The 2025 college football season is barreling down upon us, and with several of the sport’s top quarterbacks from last season preparing for their rookie season in the NFL, it’s time to start evaluating life without the likes of Cam Ward. Using College Sports Network’s exciting new metric, QB+, let’s examine the top 25 returning college football quarterbacks for the 2025 campaign.
But first, let’s answer a question that we can already hear ringing out as you read that opening paragraph. What on earth is College Sports Network’s QB+? Glad you asked.
CSN’s QB+ assigns a letter grade to a quarterback’s performance. We arrive at the grade by considering a quarterback’s passing and rushing performance. Certain more stable factors, like clean pocket performance and designed rushing success, are weighted more than less stable ones, like pressure performance and scrambling.
We also add a “clutch” component that gives extra weight to how quarterbacks perform in high-leverage situations. To qualify for the season leaderboard, a QB must average at least 15 plays per game (dropbacks or designed runs) while playing in at least half his team’s games that season. To qualify for the single-game leaderboard, a QB must have participated in at least 15 plays that game.
25) Joey Aguilar, Tennessee
2024 CSN QB+: 78.9 (C+, 42nd)
One of the most significant pieces of the offseason transfer portal puzzle, former Appalachian State Mountaineers quarterback Joey Aguilar committed initially to the UCLA Bruins before the Nico Iamaleava saga ended with his departure from Knoxville and arrival in California. Aguilar hopped back in the portal and essentially swapped seats with Iamaleava as the Tennessee Volunteers starter for 2025.
That might have left Vols fans unfamiliar with his game disheartened, but as CSN QB+ demonstrates, there wasn’t much to choose between their outgoing and incoming quarterback in 2024. Furthermore, we didn’t see vintage Aguilar last season. His 2023 CSN QB+ grade better reflects his talent, ranking eighth nationally with an 85.8 (B) grade, a top-50 mark among all quarterbacks since 2019.
Additionally, two early-season performances substantially dinged Aguilar’s overall 2024 grade. Two of his worst games came against the South Alabama Jaguars (61.4, D-) and East Tennessee State (71.9, C-). Meanwhile, his two highest-graded games came as the season reached a critical point. His 86.8 grade against the Georgia State Panthers was the third-highest graded game in Week 9.
Aguilar was a top-25 quarterback last fall when it mattered, producing a close game EPA of 0.43, far above the man he replaces at Tennessee. He also converted on third and fourth down at a higher clip than his predecessor (42.6%), which should reassure Vols fans about the 2025 campaign. Aguilar is comfortably one of the top returning college football quarterbacks.
24) Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
2024 CSN QB+: 79.0 (C+, 41st)
Although the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 57th-ranked scoring offense from 2024 flowed primarily through the ground game with now-departed running back Kyle Monangai, quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was an unsung hero of their run to a bowl game appearance and, according to CSN QB+, is one of the top 25 returning quarterbacks for the 2025 college football season.
Although his overall grade for last season was C+, Kaliakmanis had three individual games in the B-grade range, led by a B+ (87.1) against the Maryland Terrapins in Week 12. He had two games inside the top 100, and his second-half-of-the-season performances showcased a quarterback finding his rhythm and developing into a legitimate weapon that might not be obvious from basic statistics.
That said, Kaliakmanis set career highs for passing yards (2,696), touchdown passes (18), rushing yards (2510, and rushing touchdowns (three), while recording a career-low interception percentage (1.8%) last fall according to sports-reference.com.
23) Brendon Lewis, Memphis
2024 CSN QB+: 79.2 (C+, 39th)
A true dual-threat who helped the Nevada Wolf Pack achieve eye-popping results in the 2024 campaign, Brendon Lewis was a heavily-targeted quarterback in the transfer portal offseason. He landed with the Memphis Tigers to replace the highly-regarded Seth Henigan, and as a top-25 returning college football quarterback, CSN QB+ explains why fans of the AAC frontrunner should expect little drop-off in 2025.
Henigan ended his college career with an 80.2 grade (B-), barely above Lewis’ 79.2 grade (C+). The former Nevada quarterback performed better at the end of the first half of games, was a more dangerous threat on the ground (0.25 per rush EPA, 0.57 per scramble EPA), and logged a better clutch sum (0.6) in 2024.
