No position in college football is more important than quarterback. Yet the position has incredible turnover with players departing for the NFL or heading to the transfer portal in the effort to level up at a bigger program or in search of more playing time.
The circumstances create fluidity every season, and the benefit of having a returning starter or the arrival of an experienced veteran can make or break a team. It should then be no surprise that all but one of the top 25 best quarterbacks fit into one of those categories.
Nineteen of the group selected by voters at USA TODAY Sports are in at least their second year at their school with just one yet to be a starter. The other six members of the list are transfers with significant starting experience at their previous stops.
Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
Who has the best helmet in college football? Here’s a look at the 25 best the sport has to offer heading into the 2026 season. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
2/ 26NO. 25 OKLAHOMA. Oklahoma’s interlocking “OU” is synonymous with one of the most successful programs in college football history, a logo worn by the likes of Billy Sims, Lee Roy Selmon, Brian Bosworth and, more recently, Adrian Peterson and Baker Mayfield. When paired with a shiny crimson helmet, it’s one of the best looks in the sport. (Kyle Ross, IMAGN IMAGES)
3/ 26NO. 24 ALABAMA. A look synonymous with college football, Alabama has a simple yet beautifully done design with player numbers. Adorning Alabama helmets since the 1950s, the Crimson Tide haven’t changed their look much since then, and don’t need to. It makes every player stand out while not messing with tradition. A major flex is using the helmet as a logo and the number representing the total national championships, which is at 18 claimed titles. Some teams have done their own versions of adding player numbers to helmets, but it’s a design you always associate with the Crimson Tide. (Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports)
4/ 26NO. 23 WYOMING. The flagship university in the Cowboy State, fittingly, has a cowboy as its mascot and with it, an incredible, distinct logo — a silhouette of a cowboy riding a bucking horse. The image, Bucking Horse and Rider, is actually a registered trademark of the state of Wyoming. The university says it represents “the toughness, and the never-say-die spirit that is Wyoming” and, just as important, it looks awfully good on a helmet. (Troy Babbitt, USA TODAY Sports)
5/ 26NO. 22 BOISE STATE. The non-Power darling does a great job of using a great logo with an oversized look of the Bronco. Oversized logos on helmets usually look good, but this one stands out with how intense it is, especially how Boise State does a nice touch of really making the eye stand out. It could use it on both sides, but it still comes across perfectly on one. No matter what color the helmet or decal is, it works every single time. It’s intense and fierce, matching the tenacity that comes with the blue turf. (Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
6/ 26NO. 21 WASHINGTON STATE. Wazzu has one of the best logos in college sports, a cougar head created by Randall Johnson in 1936 that spells out the school’s initials, “WSU.” It has become an iconic symbol for the university and in the broader college football world, thanks in some part to Ol’ Crimson, a Washington State flag that has been in the background of every episode of “College GameDay” since 2003. (Petre Thomas, IMAGN IMAGES)
7/ 26NO. 20 NEBRASKA. The Cornhuskers became a powerhouse when it added the block “N,” and while there’s nothing special about it, the helmet still is among the most recognizable. Nebraska has tried different variations with black that have mostly looked decent, but it further proves there is no need to mess with good ol’ reliable. (Jeff Hanisch, IMAGN IMAGES)
8/ 26NO. 19 PENN STATE. The Nittany Lions’ lids are proudly plain, with a dark blue stripe down the middle marking the only feature other than white on the helmet itself. For years, they defined Penn State’s no-frills approach under Joe Paterno. As part of the team’s overall uniform, they work exceptionally well, but by itself as a helmet, it’s not as remarkable. There’s a fine line between iconic and boring and these lean just a little too close to the latter. (Rich Barnes, IMAGN IMAGES)
9/ 26NO. 18 UTAH. When you have two primary logos, it’s important to choose the best looking one for the helmet. Luckily, you can’t go wrong with both the feather and retro “UU” logos, allowing Utah to go a plethora of ways with combinations that always come out clean. Plus, the Rose Bowl helmets with the rose interlocked with the logo is one of the best special editions ever seen. Outside of that, the Utes haven’t been afraid to try out bold designs, and they are executed to a tee each time. (Rob Gray, USA TODAY Sports)
