CBS Sports updates Top 10 college quarterback rankings ahead of 2025 season

As opposed to recent seasons, college football’s 2025 quarterback class doesn’t quite have the same name recognition, especially among the returning starters. In fact, some of the most notable names are those that have yet to even be officially named their team’s QB1, including Texas‘ Arch Manning, Oregon‘s Dante Moore and Ohio State‘s Julian Sayin.

Given that reality, CBS Sports‘ Tom Fornelli and the Cover 3 Podcast crew recently ranked college football’s Top 10 returning quarterbacks entering the 2025 season. Fornelli included the lone stipulation that each must have started at least one game in the 2024 season, thus removing talented youngsters like Moore and Sayin from contention.

For Fornelli’s personal Top 10 list, he considered “experience, potential and situation” with no thought about their potential draft stock. That might explain why the much-ballyhooed Manning isn’t at No. 1.

Check out Fornelli’s Top 10 list of college football quarterbacks entering the 2025 season below:

1. Cade Klubnik, Clemson Tigers

Fornelli described himself as a “certified Cade Klubnik skeptic” entering the 2024 season. But the Tigers’ multi-year starter changed that perspective after finally living up to his former five-star hype by leading Clemson to the ACC Championship and a return to the College Football Playoff last season.

Fornelli cites Klubnik’s “combination of experience, talent, production and situation” for landing at No. 1 overall. He even predicts the Tigers’ star will be in the Heisman Trophy consideration if he can match his 2024 performance when he threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns.

2. Drew Allar, Penn State Nittany Lions

Despite some late-season draft buzz, Allar opted to return ahead of what could be a special season in Happy Valley. Fornelli described Allar as “polarizing” given his immense talent but clear struggles against elite competition, including an “underwhelming” effort in Penn State’s Playoff games last season.

Should the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Allar finally rise to the challenge against the Big Ten’s other top teams, Fornelli believes the Nittany Lions veteran has everything it takes to become college football’s top QB in 2025. Could a trip to NYC for the Heisman Trophy ceremony be in his future? Only time will tell.

3. Arch Manning, Texas Longhorns

Although he’s yet to be formally named as Texas’ next QB1, that’s just semantics. The former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 signing class impressed in two spot-starts during the 2024 season and will take over for the NFL-bound Quinn Ewers after two seasons as his backup.

Fornelli believes Manning — the nephew of legendary SEC and NFL QBs Eli and Peyton Manning — has the talent to take Steve Sarkisian‘s pro-style offense to the next level in 2025. Despite his limited role in 2024, Manning certainly impressed with 1,047 total yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

4. Carson Beck, Miami Hurricanes

Beck moved on after two seasons as Georgia‘s starter, transferring to Miami this offseason after his 2024 season was cut short by a UCL elbow injury in last year’s SEC Championship game. Beck’s health will be key in 2025, but Fornelli believes he can return to his strong 2023 form after taking a step back last season.

Fornelli also points out that the defenses Beck will face in the ACC won’t be nearly as elite as he faced in the SEC, which also could factor into a bounce-back season in 2025. Miami, of course, had the FBS’s top offense in 2024 with another one-year stopgap at QB: Cam Ward, the projected No. 1 overall pick.

5. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Tigers

Fornelli rounds out his Top 5 with another veteran starter in LSU senior Garrett Nussmeier. He is college football’s most productive returning QB after throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024.

Fornelli described Nussmeier’s throwing arm as “an absolute cannon” but acknowledged the LSU quarterback will need to “make better decisions” after throwing a SEC-worst 12 interceptions last season tying both Beck and Ewers in that category.

6. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor Bears

Robertson wasn’t a necessarily household name in 2024, especially after not even starting last season as Baylor’s starting quarterback. But the former Mississippi State transfer turned it on late in 2024 en route to finishing with 3,071 passing yards and 28 touchdowns.

Fornelli believes the Bears’ rising senior QB could certainly change that perception should Robertson ultimately build off last year’s late-season surge and have Baylor in Big 12 contention throughout 2025.

7. Luke Altmyer, Illinois Fighting Illini

The Big Ten is facing multiple changes of the guard at the QB position. But Altmyer is one of the few multi-year veteran starters leading the way after throwing for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024.

The former Ole Miss transfer is entering his third year directing the Fighting Illini offense. Fornelli believes that should give Altmyer a leg up against his fellow Big Ten starters entering the 2025 season.

8. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina Gamecocks

Fornelli described Sellers, the Gamecocks’ sensational dual-threat sophomore starter, as having the same impact as Alabama‘s Jalen Milroe “but a better passer.” Given what Milroe accomplished over his two seasons in Tuscaloosa, that’s high praise.

Still, Fornelli acknowledged Sellers must improve on his consistency in 2025. He combined for more than 3,200 total yards and 25 touchdowns as both a passer and runner last season.

9. Devon Dampier, Utah Utes

While he might be the least well known of the bunch, Fornelli described the dual-threat Dampier as a “fun college QB.” He combined for 3,934 total yards and 31 total touchdowns in 2024 at New Mexico.

Now at Utah after an offseason transfer, Dampier has the potential to shine against Big 12 defenses. He racked up a team-leading 1,166 yards and 19 scores as a runner last season for the Lobos.

10. DJ Lagway, Florida Gators

Outside of Manning, Lagway’s name carries the most weight. Lagway stepped up last season and helped save Florida head coach Billy Napier‘s job with a strong true freshman campaign in 2024.

That said, Fornelli acknowledged Lagway’s ceiling is the highest of all the QBs on this Top 10 list. He even suggested the 2024 No. 1 overall recruit and former Five-Star Plus+ signee could have the Gators back in national title contention if he can build off last season’s success.