While Henigan’s highest-graded single-game ranked above Lewis’ (against West Virginia and Tulane), the new Memphis quarterback performed at his best against elevated competition, logging an 81.1 (B-) grade in a narrow defeat to a team that ultimately played for a conference title and reached the College Football Playoff, the SMU Mustangs.
Lewis heads to Memphis having thrown for 5,330 yards, 28 touchdowns to 16 interceptions, and having completed 61% of his career pass attempts. Coming off a career-year by both basic statistics and CSN QB+ (D+ grade in both 2023 and 2021), he should help power Memphis toward the AAC Championship Game.
22) Behren Morton, Texas Tech
2024 CSN QB+: 79.3 (C+, 38th)
A potential quarterback competition is brewing in Lubbock, with the injury-prone Behren Morton coming under pressure from highly talented young quarterback Will Hammond.
While some think Hammond could (and should) have the inside track to the starting role this fall, CSN QB+ shows Morton as not only one of the top 25 returning college quarterbacks, but one who took strides on his way to a first 3,000+ yard passing campaign of his career.
The Texas Tech quarterback logged a 70.8 (C-) grade in 2023, ranking as the 119th passer in the FBS. That’s a tough sell for a blossoming program with Big 12 title aspirations. However, Morton elevated his play substantially last fall, ranking 38th in the nation. He also registered the best grade by a Red Raiders quarterback in 2024, shining in a close win over Cincinnati with an 84.0 (B) grade.
If Texas Tech can keep Morton healthy and provide a clean pocket more consistently, they could be a Big 12 title challenger this fall. The Red Raiders quarterback ranks fourth among returning college football quarterbacks with a clean dropback EPA of 127.50 last fall.
21) Taylen Green, Arkansas
2024 CSN QB+: 79.5 (C+, 37th)
The Arkansas Razorbacks had a disappointing 2024 campaign, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort on the part of quarterback Taylen Green. The former Boise State Bronco arrived in Fayetteville with a weight of expectation and set career highs for passing yards (3,154), passing touchdowns (15), yards per attempt (8.3), and rushing yards (602), while finding the end zone eight times on the ground.
Green also produced his highest-graded season of his career, with his 79.5 (C+) grade surpassing his 2022 grade of 75.6 (C) and 71.7 (C-) from his final season with the Broncos. A noted dual-threat, Green ranked 13th for scramble EPA (0.82 scramble EPA per rush) last fall, showcasing his ability to conjure up magic outside of structure for the Razorbacks.
Meanwhile, 50% of Green’s highest-graded career games came during the 2024 campaign, with the bowl game win over Texas Tech receiving an 82.9 (B—) grade. If Arkansas can do a better job of keeping him clean and upgrading the weaponry around him (they landed wide receiver O’Mega Blake from the portal, so signs there are positive), he could be on an upward trajectory in 2025.
20) Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
2024 CSN QB+: 79.7 (C+, 36th)
After struggling in their first season in the Big Ten, the UCLA Bruins looked to upgrade their quarterback situation for the 2025 campaign, and with the arrival of Nico Iamaleava, they certainly did that. There’s no disrespect intended toward 2024 starter Ethan Garbers, but the numbers speak for themselves. Iamaleava had a CSN QB+ grade of 79.7 while the outgoing quarterback received a 78.4 grade.
A former five-star quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class, Iamaleava has had to overcome the weight of expectation, and there’s no denying some teething trouble for the young quarterback. His 2024 performances, his first as the full-time starter, were a mixed bag that ranged from an 83.9 grade against the Vanderbilt Commodores to a 67.4 (D+) grade against the Florida Gators.
Iamaleava did a decent job of converting on third and fourth down last season (40.7%) and had one of the better rush EPA per attempt (0.9) among the top returning college football quarterbacks.
However, he’ll need to perform better under pressure for the Bruins if he’s going to lead a turnaround in the program’s fortunes. The former Tennessee quarterback logged a -0.5 pressure EPA per dropback in 2024, ranking 124th out of qualifying quarterbacks.
