2026 NFL Draft: ESPN shakes up Top 12 quarterback rankings after National Championship Game

ESPN’s Jordan Reid shook up his top 12 quarterback rankings ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft following the College Football Playoff national championship game. The No. 1 man is obvious, but the rest of the rankings are very intriguing.

The quarterback class may not be as deep as others, but the quality might prove well over time. Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman winner, leads this class.

So without further ado, let;s dive into ESPN’s latest QB rankings. We’ll start with the Indiana Hoosiers star.

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Season stats: 3,535 yards, 41 TD, 6 INT, 72% completion percentage, 276 rushing yards, 7 rushing TD (16 games)

Mendoza is the presumed No.1 overall pick, and not just top quarterback. The Indiana Hoosier won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to their first national title in program history. After a perfect 16-0 season, Mendoza could end up being a Raider.

2. Ty Simpson, Alabama

Season stats: 3,567 yards, 28 TD, 5 INT, 64.5% completion percentage, 93 rushing yards, 2 rushing TD (15 games)

Simpson is Reid’s No. 2 quarterback in the draft class after Oregon’s Dante Moore elected to go back to college. The Alabama star took off in his first year as a starter. While he had his ups and downs, he piloted a very solid offense and could end up being a first round pick.

3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

Season stats: 3,937 yards, 22 TD, 3 INT, 66.1% completion percentage, 527 rushing yards, 8 rushing TD (15 games)

Chambliss wasn’t supposed to start in front of Austin Simmons this year, but an injury to the latter quarterback made it possible. The former D-II standout was electric this year, especially in the playoff. A sixth year waiver wasn’t granted, so he’ll head to the pros. His dual threat ability should be attractive.

4. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Season stats: 1,927 yards, 12 TD, 5 INT, 67.4% completion percentage, -57 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD (9 games)

Nussmeier was limited to single digit games this year due to injury and he could not top his 2024 stats (29 TD and 4,052 yards). The LSU quarterback was a projected Heisman candidate and high pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. It remains to be seen where he falls, but he still has a lot of potential despite struggles this fall.

5. Carson Beck, Miami

Season stats: 3,813 yards, 30 TD, 12 INT, 72.4% completion percentage, 43 rushing yards, 2 rushing TD (16 games)

Beck increased his stock with a great final year at Miami. The turnovers are still concerning for this veteran quarterback, but was much more accurate with the football this year. He led Miami to the national title game, so there’s no question that with solid play and a good cast he can get things done.

6. Drew Allar, Penn State

Season stats: 1,100 yards, 8 TD, 3 INT, 64.8% completion percentage, 172 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD (six games)

Allar came back to school to help win a national title, but it flamed out for Penn State as James Franklin was fired after six games and the quarterback suffered a season-ending injury. Allar is certainly a mixed bag but he looks the part of a potential NFL quarterback. Accuracy and big game intangibles are a question at the moment.

7. Taylen Green, Arkansas

Season stats: 2,714 yards, 19 TD, 11 INT, 60.7% completion percentage, 777 rushing yards, 8 rushing TD (12 games)

Green is an athletic freak. He wasn’t the most accurate quarterback, but the former Razorback could make you pay in space and with time in the pocket. He’ll be an intriguing developmental QB at the NFL level.

8. Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Season stats: 2,943 yards, 16 TD, 6 INT, 65.6% completion percentage, 94 rushing yards, 4 rushing TD (12 games)

After his junior year, Klubnik looked like the best quarterback in the land. But Clemson and the signal caller struggled this year, falling well short of national championship expectations. He didn’t set the world on fire, but Klubnik at least has tape that shows he can step up.

9. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor

Season stats: 3,681 yards, 31 TD, 12 INT, 60.3% completion percentage, 17 rushing yards, 3 rushing TD (12 games)

Robertson is a bit under the radar as a quarterback in this draft class. He needs to improve on his accuracy, but the dude is a gunslinger. Robertson led the Big 12 in yards and touchdown passes this season.

10. Cole Payton, North Dakota State

Season stats: 2,719 yards, 16 TD, 4 INT, 72% completion percentage, 777 rushing yards, 13 rushing TD (13 games)

North Dakota State has a mixed history as of late when it comes to quarterbacks (see Carson Wentz and Easton Stick). But Payton has a little juice since he’s pretty accurate and can run the heck out of a football. Someone will take a mid-round flyer, maybe later, on him.

11. Luke Altmyer, Illinois

Season stats: 3,007 yards, 22 TD, 5 INT, 67.8% completion percentage, 242 rushing yards, 5 rushing TD (13 games)

Altmyer improved on his junior year numbers a bit as a quarterback, especially his accuracy, jumping up seven percentage points. Illinois didn’t make a playoff run like he came back to do, but Altmyer was solid. He could be a sleeper in the draft.

12. Joe Fagnano, UConn

Season stats: 3,448 yards, 28 TD, 1 INT, 69% completion percentage, 131 rushing yards, 3 rushing TD (12 games)

Perhaps it was the competition UConn faced this season, but it seems like Fagnano is way under the radar as a quarterback. He completed nearly 7-% of his passes with only one interception! And he threw it 413 times! Fagnano will get his shot.