Spring football is officially underway as the race for a national championship in 2025 is already well underway.
Rosters and coaching staffs all over the country are getting acquainted with one another, and system installation is in its opening stages of the spring calendar.
Some teams have a leg up on the competition, though, as experienced players can build on what they already established in previous years. Programs returning quarterbacks with experience and success are much more likely to have a real shot at making a College Football Playoff run than those that don’t, and in the upcoming 2025 season, it appears the Big 12 is well-positioned to have several teams in the mix.
On Wednesday, CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli ranked the top 10 quarterbacks in college football heading into 2025, and a few Big 12 names made the cut.
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt led the three Big 12 signal-callers, coming in at No. 5 on the list. Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson was next at No. 8 and Iowa State’s Rocco Becht was right behind him at No. 9.
Here’s a look at what Fornelli had to say about each of them.
5. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
Leavitt spent last season in the short, thick and round shadow of Cam Skattebo, but if Arizona State is to remain in contention to win the Big 12 and get back to the playoff, he’ll need to carry more of the load. I expect Arizona State’s offensive philosophy won’t change much overall, but we’ll see more put on Leavitt’s plate. And we should. He was a monster over the back half of the season as he grew more comfortable and is poised to take a significant step forward in 2025.
8. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
I saw a tweet a few weeks ago about how nobody ever talks about Sawyer Robertson, and it made me so angry. Robertson appeared in these rankings multiple times last season! True Ball Knowers are well aware of Sawyer Robertson! He’s the primary reason I see Baylor as a legitimate threat in the Big 12 after he finished with 3,301 total yards and 23 total touchdowns in his final eight starts last year.
9. Rocco Becht, Iowa State
You can’t have a QB Power Ranking without at least one MOXIE AND GRIT guy, and Becht happily slides into that role. What I love about Becht is he’s liable to do anything at any given time. He could unleash the most picturesque pass you’ve ever seen, or he might make a decision that’s so awful you’d think he saw a spider on the football and just wanted to get away from it. He has truly inherited the Brock Purdy Throne and run with it in Ames.
In the overall QB power rankings, Fornelli had Texas quarterback Arch Manning in the top spot, with Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Carson Beck (Miami), and Drew Allar (Penn State) being the only other players listed ahead of Leavitt.
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier checks in at No. 6, followed by South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers at No. 7. The final name on the list is Florida sophomore DJ Lagway, who showed immense potential to close out the 2024 season.
It is worth mentioning that Kansas State’s Avery Johnson made the honorable mention list, but didn’t quite crack Fornelli’s Top 10.
