On Tuesday morning, multiple writers at ESPN banded together to project the starting quarterback for each Power 4 college football team in 2025.
The list featured the anticipated starter and the biggest competition for the starter in the quarterback room.
ARIZONA STATE
The Big 12 Conference features an even mix of rooms where the starter is more obvious, including Arizona State, and select teams where the starter is a bit more unknown. As for Arizona State, Sam Leavitt is the expected starter, with the biggest competition being Jeff Sims.
Related: Sam Leavitt Listed as Highest-Graded Quarterback in College Football Playoff
ARIZONA
Following Arizona State’s breakdown, Arizona is more of the same. The group is expected to start sophomore quarterback Noah Fifita, with his biggest competitor being Braedyn Locke.
BYU
Another group with a likely pre-determined starter after an impressive junior season for Jake Retzlaff. He is expected to be the leader in the clubhouse yet again, with his biggest competition being Treyson Bourget and McCae Hillstead.
BAYLOR
Someone who entered the 2024 season as a backup to Toledo transfer Dequan Finn, Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson had an incredible year. He enters 2025 as one of the league’s best quarterbacks and his biggest competition is Walker White.
CINCINNATI
After agreeing to a new NIL deal with the program, Brendan Sorsby returns to the Bearcats in 2025. His biggest competitors are Brady Lichtenberg and Samaj Jones.
COLORADO
The first team without a returner from the previous season, Colorado enters 2025 with an elite transfer and high school commit at the position. ESPN expects Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter to take the starting gig with five-star freshman Julian Lewis as his biggest competition.
HOUSTON
Houston landed a high-major impact transfer from Texas A&M in the transfer portal with the commitment of Conner Weigman. He is expected to earn the starting gig ahead of last year’s starter Zeon Chriss.
IOWA STATE
Iowa State starts a stretch of three-straight programs with relatively obvious starters under center as Rocco Becht returns to Ames. His biggest competition is Connor Moberly.
KANSAS
The Jayhawks returned Jalon Daniels for a fifth season of college football in Lawrence despite rumors of him considering entering the NFL Draft. Daniels is expected to start for Kansas in 2025, with Cole Ballard listed as his biggest competition.
KANSAS STATE
Another talented rising star quarterback is Kansas State’s Avery Johnson. He took over for Will Howard and broke the single-season passing touchdowns record in his first season as a starter. His biggest competition as the starter is Jacob Knuth.
OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State will be an interesting team to watch this fall, as the quarterback room underwent some serious changes. The expected starter is Hauss Hejny, with the biggest competition coming from Garret Rangel, Maealiuaki Smith, and Zane Flores.
TCU
TCU, after a historic season from Josh Hoover, has their starter set in stone. His biggest threat to the starting job in Ft. Worth is Ken Seals and Adam Schobel.
TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech, while comfortable with Behren Morton returning to Lubbock, has had to see multiple different players take the field under center due to quarterback health concerns. Morton is set to start in 2025, with his biggest threat being Will Hammond.
UCF
The Knights enter the 2025 season with a new head coach and are expected to roll with a new starting quarterback as well. ESPN believes Tayven Jackson will win the starting job and will receive battles from Cam Fancher, Dylan Rizk, and Jacurri Brown.
UTAH
Utah landed one of the more intriguing quarterbacks in the 2025 transfer portal with the addition of New Mexico’s Devon Dampier. He is expected to line up as the team’s starter next fall ahead of Isaac Wilson and Nate Johnson.
WEST VIRGINIA
Another team entering the season with a new head coach, the West Virginia Mountaineers, have a lot of questions to answer ahead of the team’s season opener. ESPN believes Nicco Marchiol will win the job over Jaylen Henderson and Max Brown.