19) Gio Lopez, North Carolina
2024 CSN QB+: 79.7 (C+, 35th)
The North Carolina Tar Heels significantly upgraded their quarterback situation this offseason. Bill Belichick’s influence was felt in high school recruiting with the capture of Bryce Baker. However, the real win came from the spring transfer portal window and the commitment of former South Alabama Jaguars standout Gio Lopez, one of the top 25 returning college football quarterbacks.
Lopez is one of the game’s top dual threats, and his athleticism makes him an offensive coordinator’s dream. He led all Sun Belt quarterbacks with a 32.4 rush EPA in 2024, and his 13.36 scramble EPA is a testament to his ability to manufacture out of structure. While he’s exciting to watch, he isn’t reckless with it, registering one of the lowest interception percentages (1.6%) in the Sun Belt last fall.
His 87.7 QB+ grade for his performance against Appalachian State ranked fourth in Week 4 and was a top 40 outing in the entire 2024 season. It’s arguably the greatest demonstration of how he can take over a game on the ground, with a rush EPA per carry of 3.91. Lopez was unstoppable, converting all his third and fourth-down attempts on his way to a 103-rushing-yard, three-score game.
By contrast, North Carolina starter Jacolby Criswell logged an overall grade of 76.0 (C) in the 2024 season. While he had some standout games (against Florida State and Virginia), his lows were much lower, lacking the dangerous consistency that Lopez will bring to the Tar Heels this fall.
18) Blake Horvath, Navy
2024 CSN QB+: 79.9 (C+, 34th)
With his absurd athleticism and eye-popping arm talent for a service academy quarterback, Blake Horvath was one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch last fall while also being the propellant of the resurgence of the Navy Midshipmen football program. Remove romance and subjectivity from the equation, and the numbers still concur that Horvath is one of the top returning college football quarterbacks.
The second-highest graded Navy quarterback since 2019 (Malcolm Perry, 81.9), no returning quarterback had more rushing yards than the talented option playmaker (1,246), and now-Utah Ute dual-threat Devon Dampier was the only quarterback to have more rushing scores (17) amongst passers returning in 2025.
90-YARD QB TOUCHDOWN RUN!
Blake Horvath has 416 total yards, 6 TD@NavyFB pic.twitter.com/28kQIFHhMm
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 21, 2024
Horvath thrice ranked among the weekly top 10 with his single-game grades (against UAB, Memphis, and Army) and produced two top-50 games within the 2024 season. He recorded an 89.8 (B+) grade against the Blazers, the 17th-best performance by a quarterback last fall. Meanwhile, his 87.3 grade against Memphis ranked 36th throughout the 2024 campaign.
A man for the big moment, Horvath excelled in close games, leading all returning college football quarterbacks (who played a full season) in close game EPA (1.13). The Navy quarterback was born with the clutch gene, leading all qualifying passers with a 2.26 clutch sum. With explosive athleticism and ice in his veins, Navy should be considered a force in the AAC once again this fall.
17) Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
2024 CSN QB+: 80.1 (B-, 33rd)
After excelling for the New Mexico State Aggies in 2023, the nation was introduced to the talents of Diego Pavia in his debut season in the SEC with the Vanderbilt Commodores. A gritty swashbuckler who is equally parts arm cannon and battering ram, the veteran JUCO product has gotten better with every passing season, which should be a terrifying prospect for defensive coordinators this season.
The most impressive thing about Pavia’s 80.1 CSN QB+ grade (B-) is that he matched his play from 2023 against elevated competition. In both seasons, he received an unadjusted QB+ grade of 80.0, but the strength of schedule faced with the Aggies in CUSA saw his adjusted grade drop to 78.2 (C+). It’s a minor adjustment for competition quality, but it speaks to Pavia’s ability to play at any game level.
The Vanderbilt quarterback ranked in the weekly top five four times last season, a remarkable feat that demonstrates his talent. He also has five games within the top 100 performances from the past six seasons (for Vanderbilt and New Mexico State). His most famous outing to date, the historic win over the Alabama Crimson Tide, earned a 90.5 (A-) grade that was the 13th-best game in 2024.
Pavia’s clutch sum and consistently high conversion rate on money downs contribute to his statistical success, providing a quantifiable measurement of the visual treat that is watching him pile through defenses for fun on a Saturday afternoon.
