The 2026 college football season is shaping up to deliver one of the most talented and varied quarterback rooms in recent memory. Across the country, signal-callers bring a wide array of skills that promise exciting matchups and highlight-reel plays throughout the fall.
From dynamic runners to strong-armed passers and creative playmakers, the position stands out as a focal point for fans and analysts alike.
Athletic standouts such as LaNorris Sellers and Marcel Reed highlight the speed and versatility available at the position this year. Meanwhile, experienced transfer quarterbacks like Josh Hoover and Darian Mensah offer proven production and big arms that can change games in an instant. Creative leaders like Trinidad Chambliss add another layer of intrigue with their ability to improvise and make defenders miss.
Despite the abundance of capable returning starters in every major conference, selecting a single top quarterback remains a difficult exercise. Many programs boast seasoned veterans under center, making the race for supremacy at the position particularly competitive heading into the new campaign.
FOX college football analyst Joel Klatt recently shared his thoughts on the premier quarterback entering the 2026 season. During an episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” Klatt selected Oregon’s Dante Moore as the top choice among all contenders.
“This guy has experience and he’s got gifts that you just cannot teach. He’s got the mobility, the ability to rip it down the field,” Klatt said.
“He was top-five in completion percentage a year ago at 72%, so he can be efficient, he can get the ball down the field. It didn’t end well, obviously, but that experience is going to pay off. Now he’s got two starts in the playoffs under his belt, he’s highly experienced, and this is the exact type of guy you would want to go into a season with a team that is veteran around him.”
Moore, standing at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, began his collegiate journey at UCLA before making the move to Oregon. After redshirting behind Dillon Gabriel in his first year with the Ducks, he stepped into a featured role and delivered strong results in 2025. His numbers included 3,565 passing yards along with 30 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, showcasing both volume and efficiency.
Klatt emphasized the importance of surrounding talent, and Oregon appears well-positioned in that regard. The Ducks return one of the most seasoned rosters nationally, featuring 14 starters coming back from the previous season. On offense, the majority of Moore’s favorite receiving targets remain in the fold, while the defensive side retains nearly all of its key contributors from 2025.
Prior to his decision to return for another year in Eugene, Moore had drawn significant attention from NFL evaluators. He was widely projected as the second overall quarterback selection in the upcoming draft, sitting only behind former Indiana standout and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. With another strong season, his stock could rise even higher for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Arch Manning continues to generate buzz as a potential top overall pick according to various draft experts. His game features more pronounced dual-threat elements compared to Moore, offering exciting mobility and escapability on the field. However, that style of play, while highly effective in college, often faces questions regarding long-term durability at the professional level.
Moore’s performance throughout the 2025 campaign demonstrated greater week-to-week reliability than Manning’s, even if the latter closed the year on a stronger note. This consistency, paired with Moore’s growing experience and supporting cast, strengthens the case for him as the quarterback best equipped to lead his team deep into the 2026 postseason.
As the season approaches, all eyes will be on how these top talents perform under the bright lights of college football’s expanded landscape.
