If these two parties land with each other, 2026 will be a fun year for the Ducks.

Brendan Sorsby: Indiana

Run it back? Sorsby was at Indiana once upon a time, and it feels like a perfect fit for them once more. The former Bearkat can hit every throw necessary, has shown a willingness to attack all areas of the field, and has improved pocket presence. Most interestingly, he would bring much more mobility than Fernando Mendoza. If Sorsby lands with the Hooisers, this offense could take yet another step forward in 2026, mainly due to his versatility.

Colin Hurley: USF

USF could target a wide variety of quarterbacks, but the Florida native stands out for a few reasons.

Not only does Hurley have the arm strength that would fit in a hypothetical Brian Hartline offense, but he also has the mobility to extend plays. Most importantly, the Bulls would give Hurley a shot to truly start and gain experience. It would be one of the more risky pairings, but if it hits, both parties would be ecstatic with the outcome.