16) Parker Navarro, Ohio
2024 CSN QB+: 80.2 (B-, 31st)
While the college football transfer portal eviscerated the Group of Five level, the Ohio Bobcats proved a rare commodity. They lost their head coach but somehow managed to retain one of the top 25 returning college football quarterbacks and a key part of their offensive identity. Parker Navarro earned All-MAC honors last fall and should be considered a frontrunner for the conference MVP in 2025.
A true dual-threat, Navarro led all MAC quarterbacks in scramble EPA (20.43) and rushing EPA (59.2) while finishing fifth for throw EPA (68.42). The Ohio standout’s 36.6% first down or touchdown per attempt led the conference, while he ranked third in the MAC with 9.7 air yards per attempt. Only one other quarterback in the conference relied less on their playmakers to make yardage after the catch.
He was also the only quarterback in the MAC to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in the 2024 college football season.
His 80.2 CSN QB+ grade is the second-highest among returning Group of Five quarterbacks. Even more impressive was that his highest-graded performance from the 2024 season came on his biggest stage. Navarro logged a 92.0 grade (the fourth-best in the 2024 season) against the Miami (OH) RedHawks in the MAC Championship Game.
15) Luke Altmyer, Illinois
2024 CSN QB+: 80.3 (B-, 29th)
There are many reasons to be excited about Illinois Fighting Illini football this fall, and the return of starting quarterback Luke Altmyer is one of them. After a season where he helped the team to a first 10-win season since 2001, the former Ole Miss Rebels recruit turned his back on an NFL opportunity and extended his stay in Champagne as one of the top 25 returning college football quarterbacks.
Altmyer ranks second among returning Big Ten quarterbacks for offensive dropback EPA (67.9), offensive throw EPA (107.41), and rushing EPA (11.9). Meanwhile, no other Big Ten quarterback with over 150 passing attempts had a better touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.7), and only one other returning Big Ten quarterback outperformed his 9.6 air yards per attempt in 2024.
Altmyer’s passing stat line of 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns with 60.8% pass completion isn’t overly flashy, and he doesn’t receive the respect he deserves due to a lack of gaudy numbers. Subsequently, he doesn’t have any eye-popping single-game grades from last fall.
An 83.6 (B) grade against Purdue was his season (and career best), which didn’t even trouble the top 100 performances. Yet, his star power lies with consistency, with four 80+ graded games last fall. Seven of his career outings have been a top-30 mark in their game week. The progression from a 68.2 grade against Purdue in 2023 to a career-high against the Boilermakers in 2024 was remarkable.
14) Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
2024 CSN QB+: 80.4 (B-, 28th)
Fernando Mendoza is starting to garner hype as a legitimate NFL Draft prospect. Yet, before we get carried away with his professional potential, we have a whole season of college football in which to enjoy his abilities. After impressing with the California Golden Bears last fall, Mendoza entered the transfer portal and landed with the quarterback-needy Indiana Hoosiers, who lost Kurtis Rourke.
Rourke had the sixth-highest QB+ grade (85.6) of the 2024 season, leaving substantially big boots to fill. Like his conference compatriot Luke Altmyer, Mendoza doesn’t have the flashiest of grades to hang his hat on, but has made a career out of consistently being able to carve open defenses.
Mendoza’s 92.66 dropback EPA would have ranked in the top five of Big Ten quarterbacks last fall.
His 125.43 offensive throw EPA would have ranked fourth, while his 21.14 scramble EPA would have led the conference. The former Cal quarterback took a lot of sacks in 2024 (9.4% sack rate), but behind a Hoosiers offensive line that landed some of the top portal linemen, he should have more time to unleash his natural arm talent.
13) Rocco Becht, Iowa State
2024 CSN QB+: 81.0 (B-, 24th)
The Iowa State Cyclones made it back to the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time since 2020, and one of the biggest reasons for that success was the play of quarterback Rocco Becht. While he loses two of the game’s top wide receivers to the NFL, Becht is back in Ames for the 2025 season as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the nation, and should power Iowa State to a title shot once more.
Watching the Cyclones last fall, you never got the impression they were out of the game with Becht under center, and the numbers behind his 81.0 CSN QB+ grade demonstrate why. There were few quarterbacks better than the Iowa State passer under pressure in 2024, with his 0.0 pressured EPA per dropback ranking fourth among returning college football quarterbacks.
