ESPN I had to edit this to make it fit
Returning starter: None
On the roster (as of March 12): Will Howard, senior (Kansas State transfer); Devin Brown, junior; Lincoln Kienholz, sophomore; Air Noland, freshman; Julian Sayin, freshman (Alabama transfer); Mason Maggs, junior; Chad Ray, senior
Ohio State's rise to the top spot after a season when its quarterback play dropped off a bit -- at least by the standard of Day's previous signal-callers -- underscores the power of the quarterback portal. The Buckeyes went to the portal and addressed an immediate need by adding Howard, who helped Kansas State to a Big 12 championship in 2022. He had his best statistical season last fall (2,643 pass yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 9 rushing touchdowns). Howard gives Day and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly an experienced option who can reach another level as a passer while providing a solid run threat. Brown pushed back against suggestions he will transfer, and could push Howard or provide a very solid No. 2 option for the high-stakes 2024 season.
Day and Kelly also have options for the future in Sayin and Noland, ESPN's Nos. 2 and 5 quarterback prospects in the 2023 class. Sayin signed with Alabama in December but transferred to Ohio State following the coaching change in Tuscaloosa. He should compete with Noland, who committed to the Buckeyes in April, as early as the 2025 offseason. Although Ohio State might not be able to realistically keep both young quarterbacks, the team has options through 2026 that most teams would crave.
2. Texas Longhorns
2023 ranking: 7
Returning starter: Quinn Ewers
On the roster (as of March 12): Ewers, redshirt junior; Arch Manning, redshirt freshman; Trey Owens, freshman; Cole Lourd, senior; Joe Tatum, junior
Sarkisian has long been viewed as an elite quarterback coach, but his ability to affect the position as a head coach had been somewhat in doubt until last season. Ewers, a former ESPN No. 2 overall recruit, blossomed under Sarkisian in 2023. He had 3,479 passing yards with 22 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while completing 69% of his passes and eclipsing 300 yards against Alabama, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State (Big 12 championship game) and Washington (College Football Playoff semifinal). Ewers, who entered college by reclassifying for the 2021 season so he could attend Ohio State, has played two seasons in Austin and bypassed the NFL for one more with the Longhorns. He will enter the fall as a bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate and a contender to be the top quarterback for the 2025 draft.
Returning starter: None
On the roster (as of March 12): Dillon Gabriel, senior (Oklahoma transfer); Dante Moore, sophomore (UCLA transfer); Austin Novosad, redshirt freshman; Brock Thomas, redshirt freshman; Luke Moga, freshman; Ryder Hayes, freshman
Bo Nix's record-setting two seasons in Eugene -- 8,101 pass yards, 74 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 74.9% completions, 20 rushing touchdowns -- made Oregon an even more attractive destination for experienced transfer quarterbacks. The Ducks added two big names this winter in Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore, who should carry the offense through 2026, possibly with others like Austin Novosad. Gabriel, who began his career at UCF, had 6,828 passing yards with 55 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions in two seasons at Oklahoma. His completion percentage soared to 69.3 in 2023, setting him up well for coordinator Will Stein's offense, which requires efficiency from the pocket. Gabriel also set career highs for rushing touchdowns (12), rushing yards (373) and carries (93) last season.
Moore initially committed to Oregon out of high school before signing with UCLA, where he started five games as a true freshman with mixed results (1,610 pass yards, 11 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 53.5% completions). ESPN's No. 2 recruit in the 2023 class could sit behind Gabriel this fall, preserve a redshirt season, and retain three seasons of eligibility. Not surprisingly, Oregon lost Ty Thompson to the portal but so far has kept Novosad, a one-time Baylor recruit who was an ESPN 300 recruit in 2023. The Ducks also signed four-star prospect Luke Moga and have a 2025 commitment from Akili Smith Jr., ESPN's No. 84 recruit and son of the former Oregon star quarterback with the same name.
