Ranking 10 quarterbacks facing most pressure entering 2025 college football season

In past years, the lead-up to the college football season meant evaluating which head coaches are on the hot seat. But college football has changed. Starting quarterbacks are being paid millions to lead programs to wins and the postseason.

It’s a type of pressure that past quarterbacks never experienced. And more than ever, how a quarterback performs can be closely tied to a head coach’s future at the school. On3 is ranking 10 quarterbacks facing the most pressure entering the 2025 college football season.

1. Oklahoma QB John Mateer

Brent Venables knew he needed to hit the reset button at quarterback this offseason after the Sooners’ offense could not find rhythm in 2024. So the Oklahoma head coach aggressively pursued Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer. To this point, Mateer has impressed since arriving in Norman. But the pressure will ramp up with Oklahoma expected to improve on last year’s record and Venables facing a critical Year 4 with the Sooners, especially with athletic director Joe Castiglione set to retire following the 2025-26 academic year. Oklahoma also faces one of the toughest schedules in college football this season, including matchups with Michigan, Texas, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama and LSU.

2. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

Garrett Nussmeier could have left LSU following the 2024 season and been one of the better quarterbacks in this spring’s NFL draft. But he decided to run it back a final season in Baton Rouge, giving Brian Kelly one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC this season. But now the pressure is on for Nussmeier to deliver and have the Tigers in CFP contention come November. Nussmeier has embraced those expectations, starting with ending a season-opening losing drought. Similar to Mateer, Kelly’s future at LSU could be tied to what Nussmeier can engineer this season for the Tigers.

3. Miami QB Carson Beck

The 2024 season did not go as Carson Beck planned. Beck had aspirations of being the top quarterback off the board in the NFL draft, but he struggled at UGA, with an injury in the SEC title game ending his season. Recovering from injury, Beck felt he needed to return for another season of college to boost his draft stock and prove he’s healthy. He settled on Miami in the transfer portal, taking over for Heisman winner and No. 1 pick Cam Ward. Mario Cristobal has not broken into the CFP yet during his tenure at Miami. Beck will now have a shot to be the first to do it, while the NFL watches to see if he’s healthy and shows flashes of his 2023 season.

4. Penn State QB Drew Allar

Expectations have never been higher on what Penn State can accomplish this season. Drew Allar told On3 last week that those expectations have always been the same internally. But with a No. 1 preseason ranking in some polls, Alllar and Penn State will be expected to compete for a Big Ten title and national championship. Penn State has struggled to deliver in recent years. James Franklin is 1-15 against top-five opponents, including 0-3 last season. Allar believes the Nittany Lions can get past those struggles this season.

5. Florida QB DJ Lagway

On3’s Ari Wasserman has argued that DJ Lagway is the most important individual player to a coach in the country this season. Lagway’s performance in the back half of the 2024 season gave head coach Billy Napier another season at Florida. But Lagway continues to deal with some health issues — he’s currently day-to-day and is in a walking boot — and the pressure is high for him to make it through the entire season and have Florida in the upper half of the SEC. Napier is 19-19 in three seasons, and Lagway piecing together a complete season could be critical to his head coach’s future.

6. Oregon QB Dante Moore

Dante Moore told On3 this summer that sitting behind Dillon Gabriel for a season after transferring in from UCLA was the best decision he ever made. But now he is on track to win the Oregon quarterback competition and take over for Gabriel. He’ll step into a situation where the expectation is to win immediately and have the Ducks in the mix for a CFP berth. He will have some time to grow into the role after not playing for a year, but the visit to Happy Valley on Sept. 27 looms as a big-time measuring stick.

7. Alabama QB Ty Simpson

After three years waiting for his chance to start at Alabama, Ty Simpson is now on track to land the job. Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubbs have been honest this offseason that they’ve liked what they have seen from Simpson to this point. But Simpson will be expected to help Alabama take a step forward this fall after the Crimson Tide failed to make the CFP and win 10 games in DeBoer’s first season in Tuscaloosa. That will only heighten whatever Simpson does on the field.

8. Texas QB Arch Manning

For two years, the eyes of Texas have waited to see Arch Manning take the full-time starting job for the Longhorns. He now steps into that role with a big-time, early-season test with Texas visiting Ohio State in Week 1. Manning is trying to balance multiple aspects of pressure entering the year. The Longhorns are viewed as a national title favorite. But Arch Manning also carries the Manning name, drawing more attention to his every move on and off the field.

9. Auburn QB Jackson Arnold

Hugh Freeze told reporters earlier this week that he asked defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to go easier on quarterback Jackson Arnold. It’s just the latest evidence that Arnold is working to build back his confidence after an up-and-down 2024 season at Oklahoma. But once the 2025 season begins, Arnold will be expected to lead Auburn to a winning record for the first time in the Hugh Freeze era. If the former five-star recruit cannot improve, Freeze’s job will be squarely on the hot seat.

10. Texas Tech QB Behren Morton

Plenty of quarterbacks across the country are facing pressure to deliver a CFP bid this season. But Behren Morton will be charged with leading an offense and roster that has been completely revamped this offseason with a warchest of cash. Making the Big 12 title game will be the bar for Morton to meet this season. Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire will face similar pressure, and Morton will also be grouped into expectations for the Red Raiders.