Becht ranked fourth for offensive dropback EPA (87.67) last fall among returning Big 12 quarterbacks. Showcasing his ability to grind out yardage in any way possible, he ranked second among returning quarterbacks for scramble EPA (24.72) and led the Big 12 in rushing EPA (24.9). Only Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby had more rushing touchdowns in the Big 12 a year ago.
For two seasons, Becht has been a high-level playmaker, earning a grade of 80.0 or more in 30.8% of his career games.
12) Kevin Jennings, SMU
2024 CSN QB+: 81.3 (B-, 21st)
Although Preston Stone was expected to lead the SMU Mustangs into the ACC ahead of the season, Kevin Jennings ended up being the quarterback to lead the program back into the national spotlight. Grabbing the starting job by the horns early in the season, his steady consistency in all facets and ability to turn a game on its head with his legs took the team to the 2024-2025 College Football Playoff.
Jennings is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback whose 8.5 yards per rush attempt last fall ranks fourth among all returning quarterbacks. His 150.9 passer efficiency is third amongst returning ACC quarterbacks who had at least 150 pass attempts in 2024, and Cade Klubnik is the only returning ACC passer with a higher dropback EPA than Jennings (107.55) in 2024.
A high-level performer across the season, Jennings logged six games with a grade of 80.0 or higher. That consistency helped contribute to his 81.3 overall grade. However, he was no stranger to producing explosive displays of dominance.
The SMU quarterback logged the fifth-highest graded game in the 2024 season against the Pittsburgh Panthers, earning a 91.8 (A-) grade. Jennings showcased his ability to perform in the face of pressure (1.45 pressured EPA per dropback), dismantled the Panthers’ defense in the final two minutes of the first half, and was unstoppable on money downs.
11) Carson Beck, Miami (FL)
2024 CSN QB+: 81.4 (B-, 20th)
Carson Beck entered the 2024 college football season as an almost consensus QB1 of the 2025 NFL Draft class, with the expectation he’d lead the Georgia Bulldogs’ assault on the College Football Playoff and deliver another national title to the program. It’s safe to say, 2024 didn’t live up to those expectations for Beck, and he ended the year injured and in the transfer portal rather than the NFL.
Expectation does funny things to perception.
While he may not have surpassed his passing yard numbers last fall, Beck had a higher touchdown percentage (6.3%) and threw more air yards per pass attempt (8.4) than the previous season. Meanwhile, he put together three of the top-100 highest-graded games in the 2024 season, according to CSN QB+. His best was a 89.1 grade (B+) outing against a Tennessee defense that was one of the nation’s best.
In close games, when he was required to come up clutch, Beck was often at his very best (think the overtime win over Georgia Tech). However, his CSN QB+ grade showcases one element of his game that he’ll need to eradicate for success with the Miami Hurricanes this season. Beck is at his worst under pressure, with a pressured EPA per dropback among the worst in the nation a year ago.
10) Darian Mensah, Duke
2024 CSN QB+: 82.1 (B-, 19th)
Darian Mensah received lots of offseason attention with his big-money NIL deal to join the Duke Blue Devils. A well-known playmaker to Group of Five aficionados, but something of a stranger to the national spotlight, many Blue Devils fans want to know if their new quarterback is worth the $8 million deal doled out this offseason. The short answer is yes. CSN QB+ provides an emphatic long answer.
A straightforward comparison between the performance of their new and old quarterback in the 2024 season provides an immediate and clear answer. Not only is Mensah one of the top returning college football quarterbacks, but he also ranked 19th among all eligible passers last fall. Former Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy ranked 107th with a 72.1 (C-) grade. The upgrade is substantial.
Darian Mensah is a Top __ QB in the Country 😈
pic.twitter.com/h9IC7apBAC— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) May 6, 2025
Murphy had one of the worst dropback EPAs (2.77) in the ACC for the Blue Devils last fall, ranking 18th in the conference. By contrast, Mensah had a dropback EPA of 123.8 in the American Athletic Conference. He also had an NCAA passer efficiency rating of 166.7, which would have been second only to Cam Ward in the ACC last fall.