10/ 26NO. 17 ARIZONA STATE. The Sun Devils already have one of the more distinct color combinations in college athletics, with maroon and gold, and while their partnership with Adidas has occasionally made their uniforms a bit all-over-the-place at times, their best looks are some of the best in the country. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with their trident helmets, they’d be much higher on this list if they made a full-time move back to Sparky the Sun Devil gracing their lids. (Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports)
11/ 26NO. 16 PITT. The Panthers have undergone a series of cosmetic changes over the past 30 years, with their helmets going from the underappreciated “DinoCat” of the Larry Fitzgerald years to the wholly forgettable and uninspired block “PITT” logo. In 2015, the program wisely switched back to the Pitt script that was associated with some of the school’s best teams and players. Pairing it with the traditional blue-and-yellow color scheme makes it that much nicer. (Charles LeClaire, IMAGN IMAGES)
12/ 26NO. 15 HAWAII. While many schools incorporate the shape of their state, it’s hard to beat Hawai’i. The Rainbow Warriors proudly display their home with all eight Hawaiian islands adorning one side of the helmet, standing out regardless of the color. The stripe is also unique with feathers that pay homage to the islands’ long legacy of chiefs and warriors. There is no state like the Aloha State, and Hawai’i uses it to its advantage. (James Snook, USA TODAY Sports)
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14/ 26NO. 13 SAN DIEGO STATE. After decades of putting the school’s logo or nickname onto its helmets, San Diego State fully leaned into its identity as the Aztecs and produced one of the most memorable lids in the sport. San Diego State’s shiny red helmets feature the unmistakable design of the Aztec sun stone, which blends in just enough with the rest of the helmet that it’s not too distracting or obnoxious. (James Snook, IMAGN IMAGES)
15/ 26NO. 12 MIAMI. Let Miami show you how a simple touch can turn into a cultural phenomenon. The distinctive green and orange “U” logo took off as the Hurricanes became a powerhouse, so much so Miami can also be referred to as just “The U” with the hand signal to go along with it. There have been some interesting modern designs Miami has done with it, but the classic look with the white helmet reigns supreme. (Mark J. Rebilas, IMAGN IMAGES)
16/ 26NO. 11 FLORIDA. Unlike other SEC powerhouses, the Gators haven’t had a consistent helmet design over the past 70 years, going from numbers on the side of the helmet to a basic F (which was worn during Steve Spurrier’s Heisman Trophy winning 1966 season) to some more, um, regrettable choices. In 1979, though, coach Charley Pell introduced a helmet ahead of his first season that has stood the test of time: an orange lid with a white-and-blue stripe down the middle and “Gators” spelled out in script on the sides. Despite the program’s recent struggles, it’s a look that has become synonymous with some of the best teams and most explosive offenses in the sport’s history. (Maria Lysaker, IMAGN IMAGES)
17/ 26NO. 10 UCLA. The Bruins struck literal gold in the 1970s when it introduced the script UCLA logo that has gotten some updates over time, but has never faded in beauty. It was so good it wasn’t even the same shade as the school’s official colors. Now it’s more aligned, and the switch to Jordan Brand introduced some really golden shells that shine no matter the time of the day. It perfectly aligns with the stunning views of the Rose Bowl. (Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
18/ 26NO. 9 TULANE. In their history, the Green Wave have never stuck with one design too terribly long. If they’re wise, they won’t veer away from what they’ve got now. In 2017, and after wearing it on their helmet much of the 2016 season, the university adopted the “Angry Wave” as the primary athletic mark. Since then, Tulane has had one of the more unique and eye-popping helmets in the sport, a mark that pops that much more with the school’s color scheme of green, sky blue and white. Though with those colors, the Green Wave have seldom had a bad-looking uniform. (Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports)
19/ 26NO. 8 USC. The Trojan warriors don the Trojan head, a logo that technically isn’t an official one but so perfectly done that it would be impossible to remove. The details of the Trojan headpiece are great on a small scale, making great harmony with the cardinal helmet. Even when USC updated its Trojan logo, it still kept this one that’s been around since the 1970s. It holds such high regard that coach Lincoln Riley mandates “the decal should be earned, not just given.” (Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports)
