Top 10 Best Quarterbacks Available in the College Football Transfer Portal Right Now Ft. Sam Leavitt

January 6, 2026 | 12:28 PM EST

The College Football Playoff is still going on, but some teams are already thinking about the 2026 season. The transfer portal has been extremely active as of late, and the quarterback position has been one highly sought after.

Here are the top 10 quarterbacks who have joined the transfer portal.

Top 10 Best Quarterbacks Available in the College Football Transfer Portal

#10 Austin Simmons – Ole Miss

Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Austin Simmons (13) is pressured by Tulane Green Wave defensive lineman Harvey Dyson III (5) during the first half of a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Four-star transfer Austin Simmons is moving from Ole Miss to Missouri, where he will replace Beau Pribula, who also jumped on the transfer portal. Simmons was a three-star recruit in the class of 2023, who was considered the 35th-best quarterback in the nation for that class.

#9 Josh Hoover – TCU

Nov 29, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws the ball during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Indiana Hoosiers have already found their replacement for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. It’s TCU’s Josh Hoover, who’s rated a four-star transfer by 247Sports. He was a three-star recruit in the class of 2022 and has been the Horned Frogs’ starting quarterback for the last three years. He led them to 9-4 and 8-4 seasons in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

#8 Rocco Becht – Iowa State

Nov 29, 2025; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) runs during the second half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Bech is swapping the Cyclones for the Penn State Nittany Lions. With Drew Allar’s eligibility years at an end, former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is bringing in his former quarterback with him to Happy Valley. Also a four-star prospect, Rocco Becht was Iowa State’s starter for three seasons and was the 2023 Big 12 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

#7 Byrum Brown – South Florida

Dec 17, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) looks on against the Old Dominion Monarchs in the first quarter during the Cure Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Another four-star quarterback on our list. Brown is another story of a quarterback following his head coach as they change schools. Alex Golesh left the South Florida Bulls to take the Auburn Tigers job, and he’s taking Brown along with him. He’s also, like most players on this list, an experienced starter with two and a half seasons under his belt.

#6 Deuce Knight – Auburn

Auburn Tigers quarterback Deuce Knight (9) run in for a touchdown on the first play of the game as Auburn Tigers take on Mercer Bears at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.

Directly related to the player above, Byrum Brown’s arrival at Auburn is what makes Deuce Knight’s stay at the program impossible. The four-star transfer doesn’t have a destination yet, but names like Ole Miss, Notre Dame, and LSU have been brought up as possible destinations. Unlike others on this list, he’s an inexperienced signal-caller who joined Auburn as a four-star recruit in the class of 2025. He was the sixth-best quarterback recruit that year.

#5 Dylan Raiola – Nebraska

Nov 1, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) runs off after scoring a touchdown against the Southern California Trojans during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Raiola was supposed to be the Cornhuskers’ future. Arriving in 2024 as a five-star recruit and the second-best quarterback in that year’s class, he’s now leaving Lincoln as a four-star recruit and the fifth-best quarterback in the portal. He doesn’t have a destination yet, but names like Oregon, Louisville, and Miami have been mentioned. He has two full seasons as a starter under his belt.

#4 DJ Lagway – Florida

I’ve always been struck by the way D.J. Lagway treats fans. Even after tough moments on the field, he consistently shows respect and kindness. Although this photo was after a win, I once watched him sign a young fan’s cast and take a moment with him after a heartbreaking loss—an interaction that spoke volumes about his character.
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2) greets fans after beating Texas 29-21 on Oct. 4, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville,.

DJ Lagway is another quarterback who’s leaving because of changes going on with his program. Initially, the way he led the Gators through the latter half of last year’s season made fans very hopeful about what Florida could do in 2025. Alas, the season quickly turned to a disappointment, and with Billy Napier’s dismissal, he’s looking for a new program. He was a five-star and the top quarterback in the class of 2024. Favorites to get him are Clemson, LSU, Miami, and Baylor.

#3 Drew Mestemaker – North Texas

Dec 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; North Texas Mean Green quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) scrambles out of the pocket against the Tulane Green Wave during the first half in the 2025 American Championship at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The first five-star transfer on the list. Mestemaker just led the North Texas Mean Green to a 12-2 season, and they made it to the American Conference championship game, where they fell to Tulane. A victory there would’ve sent them to the College Football Playoff in place of the Green Wave. He’s now joining the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Big 12.

#2 Brendan Sorsby – Cincinnati

Nov 29, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) runs with the ball during the game between the Horned Frogs and the Bearcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Another highly experienced quarterback, with three seasons as a starter. One with Indiana back in 2023, and two with Cincinnati (2024, 2025). Sorsby is a five-star transfer going to Texas Tech, as part of the Red Raiders’ push to make it to the national championship game next season. He’s also getting the biggest NIL deal in history, worth some $5 million.

#1 Sam Leavitt – Arizona State

ASU Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) scrambles away from Houston Cougars defensive lineman Eddie Walls III (90) at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Oct. 25, 2025.

The top quarterback in this year’s transfer portal. Leavitt has been the Sun Devils’ starter for two seasons, in 2024 and 2025. 2025 was cut short due to an injury he received halfway through the year, but 2024 was the most successful Arizona State season in recent memory, when they won the Big 12 championship and made it to the College Football Playoff. At the moment, he seems headed to LSU.