With the onset of the 2025 college football season, the quarterback scenarios are beginning to take shape. Most teams have concluded their fall camp activities or are approaching the conclusion of their offseason training in preparation for games, meaning coaches are making critical choices regarding their starting quarterbacks.
Some battles continue into the actual games, as teams will utilize early-season matchups to assess whether one quarterback can edge out the other in a live atmosphere. However, several notable programs have already declared their starting quarterbacks for 2025.
Ohio State, Alabama, and Tennessee are among the Power Four schools that have already named their starting quarterbacks. The Buckeyes are seeking to defend their title as national champions, while Tennessee aims to build upon its inaugural College Football Playoff appearance in the program’s history.
Bryce Underwood set to be designated Michigan QB: Highly regarded freshman selected to lead Wolverines in the 2025 season
David Cobb
Alabama, aiming to recover from a relatively disappointing first season under coach Kalen DeBoer, is turning to an experienced quarterback. Even significant Group of Six programs such as Memphis have reached a decision.
Numerous matters are still pending, but here’s a summary of the quarterback competitions that have been resolved as the 2025 season draws near.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame has chosen redshirt freshman CJ Carr, who outperformed third-year quarterback Kenny Minchey in one of the offseason’s most exciting (and intense) battles. Carr comes from a strong lineage that sets him up for success. He joined the Fighting Irish in 2024 as a top-50 recruit and the No. 6 quarterback in his cohort, and his grandfather, Lloyd, was a college quarterback who — more famously — went on to coach at Michigan.
However, the younger Carr lacks experience. He has yet to complete a pass at the collegiate level and saw only limited action last season, appearing in one game where he took a few snaps during a blowout victory over Purdue. He’ll need to mature rapidly, as Notre Dame’s first two games are away against Miami and at home against Texas A&M.
Fortunately for Carr, support will be available. Notre Dame reintroduces one of the top running backs in the nation in Jeremiyah Love, capable of carrying the ball effectively and relieving some of the pressure Carr will face. The Irish also feature a dependable offensive line that should help keep Carr protected more often than not.
Ohio State
The Julian Sayin chapter is now unfolding at Ohio State. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day confirmed expectations by declaring that Sayin will steer Ohio State in its Aug. 30 season opener against Texas. Sayin, a former five-star recruit and Alabama signee, outperformed third-year quarterback Lincoln Kienholz and true freshman Tavien St. Clair for the position.
Entering his second year with the Buckeyes, Sayin served as a backup to Will Howard last season, participating in four games, preserving his redshirt in the process, completing five of his 12 passing attempts for 84 yards and one touchdown. He also took a few snaps in Ohio State’s College Football Playoff triumph over Tennessee.
Though Sayin’s experience is limited, securing the starting QB position at Ohio State is analogous to receiving the keys to a brand-new Lamborghini. He will receive abundant support from the nation’s premier wide receiver group, featuring stars like Heisman Trophy candidate Jeremiah Smith and seasoned receiver Carnell Tate.
Alabama
Following substantial praise throughout spring and the early phase of fall camp, Alabama’s coaching staff officially named veteran Ty Simpson as the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide. Rather than entering the transfer portal, where he would likely have been a sought-after prospect due to his blue-chip status, Simpson patiently bided his time while backing up players like Bryce Young, a former Heisman winner, and Jalen Milroe, a third-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This patience proved fruitful when he surpassed Washington transfer Austin Mack, a former recruit of DeBoer, for the chance to start at one of the nation’s elite college football programs. While he has limited starting experience, Simpson has accumulated significant playing time, having stepped in during critical moments. In 2023, he rescued the Crimson Tide from trouble against South Florida by entering late in the second quarter and aiding Alabama in scoring 17 unanswered points while throwing for 73 yards.
He has participated in 16 games throughout his three-year tenure at Alabama.
Michigan
Although it may have taken longer than anticipated, five-star freshman Bryce Underwood has secured the starting quarterback position for Michigan, as reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Underwood outperformed veteran Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene and Davis Warren for the spot.
While Underwood remains untested, his pedigree indicates he could become an exceptional player in college and beyond. As per 247Sports, Underwood was ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 signing class. The Wolverines successfully recruited Underwood from LSU in November, and less than a year later, he will lead the offense onto the field in their season-opener against New Mexico.
Despite Michigan coach Sherrone Moore keeping things close to the chest throughout much of camp, Underwood’s excellence was apparent to all at the team facility. Back in June, Zenitz was in touch with sources in Ann Arbor who couldn’t stop praising Underwood’s displays on and off the field.
Tennessee
Former App State standout and UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar has emerged as Tennessee’s starting quarterback following an unexpected battle for the position. Aguilar defeated redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre, who gained weight and had a strong fall camp, becomes the third transfer to start for Tennessee during Josh Heupel’s era.
Aguilar brings substantial experience to the Vols, differentiating him from Tennessee’s previous two quarterbacks. He started 24 games at App State, where he was recognized as the 2023 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, passing for 6,759 yards and 56 touchdowns.
He must address the turnover issue after throwing 24 interceptions across two years, and Tennessee has some young wide receivers, but the Vols hope Aguilar can revitalize a passing game that has stalled since 2022.
Kentucky
Veteran Zach Calzada has claimed the starting quarterback role at Kentucky after a competitive camp with redshirt freshman Cutter Boley, as reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Calzada, a seventh-year senior, possesses extensive experience with 32 starts, including 12 at Texas A&M in 2021.