20/ 26NO. 7 LSU. If this were a ranking of college football uniforms, the Tigers would quite possibly be at the very top. Still, their helmet by itself isn’t too bad, either. Though LSU had some variation of a tiger head and the school’s name on their helmets for years, it added a purple facemask in 1980 and smartly hasn’t deviated since. Though the two things are unrelated, the helmet has been worn for the Tigers’ national championships in 2003, 2007 and 2019. (Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)
21/ 26NO. 6 OREGON. The uniform pioneers, there is no true primary helmet for Oregon, but that’s fine because just about every innovate design Nike gives them hits hard. The Ducks have found a good blend of tradition (the classic “O”) and modernization with the wings, a look that has been so stunning other teams have tried to copy it since then. Whether it’s marble, chrome, an eggshell or a shiny green, Oregon has proved there is no such thing as too many helmets. (James Snook, IMAGN IMAGES)
22/ 26NO. 5 TEXAS. Everything’s bigger in Texas — except the logo gracing the helmet of the football team at the state’s flagship university. It’s for the better, too. Texas’ white helmets with an understated silhouette of a longhorn cattle in burnt orange is a beautiful ode to simplicity. There’s a reason why one of the most recognizable programs in the sport has been wearing some variation of these since the early 1960s. (Maria Lysaker, USA TODAY Sports)
23/ 26NO. 4 FLORIDA STATE. Bobby Bowden is a legend in Tallahassee, and one of the lasting impacts was him putting the Seminole spear on the helmet. It truly encapsulates the Seminole nickname, while being an outstanding and innovative design that easily recognizable in college football, perhaps even more than the Chief Osceola logo. Mix that with the tomahawk stickers and you easily have of the best helmets in the sport. (Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES)
24/ 26NO. 3 OHIO STATE. The Buckeyes’ helmet on its own is perfectly fine — a silver lid with a white, black and scarlet stripe down the middle. What truly separates these, though, are what go with the helmet. As the story goes, in 1968, Ohio State trainer Ernie Biggs devised a system to award players helmet stickers that resembled buckeye leaves. That year, the Buckeyes went undefeated and won the national championship. The tradition, like the stickers, stuck and in the decades since, programs around the country have been copying them. None of them look better than the original, though. (Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports)
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26/ 26NO. 1 MICHIGAN. Shortly after Fritz Crisler was hired as Michigan’s head coach in 1938, he left a mark that would be as lasting as the two Big Ten championships and one national championship he’d help the Wolverines win over the course of his tenure. The newly arrived coach introduced a winged helmet, similar to one he had designed and put into place at his previous stop, Princeton. As he saw it, the winged design would allow halfbacks to find open receivers down the field. Not only did it work — Michigan went 71-16-3 under Crisler — but he birthed what remains the best-looking helmet in the country nearly 90 years later. (Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports)
25. Keelon Russell, Alabama
Recently named the starter by Kalen DeBoer, the former five-star recruit has the electric physical skills that were just too hard to keep off the field. There are sure to be growing pains after he sat out in his first season in Tuscaloosa. By the end of the season, he could be much higher on the list.
24. Conner Weigman, Houston
Weigman is the Big 12’s leading returner in completion percentage (65.2%) after guiding the Cougars to 10 wins last season. What separates him is his instincts, trusting his arm while knowing when to use his legs. His 36 total touchdowns — 25 passing and 11 running — were top 10 in the country. Staying healthy and playing a full season was rewarding, and he still has room to get better if he can cut down the interceptions.
23. Rocco Becht, Penn State
Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht (3) participates during a practice session inside Holuba Hall on Monday, August 10, 2026, in State College.
Becht is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country with almost 40 starts and 64 touchdown passes in his three years as a starter at Iowa State. His arrival in State College to follow coach Matt Campbell is significant due to his familiarity with the scheme and should help the transition for the Nittany Lions..
22. CJ Bailey, NC State
If experience matters, the Wolfpack certainly have it. Bailey has amassed over 5,500 career passing yards and 42 TD throws in his more than 20 starts across two seasons running the attack. His size at 6-6 and command of the Wolfpack offense isn’t in question, but whether the win total improves largely hinges on the other side of the ball.