Mensah averaged 10.7 air yards per pass attempt a year ago (Murphy averaged 9.2 air yards per attempt despite his reputation as a big-armed QB) while throwing a touchdown on 7.7% of his pass attempts. The former Tulane quarterback was particularly impressive throwing over the middle of the field, completing 83.3% of his midfield throws of 20-30 yards and not throwing an interception in that range. Expect him to carve up some ACC defenses this fall.
9) Haynes King, Georgia Tech
2024 CSN QB+: 82.1 (B-, 18th)
A year after leading the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets to their first AP Poll ranking since 2015 and leading the ACC with 72.9% pass completion, Haynes King returns to the program to help continue the upward trend under head coach Brent Key.
A low-risk passer who threw an interception on just 0.7% of his pass attempts, King is also a weapon on the ground who rushed for 587 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago. Only three quarterbacks had more designed runs (114) than the Georgia Tech standout last season, who also provided value out of structure when scrambling.
You want your quarterback to have his best game in your biggest game, and for Georgia Tech fans, there aren’t many more significant games than the “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” rivalry with the Georgia Bulldogs. Unsurprisingly, that was King’s showcase outing, according to CSN QB+, earning an 84.5 (B) grade. That performance was his only top-100 appearance in the 2024 season.
King might have had one of the lowest air yards per attempt in the ACC (5.6) while relying heavily on his playmakers after the catch (6.8 yards), but he’s a gutsy field general who can turn it on when needed. They might have lost to the Bulldogs last year, but it wouldn’t have been close without his clutch play. More performances like that could make Georgia Tech an ACC contender in 2025.
8) Maddux Madsen, Boise State
2024 CSN QB+: 82.1 (B-, 17th)
The Boise State Broncos ran to a Mountain West title and a College Football Playoff on the back of Ashton Jeanty and are 100% doomed without him, right? Wrong. It might be time to adjust your opinion of the 2025 Broncos, who return the Group of Five’s highest-graded passer according to the CSN QB+ metric. Maddux Madsen is a legitimate talent who deserves more respect going into the year.
Madsen was a top-25 quarterback in college football a year ago for dropback EPA (113.40) and throw EPA (109.71) while ranking 17th for touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.8). 36.9% of his pass attempts resulted in a first down or a touchdown, ranking 16th nationally. The Boise State quarterback showcased his ability to scramble out of trouble (17.06 scramble EPA, 29th nationally) while pacing the Mountain West in passing yards (3,018) and touchdowns (23).
The Boise State quarterback had the highest-graded single-game performance in the 2024 college football season, logging a 94.8 grade in a dominant Week 10 win over the San Diego State Aztecs. His clean EPA per dropback (1.35), end of half EPA per dropback (2.83), 100% third and fourth down conversion, scramble EPA per attempt (2.14), and clutch sum (4.20) were all among the highest seen during the 2024 season.
While that one performance does skew his overall grade some, it’s worth noting that Madsen logged an additional four games with an 80+ grade, including against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the College Football Playoff and the important Week 9 win over the UNLV Rebels. Underestimate Boise State with Madsen at the wheel at your peril.
7) Cade Klubnik, Clemson
2024 CSN QB+: 82.2 (B-, 16th)
Cade Klubnik helped power a Clemson Tigers resurgence last fall, guiding the program to the ACC title after a year’s hiatus from the championship game. While earning MVP honors in the win over the SMU Mustangs, he booked Dabo Swinney’s team a spot in the College Football Playoff. A calm presence under center, he enters 2025 as a high-profile draft prospect and one of college football’s best.
Only two other returning college football quarterbacks had a better pressured EPA per dropback (0.1) than Klubnik last year, a significant component of his 82.2 (B-) QB+ grade. He didn’t produce any earth-shattering performances per our metric, but still had four games with an 80+ grade. If it weren’t for the season-opening loss to Georgia (66.8, D grade), his overall grade for 2024 would be much higher.
Klubnik leads all returning passers after throwing 36 touchdowns in 2024. He also leads all returning ACC quarterbacks in total pass EPA (114.19), according to TruMedia. A big play threat waiting to happen, he tied for the ACC lead of plays over 50 yards last fall (7) and had more 20+ yard plays (57) than any quarterback returning to the conference in 2025.