4. Georgia
5. Usc
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2023 ranking: 2Returning starter: None
On the roster (as of March 12): Will Howard, senior (Kansas State transfer); Devin Brown, junior; Lincoln Kienholz, sophomore; Air Noland, freshman; Julian Sayin, freshman (Alabama transfer); Mason Maggs, junior; Chad Ray, senior
Ohio State's rise to the top spot after a season when its quarterback play dropped off a bit -- at least by the standard of Day's previous signal-callers -- underscores the power of the quarterback portal. The Buckeyes went to the portal and addressed an immediate need by adding Howard, who helped Kansas State to a Big 12 championship in 2022. He had his best statistical season last fall (2,643 pass yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 9 rushing touchdowns). Howard gives Day and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly an experienced option who can reach another level as a passer while providing a solid run threat. Brown pushed back against suggestions he will transfer, and could push Howard or provide a very solid No. 2 option for the high-stakes 2024 season.
Day and Kelly also have options for the future in Sayin and Noland, ESPN's Nos. 2 and 5 quarterback prospects in the 2023 class. Sayin signed with Alabama in December but transferred to Ohio State following the coaching change in Tuscaloosa. He should compete with Noland, who committed to the Buckeyes in April, as early as the 2025 offseason. Although Ohio State might not be able to realistically keep both young quarterbacks, the team has options through 2026 that most teams would crave.
2. Texas Longhorns
2023 ranking: 7
Returning starter: Quinn Ewers
On the roster (as of March 12): Ewers, redshirt junior; Arch Manning, redshirt freshman; Trey Owens, freshman; Cole Lourd, senior; Joe Tatum, junior
Sarkisian has long been viewed as an elite quarterback coach, but his ability to affect the position as a head coach had been somewhat in doubt until last season. Ewers, a former ESPN No. 2 overall recruit, blossomed under Sarkisian in 2023. He had 3,479 passing yards with 22 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while completing 69% of his passes and eclipsing 300 yards against Alabama, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State (Big 12 championship game) and Washington (College Football Playoff semifinal). Ewers, who entered college by reclassifying for the 2021 season so he could attend Ohio State, has played two seasons in Austin and bypassed the NFL for one more with the Longhorns. He will enter the fall as a bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate and a contender to be the top quarterback for the 2025 draft.
3. Oregon Ducks
2023 ranking: 10Returning starter: None
On the roster (as of March 12): Dillon Gabriel, senior (Oklahoma transfer); Dante Moore, sophomore (UCLA transfer); Austin Novosad, redshirt freshman; Brock Thomas, redshirt freshman; Luke Moga, freshman; Ryder Hayes, freshman
Bo Nix's record-setting two seasons in Eugene -- 8,101 pass yards, 74 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 74.9% completions, 20 rushing touchdowns -- made Oregon an even more attractive destination for experienced transfer quarterbacks. The Ducks added two big names this winter in Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore, who should carry the offense through 2026, possibly with others like Austin Novosad. Gabriel, who began his career at UCF, had 6,828 passing yards with 55 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions in two seasons at Oklahoma. His completion percentage soared to 69.3 in 2023, setting him up well for coordinator Will Stein's offense, which requires efficiency from the pocket. Gabriel also set career highs for rushing touchdowns (12), rushing yards (373) and carries (93) last season.
Moore initially committed to Oregon out of high school before signing with UCLA, where he started five games as a true freshman with mixed results (1,610 pass yards, 11 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 53.5% completions). ESPN's No. 2 recruit in the 2023 class could sit behind Gabriel this fall, preserve a redshirt season, and retain three seasons of eligibility. Not surprisingly, Oregon lost Ty Thompson to the portal but so far has kept Novosad, a one-time Baylor recruit who was an ESPN 300 recruit in 2023. The Ducks also signed four-star prospect Luke Moga and have a 2025 commitment from Akili Smith Jr., ESPN's No. 84 recruit and son of the former Oregon star quarterback with the same name.
4. Georgia
5. Usc
EDITOR'S PI
