USA Today Top 10 QB rankings see massive shakeup ahead of College Football Week 3

Coming into the 2025 college football season, much of the national quarterback narrative was squarely focused on the ascendance of Arch Manning, Texas’ redshirt sophomore starting quarterback after two seasons of sitting behind Quinn Ewers. Instead, Manning’s stock — including his status as the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite — has plummeted after a less-than-inspiring performance in the season-opener on the road against reigning national champion Ohio State.

And in the wake of Manning’s precipitous fall from grace, a litany of other collegiate quarterbacks have shone through the first two weeks of the 2025 regular season. That includes the Buckeyes’ redshirt freshman Julian Sayin, who outdueled Manning in their Week 1 game and validated his former five-star status through his first two career starts.

But perhaps the most impressive performances have come from several former transfers who have taken their games to another level with their new programs. That includes Miami‘s Carson Beck (Georgia), Oklahoma‘s John Mateer (Washington State), Oregon‘s Dante Moore (UCLA) and Tennessee‘s Joey Aguilar (Appalachian State/UCLA).

Check out where each stands in USA Today’s updated Top 10 ranking of college football’s best quarterbacks ahead of Week 3 of the 2025 season. The list is below here:

1. Carson Beck, Miami

The ex-Georgia QB has answered all his critics after a disappointing 2024 season in Athens by shining in his first two games in Coral Gables. Beck, who some projected could be the No. 1 overall pick ahead of last season, is coming off a highly efficient 22-of-24 outing against overmatched Bethune-Cookman after flashing with 205 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening win against Notre Dame.

USA Today: “Beck has been everything No. 6 Miami hoped he would be through two games, … (including setting) a program record by completing his first 15 attempts in a blowout of Bethune-Cookman.”

2. John Mateer, Oklahoma

The dual-threat former Washington State transfer QB landed in Norman as part of a package deal with his OC Ben Arbuckle, and has quickly established himself as a legit Heisman Trophy contender. Mateer has an SEC-leading 662 yards on 71.8% passing and seven total touchdowns through two weeks. That includes flashing with 344 total yards of offense in a 24-13 win over then-No. 15 Michigan on Saturday.

USA Today: “While Beck has been superb, Mateer has been even more impactful in vaulting the No. 16 Sooners into the SEC mix.”

3. Dante Moore, Oregon

The former five-star recruit has been a revelation within the Ducks’ high-powered offense, taking the reins after redshirting behind Dillon Gabriel last year in Eugene and absolutely dominating the competition. Through two games, Moore ranks third in the Big Ten with a 77.3 completion percentage along with 479 passing yards and six touchdowns — three apiece against Montana State and Oklahoma State.

USA Today: “Moore has made it look easy. (So has Oregon.) After learning the system last season behind Dillon Gabriel, the former UCLA transfer has … yet to attempt a pass in the fourth quarter.”

4. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor

The veteran Bears quarterback leads the nation with an eye-popping 859 passing yards and seven touchdowns through two games this season to earn serious Heisman consideration. That includes 419 passing yards and three scores in a season-opening home loss to Auburn. If Baylor is going to compete in the Big 12 in 2025, it’s going to require an RGIII-like season from Robertson.

USA Today: “The senior is even better than he was in 2024, when he had over 3,000 passing yards and 28 scores.”

5. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska

This might seem like a bit of a surprise to the casual fan, but the former five-star recruit has been transformative under new Huskers’ OC Dana Holgorsen, ranking second in the Big Ten with 607 yards and six touchdowns through the first weeks. Of course, Raiola’s first true test is still two weeks away as Michigan comes to Lincoln for its Big Ten opener Sept. 20.

USA Today: “The sophomore looked even more at home in Dana Holgorsen’s offense with 364 yards and four touchdowns on 11.7 yards per attempt in a 68-0 romp over Akron”

6. Rocco Becht, Iowa State

The veteran Cyclones quarterback has impressed through his first three weeks of the regular season, including guiding Iowa State to a Top 25 win over Big 12 rival Kansas State in the Week 0 game from Ireland. He also outdueled new Iowa QB Mark Gronowski in last week’s Cy-Hawk rivalry game to once again establish the Cyclones as a serious Big 12 title contender for the second straight season.

USA Today: “Sandwiched around that (South Dakota) performance are wins against Kansas State and Iowa, which have moved No. 14 Iowa State to the front of the line in the Big 12.”

7. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

No quarterback was more of a surprise last season than Pavia, the former junior college product that flashed onto the national scene by leading a memorable upset of then-No. 1 Alabama. Since then, he’s only continued to elevate the ‘Dores, including ranking fourth in the SEC with a 74.4 completion percentage to go along with 573 yards of total offense in two games this season.

USA Today: “Pavia might have the highest comfort level in his scheme of any quarterback in the Power Four.”

8. Joey Aguilar, Tennessee

A relative unknown before lucking into a rather unique transfer opportunity in Knoxville, Aguilar has already made Vols fans forget about former five-star recruit Nico Iamaleava, whose Spring divorce from Tennessee was the talk of the offseason. Instead, the former Appalachian State transfer — by way of UCLA — has shone with 535 passing yards and five touchdowns within Josh Heupel‘s explosive offense.

USA Today: “The offseason swap with UCLA has worked out wonderfully for No. 15 Tennessee and not so well for Nico Iamaleava and the Bruins.”

9. Luke Altmyer, Illinois

While not the most-talked-about quarterback, the Fightin’ Illini senior QB has been a machine in Champaign this season, ranking third in the Big Ten with 513 yards on 75% passing. That includes rising to the challenge and outdueling Duke‘s prized offseason transfer QB Darian Mensah in last Saturday’s 45-19 road win with 296 yards and three touchdowns in Durham.

USA Today: “Altmyer continues to fly under the national radar. So does No. 9 Illinois, coincidentally. … He’s not the biggest or fastest, but he’s very effective in running the Illini scheme.”

10. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

As mentioned above, the Buckeyes’ redshirt freshman QB has more than lived up to his five-star billing after sitting last season behind Will Howard following a Spring 2024 transfer from Alabama following Nick Saban‘s retirement. Sayin outdueled Manning in Columbus in Week 1 before putting on a near-perfect performance with 18-of-19 passing and 306 yards and four touchdowns vs. Grambling State last week.

USA Today: “This (early-season) résumé gives him the edge over three other contenders for the last spot in Penn State‘s Drew Allar, Southern California’s Jayden Maiava and Pittsburgh’s Eli Holsten.”