Haynes King (7.0) was the only ACC quarterback with a better touchdown-to-interception rate than Klubnik (6.0) in 2024. Expect big things from the Clemson quarterback during his third season operating Garrett Riley’s offense, including a trip to New York in December if he continues his upward career trajectory.
6) Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
2024 CSN QB+: 82.4 (B-, 15th)
While Cam Skattebo was the heart and soul of the Arizona State Sun Devils’ ascension into a national power last fall, quarterback Sam Leavitt deserves his flowers, too. The former Michigan State Spartans transfer put on an impressive display of efficiency and consistency, while peppering in some of the most delightful throws we saw last year, routinely allowing his receivers to create after-the-catch yards.
The result was one of the highest CSN QB+ grades among returning college football quarterbacks. While he didn’t log a 90+ game (Leavitt’s best single game was an 87.1 grade against the Oklahoma State Cowboys), he tallied a grade of over 80 in six of the 12 games where he was eligible and recorded two games in the top 100 performances of the 2024 season (Oklahoma State and Iowa State).
Leavitt’s appeal comes from his ability to conjure high-level plays while being relatively turnover-averse. Last year, he led all Big 12 quarterbacks in touchdown-to-interception rate (4.0) while throwing an interception on just 1.7% of his 350 pass attempts.
Detractors of the Arizona State quarterback point to the Sun Devils’ reliance on former running back Skattebo, and there is some evidence from CSN QB+ that could cause some concern for the season ahead. The only game without the star running back, Leavitt recorded a 78.3 (C+) grade in a narrow win. However, that was a middling grade relative to his entire body of work in the 2024 season.
5) Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
2024 CSN QB+: 82.9 (B-, 12th)
If you’re looking for a dark horse Heisman Trophy contender among returning college football quarterbacks, look no further than Baylor Bears’ standout passer, Sawyer Robertson. He’s a pocket passer-sized quarterback with the power and athleticism to pick up chunk plays on the ground for fun, and heads into the 2025 season after setting career highs across multiple standard metrics.
While his 82.9 CSN QB+ grade is good enough for fifth among returning college football quarterbacks, Robertson is riding a wave of momentum into the upcoming campaign. Four of his five highest-graded games came down the stretch of last season, with his best performance (85.0, B grade) was in the regular season finale against a Kansas Jayhawks team on their own winning streak.
Aside from a negative pressured EPA per dropback of -0.11 (only seven quarterbacks last season had a positive EPA per dropback in 2024), Robertson graded positively across the individual data points that make up our metric. Unsurprisingly, given his skill set, he was particularly impressive in offensive rush EPA (0.52 per rush) and scramble EPA (0.66 per scramble), while ranking ninth among returning college football quarterbacks in money-down conversion.
A strong-armed passer with a plethora of eye-popping throws on his tape, Robertson finished third in the Big 12 for air yards per attempt (9.1) among quarterbacks who completed more than 60% of their attempts in 2024. He finished second last fall in Big 12 passer efficiency (153.1), and his 39.1% of throws resulting in a touchdown or first down outstripped all conference quarterbacks with over 100 attempts. He’s a legitimate talent primed for big things this fall.
4) Josh Hoover, TCU
2024 CSN QB+: 83.1 (B, 11th)
While Josh Hoover might not move the needle in terms of the type of dual threat that puts up video game highlights with the ball in his hands, there aren’t many better pocket passers than the TCU Horned Frogs quarterback heading into the 2025 season. After finishing behind Shedeur Sanders in several basic metrics, such as yards per game and passing yards, he’s primed to lead the Big 12 this fall.
The highest-graded Big 12 quarterback by CSN QB+ grade, Hoover’s standout game actually came in a loss against the UCF Knights, where even his combative quarterbacking couldn’t overcome some suboptimal defense. The 87.2-graded outing was a top-50 single-game mark and was one of four games with an 80+ grade for the TCU standout. His grading was relatively consistent throughout the year.
If you want a quarterback to come up big for you, Hoover is your man. A significant part of his high grading is a clutch sum of 1.18, the fifth-highest among returning college football quarterbacks for the 2025 season. That was best showcased by his performance against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, where he dragged the Frogs back from a 17-point deficit, including throwing two fourth-quarter scores.
