Quarterback Battles Across College Football Set Tone for 2025 Season as Teams Chase Playoff Spots and Championship Glory
Heading into the 2025 season, few topics draw more attention than who is playing quarterback for your particular college football program. It’s the most scrutinized position in the sport, the one that most directly correlates with wins and losses, and the one that often determines whether a team becomes a national contender or fades into mediocrity. In 2025, with the second year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and a highly competitive Power Five landscape, the quarterback question is not just important—it’s everything.
Every year, spring and fall camps revolve around quarterback battles, but the stakes feel even higher this time around. With realignment completed, conference power structures shifting, and NIL and transfer portal dynamics accelerating movement, quarterback stability is a rare and valuable commodity. Programs with returning starters feel ahead of the curve. Those with competitions underway—or worse, unresolved—are facing urgent pressure to get it right.
At schools like Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama, quarterback play will determine whether playoff streaks continue. These are teams loaded with talent across the board, but each is dealing with some degree of uncertainty or transition under center. Georgia, for instance, returns a playoff-tested team with a dominant defense, but they must replace a three-year starter with a relatively unproven option. The Bulldogs are deep, but quarterback decision-making will be the difference between another SEC title and a potential early-season stumble.
Michigan, fresh off its national championship in 2023 and playoff appearance in 2024, is at a similar crossroads. Their elite defense remains intact, and the offensive line continues to set the standard nationally. But without a clear answer at quarterback, questions remain about their ability to generate explosive plays—particularly in critical matchups against Penn State and Ohio State. Whoever wins the job will inherit enormous expectations and zero margin for error.
Alabama may be facing the most fascinating situation of all. Post-Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide remain a recruiting powerhouse and have no shortage of quarterback talent. But with a new coaching staff and offensive scheme in place, the quarterback room has seen some shakeups. Whether it’s a veteran with SEC starts or a former five-star prospect looking for his breakout season, Alabama’s identity in 2025 will be shaped by who takes the reins.
Of course, not every team is starting from scratch. Some of the top programs return elite quarterbacks with playoff experience and NFL potential. Take Texas, for example. The Longhorns head into 2025 with one of the most stable quarterback situations in the country. Their starter enters the season with a full year of SEC competition under his belt, a dynamic supporting cast, and legitimate Heisman buzz. That continuity gives Texas a clear edge in what is shaping up to be a brutally competitive SEC West.
Then there’s Oregon, whose quarterback headlines a high-powered offense that’s designed to light up the scoreboard. In the new Big Ten, Oregon has a chance to separate itself with tempo, creativity, and quarterback play that blends mobility and precision. Unlike some teams that are hoping for competent quarterback performance, Oregon expects dominance—and has the scheme and talent to get it.
On the flip side, several teams that underachieved in 2024 are pinning their turnaround hopes on new quarterbacks. USC, for instance, is attempting to rebound after a disappointing first year in the Big Ten. With a new face under center—likely a highly touted transfer—they’re hoping to reestablish themselves as national contenders. Lincoln Riley’s offensive system has always been quarterback-friendly, but the pressure to deliver quickly will be intense in a league as deep as the modern Big Ten.
LSU is another program in transition. Their 2024 campaign ended in disappointment, and quarterback play was part of the reason why. In 2025, the Tigers will turn to either a seasoned backup with years in the system or a true freshman sensation who arrived with sky-high expectations. Either way, LSU knows it cannot afford to be average at quarterback—not in a division featuring Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss.
Beyond the bluebloods, quarterback battles are just as crucial for programs trying to take the next step. Consider programs like Utah, Kansas State, and NC State. These schools have strong coaching, good systems, and a track record of overachieving. But if they want to break into the playoff conversation, they need star power at the most important position. Whether through transfers or development, each of these teams is hunting for the kind of quarterback that can elevate them from good to great.
In fact, the transfer portal may be the single biggest factor reshaping the quarterback landscape in 2025. Gone are the days when quarterbacks sat three years before seeing the field. Now, quarterbacks expect to play immediately—and they have options if they don’t. This has created a fascinating market, where programs can land ready-made starters from other schools, but also risk losing their own young talent.
Florida State provides a perfect example. After a rollercoaster 2024, the Seminoles hit the portal hard and landed a former Group of Five star with Power Five upside. If that quarterback lives up to the hype, Florida State could return to national prominence. If not, the questions about the program’s direction will only grow louder.
Even Group of Five schools are affected. The ability to identify and retain a quality quarterback can mean the difference between a New Year’s Six appearance and a mid-tier bowl game. Teams like Tulane, SMU, and Boise State all return promising quarterbacks in 2025, giving them a legitimate shot to crash the playoff party if everything else falls into place.
And then there are the dark horses—the programs that may not be on the radar now, but have a dynamic quarterback who could put up eye-popping numbers and elevate their teams into surprise contention. Think of what Michael Penix Jr. did for Washington in 2022 and 2023. Or what Joe Burrow did for LSU in 2019. Every season has one or two of those breakout stars, and in 2025, we’re guaranteed to see another.
The Heisman Trophy race also begins and ends with quarterbacks. While a running back or wide receiver may make a midseason push, the odds-on favorites in July are all quarterbacks. From returning stars to potential breakout candidates, the Heisman is more quarterback-driven than ever. That’s why every preseason watchlist is dominated by the position. It’s not just about statistics—it’s about narrative, leadership, and visibility. The quarterback is the face of the team, and the face of the sport.
All of this makes 2025 one of the most compelling quarterback years in recent memory. There’s an ideal mix of continuity and uncertainty, proven stars and new challengers. Add in conference realignment, a deep playoff field, and high-stakes rivalry games, and you have a season where every quarterback decision will be magnified.
For coaches, that means walking a tightrope. Name your starter too early, and you risk alienating the locker room or pushing backups into the portal. Wait too long, and your offense suffers from lack of cohesion. Play the wrong guy, and your season could spiral by October. Get it right, and you might find yourself in Atlanta, Pasadena, or even New Orleans playing for a national title.
For fans, it’s a season of hope and anxiety. Quarterback debates dominate message boards, talk radio, and social media. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone’s convinced they know who should start. But the truth is, only the coaches see the full picture—practice habits, film study, locker room dynamics. And in today’s game, where one bad quarter can lead to calls for a backup, the pressure is immense.
Ultimately, the 2025 college football season will be shaped by quarterbacks more than any other position. From playoff races to coaching futures to program trajectories, the impact of the quarterback can’t be overstated. It’s the position that defines legacies and lifts banners. And with more teams in the playoff hunt than ever before, the race to find the right quarterback has never been more important.
So whether your team returns a star or is breaking in a new face, the question is the same across the country: do we have the guy? The right answer might just mean a shot at history. The wrong one could doom a promising season before it ever truly begins. In 2025, as always, college football runs through its quarterbacks.