21. Byrum Brown, Auburn
Another quarterback that followed his coach to a new school, Brown sticks with Tigers coach Alex Golesh to the Plains from South Florida. Brown excelled as one of the nation’s top Group of Five quarterbacks, rushing for more than 1,000 yards last season. He’s a skilled deep-shot passer, too, and Golesh’s up-tempo spread offense is proven to work in the SEC from his time at Tennessee.
20. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Sellers entered last year with tons of hype, but his performance dropped off in his second season as a starter. That’s not entirely his fault. The Gamecocks were awful. They hired a new offensive coordinator, Kendal Briles, to get Sellers back on on track. It’s tough to know what to expect from Sellers. He requires better pass protection and support. Nobody would dispute he’s talented. Some NFL draft evaluators believe he’ll become a first-round selection.
19. Bear Bachmeier, BYU
You wouldn’t have guessed Bachmeier was thrust as BYU’s starter as a true freshman last year without the benefit of spring practice. He surpassed expectations, throwing for 3,033 yards and rushing for 527 yard with 26 total touchdowns as the Cougars reached the Big 12 title game. Bachmeier plays with a physical style that relishes contact. His throwing consistency needs improvement, but he can become one of the best quarterbacks in the country with further development.
18. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, California
California Golden Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (3) throws a pass against the Southern Methodist Mustangs during the first quarter at California Memorial Stadium.
Sagapolutele might just be the guy nobody is talking about enough, not just around the ACC but in the entire country. He threw for 3,454 yards and 18 scores as a freshman last year, and new Bears coach Tosh Lupoi convinced him to stay in Berkeley. The priority now is to give him better protection and more consistent ground support so that he can continue to flourish and bring more wins to Cal.
17. Devon Dampier, Utah
Utah led the Big 12 with 41.3 points per game (fourth nationally) thanks to the dynamic playmaking of Dampier. A transfer from New Mexico, his first season in Salt Lake City saw him throw for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns, while adding 835 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground. Dampier will again carry the load for the Utes as they begin a new era under first-year coach Morgan Scalley and the arrival of offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven.
16. Noah Fifita, Arizona
Fifita has started 34 of his 40 contests at Arizona and bounced back from a rough 2024 season by throwing for a career-high 3,228 yards and 29 touchdown last year. Adding a running ability to his repertoire was a big plus, finally forcing defenses to pay attention to his legs. He enters the 2026 season as the nation’s active career passing touchdown leader with 73, setting him up for a big finish with the Wildcats.
15. Demond Williams, Washington
Williams almost wasn’t with the Huskies after he reversed course from a planned transfer this winter. He completed 69.5% of his attempts for 3,065 yards and 28 scores in 2025 and is poised to become a national name if the Huskies can improve their performances against elite competition. Washington managed just 27 combined points in losses to Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon.
14. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field.
Reed nicknamed himself the “Gingerbread Man.” Why? Because, you can’t catch him. A multi-sport star in high school, he attacks defenses with his legs and his arm. His struggles came against Texas A&M’s toughest competition, and his sophomore season ended after a red-zone interception in a playoff loss to Miami. He’s vowed to cut down on his 12 interceptions. If he makes good on that pledge, he possesses abilities to be a top-tier SEC quarterback.
13. Drew Mestekmaker, Oklahoma State
Mestemaker has already had an unexpected career, rising from from a walk-on to undeniable star for North Texas as a redshirt freshman in 2025. He led the country in passing yards (4,379), yards per game (312.8) and yards per pass attempt (9.46). With Mean Green coach Eric Morris moving to Stillwater after the season, Mestemaker joined him and bring big expectations to lead an offense that needed a total rebuild.
12. Kevin Jennings, SMU
Entering his third season as the Mustangs’ full-time starter with 54 career TD passes, Jennings hopes this year to check a couple more boxes on his collegiate resume. Namely, getting the team back to the conference title game as he did in 2024 and win it this time, and then subsequently lead the Ponies deeper into the playoff. He does have 26 career interceptions, in part a function of the team’s pass-heavy system, but he’ll need to cut down on the giveaways.