Meanwhile, no returning quarterback in the Big 12 had a higher offensive dropback EPA (128.64) or offensive throw EPA (159.63) than the TCU passer last fall. Meanwhile, only one returning quarterback had a higher NCAA pass efficiency rating than Hoover.
3) Drew Allar, Penn State
2024 CSN QB+: 83.5 (B, 10th)
Drew Allar might be one of the most polarising college football quarterbacks we’ve seen in recent years. Even Penn State Nittany Lions fans are divided in their opinion of the 6’5″, 236-pound senior passer, who opened his collegiate career by setting the FBS record for pass attempts without an interception, but has never delivered the Big Ten or national title that fans so desperately crave.
Nonetheless, his decision to snub the NFL for another go around at the college level gives Penn State a legitimate Heisman Trophy frontrunner and a game changer who ranks as the third-best returning quarterback in college football this fall. While there are some head-scratching plays on his game film, Allar is deadly accurate and combines exciting arm talent with advanced pocket management.
#PennState QB Drew Allar (6-5, 238)
Big pocket passer. Velocity to fit passes into tight windows and shows touch on deep throws. Accuracy made a major leap in 2024. pic.twitter.com/1VshgOcc5R
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) May 19, 2025
Some Penn State fans are consternated by Allar’s inability to steer the Nittany Lions to victory in their biggest games, and CSN QB+ supports that argument. He earned a 68.5 (D+) grade for his performance against the Ohio State Buckeyes last fall, while the College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame earned him a 74.4 (C) grade, his fourth-lowest of the year.
Still, Allar received a 92.2 (A) grade for his performance against the Washington Huskies, the third highest grade in the 2024 season and a top-50 mark since 2019. Seven of his games received a grade of 80 or higher, and four ranked within the top-100 performances of the year.
2) Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
2024 CSN QB+: 84.5 (B, 8th)
The LSU Tigers have produced two of the best quarterbacks in college football since 2019. Could Garrett Nussmeier be set to join them? The cannon-armed quarterback opted to return to Death Valley rather than declare for the 2025 NFL Draft and enters the upcoming college football season having set the second-highest CSN QB+ grade among returning quarterbacks.
Nussmeier led the SEC with 535 pass attempts a year ago, tallying 4,052 passing yards and 29 touchdowns as a high-volume juggernaut. However, his grade success goes beyond the traditional box score statistics.
No other returning college football quarterback came close to Nussmeier’s performance on money downs last fall. The LSU quarterback converted on third and fourth down on 49.7% of his attempts. Furthermore, no other quarterback in the SEC with over 200 passing attempts in 2024 picked up a first down or touchdown at a higher clip (37.2%) than the Tigers’ star passer.
While being viewed as a traditional pocket passer by most analysts, Nussmeier had a surprisingly large amount of success on both designed runs and scramble plays last fall. If he can cut down on turnover-worthy plays (the LSU quarterback led the SEC in interceptions last year), Nussmeier could end 2025 as the highest graded passer by our metric.
1) John Mateer, Oklahoma
2024 CSN QB+: 84.9 (B, 7th)
The Oklahoma Sooners’ offense was a cause of consternation last season, so what better way to improve it than plucking the highest-graded returning college football quarterback from the transfer portal to pair him with his former offensive coordinator? The partnership of Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer was one of the most fun to watch last fall, but it was also one of the most deadly in the nation.
KEEP READING: CFB Analyst Makes Bold Claim about Oklahoma’s Edge with John Mateer at QB
A dual-threat gunslinger who plays the game with a red-hot fire inside of him, Mateer ranked 37th on CSN’s Top 100 Returning College Football Players for 2025. His 139.77 dropback EPA and 165.53 throw EPA would both have ranked second in the SEC a year ago, while his 9.7 yards per attempt and 8.4% touchdown per attempt would have also ranked highly in the conference.
Mateer’s standout performance of the 2024 season came against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, where he received an 88.0 grade that was the 29th-highest of any quarterback last fall. He logged five games with an 80+ grade while only putting together one game with a grade below a C.
Although he thrived in a clean pocket, Mateer was good under pressure and is a constant threat on both designed runs and scramble plays. Detractors might point to a vanilla schedule for the Washington State Cougars in 2024, but our metric is adjusted to account for the opposition defense ranking. He’ll face a tougher test in the SEC, but he’s set up to pass it with flying colors.
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