Originally recruited by the Aggies in 2019, Calzada transferred to Auburn before the 2022 season. Over the past two years at FCS Incarnate Word, he amassed 6,342 passing yards, 54 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. Now at his fourth college team, Calzada aims to offer stability to the Wildcats’ offense.
Boley challenged Calzada throughout camp, making this a close contest. Although he only played in four games last season, the former three-star recruit must be prepared if the offense falters or if Calzada faces an injury.
Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli will direct Syracuse’s offense as the Orange aim to build upon a breakout 2024 season in their inaugural year under coach Fran Brown. Though he had limited action with the Fighting Irish, Angeli made excellent use of his opportunities on the field.
He completed 15 of his 19 pass attempts for 232 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 27 yards on eight carries in a 2023 Sun Bowl victory against Oregon State and played critical moments in Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff win over Penn State last season, driving the Irish downfield for a field goal late in the second quarter after Riley Leonard briefly entered concussion protocol.
Boston College has found its successor for former starter Thomas Castellanos. Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan surpassed veteran Grayson James, who started several games for the Eagles after they replaced Castellanos last season, and will take the first snaps in Boston College’s Aug. 30 opener against Fordham.
A former four-star talent in the 2023 class, Lonergan played in three games at Alabama over two seasons.
Stanford opted for experience rather than potential when selecting Oregon State transfer Ben Gulbranson as its starter over former blue-chip recruit Elijah Brown, who is starting his second season with the Cardinal after being signed as their top-rated player in the 2024 class.
Gulbranson had a fluctuating starting role at Oregon State, where he recorded 2,648 passing yards and 15 touchdowns over five seasons.
Memphis
Memphis must replace program cornerstone Seth Henigan, who broke various records while guiding the Tigers to a 21-5 record over the last two seasons. To tackle this formidable task, coach Ryan Silverfield is entrusting the offense to Nevada transfer Brendon Lewis, who brings substantial experience to the Tigers.
Lewis spent three years at Colorado, where he started 12 games as a true freshman, before playing at Nevada from 2023-24, leading the Wolf Pack in passing (2,290 yards) and rushing (775 yards) in 2024.
Fresno State will start E.J. Warner, the son of former Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, at quarterback. This will mark the third distinct school that Warner has commenced his college career at within four years.
The younger Warner previously played at Temple, earning the title of the 2022 AAC Rookie of the Year, and at Rice, where he was the starter in all but one outing in 2024.
New Mexico coach Jason Eck is opting for a familiar figure to head his inaugural offense with the Lobos. Jack Layne, who played in eight games under Eck at Idaho last season, has been designated as the starting quarterback ahead of New Mexico’s opening game against Michigan.
Last season, Layne passed for 1,472 yards and 14 touchdowns with the Vandals.
Rice
New Rice coach Scott Abell’s first starting quarterback will be Chase Jenkins, an athletic player who has played both quarterback and wide receiver for the Owls. His athletic ability should make him a fitting choice for Abell’s option offense, which he honed during his tenure at Davidson.
After spending last season as a Utah backup, Brandon Rose transferred to UMass this offseason and will start in the program’s season-opener against Temple. Last year, Rose played in three games — including a two-touchdown showing versus BYU — and ended those games with 157 yards.
UMass’ new offensive coordinator is Mike Bajakian. He previously worked as an offensive analyst and interim OC/QB coach at Utah last season while Rose was with the program.
Kennesaw State plans to start former Indiana and Georgia Southern quarterback Dexter Williams II in its opener against Wake Forest. He participated in four games during the 2024 season, throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Williams could potentially face his former team (Indiana) in Week 2, as Kennesaw State is scheduled to visit Bloomington on Sept. 6.
Cal has selected freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele as its starting quarterback ahead of the program’s season-opener against Oregon State, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported on Monday. Sagapolutele, the former No. 65 overall recruit in the 2025 recruiting cycle by 247Sports, won the job over Ohio State transfer Devin Brown.
Sagapolutele’s journey to Cal has been tumultuous. He initially committed to Cal last summer, then de-committed and switched his commitment to Oregon before entering the transfer portal in early January. He signed with Cal just a few days later.
He was rated as the No. 5 quarterback in the transfer portal class by 247Sports, trailing only Nico Iamaleava (UCLA), Carson Beck (Miami), John Mateer (Oklahoma), and Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), who spent the prior two seasons with the Golden Bears.
BYU
BYU is anticipated to announce true freshman Bear Bachmeier as the starting quarterback following Jake Retzlaff’s exit. Retzlaff, who recorded 3,595 yards and 23 touchdowns last season, withdrew from the university in July after breaching the school’s honor code.
Bachmeier triumphed in a fall camp contest against redshirt freshman McCae Hillstead and redshirt junior Treyson Bourguet. Initially signing with Stanford in 2025 amid offers from schools like Alabama, Georgia, and Notre Dame, he transferred to BYU in May after former Stanford coach Troy Taylor was terminated.
UCF
UCF is prepared to appoint Cam Fancher as its starting quarterback for the season opener against Jacksonville State, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Fancher, an FAU transfer, will get his chance to make an impression in a live game scenario after outlasting Indiana transfer Tayven Jackson and Jacurri Brown.
Fancher participated in nine games last season at FAU, completing 125 passes for 1,528 yards and throwing six touchdowns against six interceptions. UCF coach Scott Frost recently indicated that he preferred to avoid deploying multiple quarterbacks in the season opener if feasible, suggesting Fancher will have full control of the offense as long as the game remains competitive.