11. Josh Hoover, Indiana
Hoover becomes the third consecutive transfer to grab the reins of the Indiana offense since Curt Cignetti’s arrival in Bloomington. He had productive run at TCU with 71 touchdowns passes while leading the Horned Frogs to consecutive nine-win seasons. The one catch is turnovers. Hoover was in a high-volume system but still tossed 24 interceptions the past two years, the majority coming on the road.
10. John Mateer, Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) looks to make a pass in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Gaylord Family OK Memorial Stadium.
Who is the real John Mateer? He was dynamite through four games in his first season at Oklahoma after arriving from Washington State. Then, he broke his thumb in a win against Auburn. He gutsily rushed back from the injury, but his performance dropped. That dip in production makes you wonder whether last September was a mirage, or will he be healthy and productive this season? Mateer battles an interception bug, but he’s also packed with dual-threat and big-play abilities.
9. Jayden Maiava, USC
Maiava gets lost in the shuffle when discussing the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten but has an opportunity to climb this list if USC can leap back into the playoff picture. The former UNLV transfer will have plenty to work with thanks to more transfer help and the addition of one of the year’s top recruiting classes.
8. Sam Leavitt, LSU
After a breakout campaign in 2024, when Arizona State made the playoff, Leavitt’s progression stalled last year during a season cut short by a foot injury. Now, he must prove he’s recovered from his injury and is ready for an uptick in competition. The SEC is a different beast than the Big 12, but Leavitt’s got a coach in Lane Kiffin and a coordinator in Charlie Weis Jr. who can help him handle it.
7. Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) passes against the Charlotte 49ers during the first half at Sanford Stadium.
Not a prototype quarterback in terms of size, Stockton is a gamer, a winner, clutch and has a really good arm. He showed all of those qualities on one play last season when he fired a fourth-down touchdown dart against Tennessee, allowing Georgia to survive an upset scare. Stockton elevates in the big games. He outplayed Arch Manning in their head-to-head duel last November. More will be on his shoulders with a young receiving corps but he seems ready to carry load.
6. Darian Mensah, Miami
Miami is the third stop in Mensah’s career after starting at Tulane and then playing last season for Duke. He led the Blue Devils to the ACC title while throwing for almost 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns before making the scrutinized decision to switch to a school in conference. Mensah will be under the proverbial microscope with the Hurricanes having national championship goals but has the mindset and talent to handle the pressure.
5. Arch Manning, Texas
Now that Manning’s been a starter for a full season, maybe his every movement and fashion choices won’t be scrutinized to the nth degree. Ah, who are we kidding? After a slow a slow start, Manning finished last season much better. His abilities were on full display in a Citrus Bowl win against Michigan. He’s an excellent runner who needs more consistency as a passer, but Texas added weapons around him. Perhaps, all that hype last summer was just a year too soon.
Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates after a two-point conversion against the Miami Hurricanes in the fourth quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona.
He’s a proven star that led the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals, including a defeat of Georgia in the quarterfinals that wouldn’t have been possible without Chambliss’ dazzling performance. A sixth-year player, he’s no longer the unknown underdog who came to Ole Miss as a Division II transfer. He’s become one of college football’s biggest stars, a charismatic dual threat with Heisman Trophy potential.
3. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
A Notre Dame quarterback living up to high expectations? That hasn’t always been the case with heralded players in the past but Carr more than exceeded his hype in his first season as starter. Throwing for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns in a season that ended with disappointment when the Fighting Irish were not selected to the playoff. Losing Jeremiyah Love will put more on Carr’s plate. He seems ready for the challenge.
2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Maybe the biggest hurdle to Sayin claiming the Heisman Trophy is his teammate, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who is widely seen as the best pound-for-pound player in the country. To his credit, Sayin is coming off a year with 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns while averaging 9.2 yards per attempt. There’s every reason to think he’ll take another step forward in 2026 under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
1. Dante Moore, Oregon
Moore is seen as maybe the nation’s top overall draft prospect after a 2025 season that saw him throw for 30 scores in leading the Ducks to the playoff semifinals. He’ll have to prove he can handle Indiana after tossing three interceptions in two losses to the Hoosiers.
