After a wild transfer portal season, many of the biggest-name quarterbacks in college football will be looking for a fresh start. Here’s a rundown of top ten QBs who will likely be running top programs in Week 1. Here’s a rundown on the top 10 QBs to watch with their new programs.
Top 10 Transfer Portal QBs set to debut with new programs in 2025
Carson Beck at Miami
After a brilliant 2023 season, Beck took a step back in 2024 with Georgia. He’s moved on to Miami after a career that included 7,912 yards and 58 touchdowns. Beck’s presence with the Hurricanes and coach Mario Cristobal make Miami a potential favorite in the ACC in 2025.
John Mateer at Oklahoma
After a brilliant season at Washington State in 2024 (3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns), Mateer is set to take over at Oklahoma. With head coach Brent Venables on the hot seat, Mateer’s success will be an immediate priority at Oklahoma. Mateer and the Sooners could be the story of the 2025 season.
Miller Moss at Louisville
A highly touted QB at USC, Moss lost the starting job and chose to move on to Louisville. Jeff Brohm’s offense has made NFL prospects of players with much less athleticism. Moss’s career stats include 3,469 yards and 27 touchdowns. He could top both of those figures in 2025 with the Cardinals.
Nico Iamaleava at UCLA
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Iamaleave led Tennessee to the CFP, but then bolted town in the spring over an NIL dispute. His production (2,616 yards and 19 TDs last year) is probably less impressive than his potential. Iamaleava apparently got the payday they wanted at UCLA, and figures to put up impressive production with the Bruins.
Fernando Mendoza at Indiana
A starter over much of the last two seasons at California, Mendoza transferred in to take over the Indiana offense after last season’s impressive run. Mendoza had solid numbers at Cal (4,712 yards and 30 TDs), and there’s reason to think that dropping him into the Curt Cignetti offense should be electric.
Jackson Arnold at Auburn
Arnold was expected to take over at Oklahoma, but his time as a Sooner fell flat. Arnold threw for just 1,984 yards and 16 touchdowns in 17 career games. Arnold’s ceiling is certainly higher than his production, and he’d better find it, or Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels will end up running Auburn’s offense.
Joey Aguilar at Tennessee
Aguilar got the lane nod to replace Iamaleava. In two seasons at Appalachian State, Aguilar threw for 6,760 yards and 56 scores. He did throw 24 interceptions, and some critics aren’t certain about Aguilar’s fit at Tennessee. There are talented freshmen behind him, but Aguilar will get a very long first look.
Zach Calzada at Kentucky
Calzada had some impressive early performances at Texas A&M, most notably leading an upset over Alabama. He threw for 2,318 yards and 19 touchdowns there. Calzada then sat out a year at Auburn for a year before starring at FCS Incarnate Word for the last two years. Cam Ward went from Incarnate Word to starring at Miami, but Calzada’s task might be a bit tougher at Kentucky, where the Wildcats are off an ugly 4-8 season.
Mark Gronowski at Iowa
Gronowski doesn’t have a typical journey, as he’s been a star at South Dakota State. He won two FCS titles and passed for 10,309 yards and 93 touchdowns. But he’s utilizing his final season of eligibility quarterbacking the Hawkeyes. Gronowski has an astonishing resume at the FCS level, but it’ll be intriguing to see how that translates to the Big Ten.
Billy Edwards at Wisconsin
Edwards quarterbacked Maryland to a solid 2024 season and is now ready to take over at Wisconsin. Edwards has been inconsistent so far (3,322 yards and 19 TDs over one year as a starter and two more as a backup). His readiness for the Badgers will be pivotal toward Wisconsin’s season prospects.
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