The quarterback landscape around college football changes every spring, and this year is no different.
Despite a relatively small number of high-level NFL prospects, there will be many new faces -- and some familiar ones with different teams -- headlining the QB position in the 2025 season. Of the 12 teams in the initial expanded College Football Playoff, only six return the same primary starting quarterback this fall.
Non-CFP teams such as Miami, Alabama and Colorado are also replacing quarterbacks. Miami loses arguably the most pro-ready QB in Cam Ward but added another in Carson Beck who was pegged to be the best 2025 draft prospect a year ago. Beck is on a list of notable transfers that includes Oklahoma's John Mateer (Washington State), Duke's Darian Mensah (Tulane), Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (Cal), Utah's Devon Dampier (New Mexico) and Louisville's Miller Moss (USC).
There are some big-name returners, including Penn State's Drew Allar, Clemson's Cade Klubnik and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and emerging stars such as Florida's DJ Lagway and Texas' Arch Manning.
Sorting out a top quarterbacks list is never easy, but I've enlisted the help of more than a dozen coaches and defensive coordinators who studied the top contenders last season. They made the case for why -- and, in some cases, why not -- certain players belonged on the list. I certainly valued experience and quarterbacks who have proved to be productive and successful with their teams, but that doesn't mean players with potential didn't make the list.
In descending order, here are my top 15 quarterbacks to watch during spring practice as we get closer to the 2025 season.
