Texas knows the opposing QBs it'll face in 2025... with two exceptions

In recent days, Ohio State named Julian Sayin as its starting quarterback while UTEP tabbed former five-star Malachi Nelson as its QB1. With those announcements, nearly every team on Texas’ 2025 schedule knows who will be taking the first snaps under center come kickoff against the Longhorns.

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Ohio State: Julian Sayin

A redshirt freshman who transferred from Alabama following Nick Saban‘s retirement after about a week with the Crimson Tide, Sayin was named by Ohio State head coach Ryan Day as the starter earlier this week. Last season, Sayin was 5-for-12 for 84 yards and a touchdown.

San Jose State: Walker Eget

One of the reasons why San Jose State went 7-6 and played in a bowl game in Ken Niumatalolo‘s first season was because Eget could get the ball to All-American Nick Nash. Nash is now with the Atlanta Falcons, meaning the Spartans will have to rely on the experienced Eget to do more than just find the Group of Five’s best receiver.

UTEP: Malachi Nelson

Nelson won the starting job on Thursday, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. A former five-star, the on-field processing has not matched the God-given tools. There have also been some injury issues. Nelson went from USC in 2023 to Boise State in 2024 to UTEP this year. He beat Skyler Locklear for the role.

NEWS: Former 5-star Malachi Nelson has been named UTEP's starting QB, @PeteNakos_ reports⛏️

Nelson transferred from USC to Boise State before landing with the Miners. https://t.co/VeVvuDvyuQ pic.twitter.com/ffOXqawMKD

— On3 (@On3sports) August 21, 2025

Sam Houston: ???

It’ll either be redshirt junior Hunter Watson or Wisconsin transfer Mabrey Mettauer. Watson was 175-for-281 last year for the Bearkats for 1811 yards and 12 touchdowns over eight interceptions. Will Phil Longo go with Mettauer, who he’s more familiar with from his time in Madison? On a recently released depth chart, Sam Houston went with the “ORterback” option.

Florida: DJ Lagway

As long as he’s healthy, Lagway is special. Will he be healthy? Gators Online reported Thursday that Lagway is “making a ton of progress.” The Florida season depends on it. Last year, Lagway was 115-for-192 for 1915 yards and 12 touchdowns over nine interceptions. Over his final four games, Lagway was 59-for-100 for 844 yards and six touchdowns over four interceptions.

Oklahoma: John Mateer

The Sooners imported an offense, an offensive coordinator, and a quarterback. Joining offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State, Mateer transferred to Oklahoma to try and do big things for the OU offense after a horrid year in Norman in 2024. Last year for Washington State, Mateer was 224-for-347 for 3139 yards and 29 touchdowns over seven interceptions. Against Power Four competition, all of two games versus Texas Tech and Washington, Mateer was 26-for-53 for 360 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed 37 times for 259 yards and three touchdowns in those games.

Kentucky: ???

There are few people that do it quite like Nick Roush of Kentucky Sports Radio. But when writing about Cutter Boley and Zach Calzada earlier this week… well… just take a look at what he and his coworkers had to write.

Calzada is on his fourth school and third SEC team after three years at Texas A&M, a year at Auburn, and two years at Incarnate Word in San Antonio. He was the Southland player of the year in 2024 and finished his FCS career 531-for-807 for 6342 yards and 54 touchdowns over 18 interceptions. Boley gamed through four contests last year. Against Texas, he was 10-for-18 for 160 yards and an interception. Calzada seems to have a slight edge at this point.

Mississippi State: Blake Shapen

Shapen got through four games in 2024 before suffering a season ending injury. That allowed him to maintain a redshirt and return for 2025, and the Bulldogs needed that to happen considering some of their other quarterback departures. Last year, Shapen was 74-for-108 for 974 yards and eight touchdowns over one interception in Jeff Lebby‘s offense. He also rushed for two scores.

Vanderbilt: Diego Pavia

Possibly the most popular quarterback in the SEC not named Arch Manning, Pavia returns for another year of college football thanks to some legal maneuvering that wiped away the lost eligibility caused by his stint in junior college. For Vanderbilt last year, he was 177-for-298 for 2293 yards and 20 touchdowns over four interceptions. More importantly, he rushed for 801 yards and eight scores.

Georgia: Gunner Stockton

It’s going to be Stockton, even if Kirby Smart won’t outright say it. His actions did the talking for him since Stockton was at SEC Media Days. Playing behind Carson Beck, Stockton saw action in five games last year and was 45-for-64 for 440 yards and one touchdown with one interception. He stood in for Beck against Texas in the conference title game and helped the Bulldogs get into position to win the SEC Championship in overtime. He was 20-for-32 for 234 yards and one touchdown against Notre Dame in the CFP quarterfinal. Stockton will have no shortage of weapons at UGA, including possibly the best portal receiver haul in Smart’s tenure.

Arkansas: Taylen Green

Green posted his best year as a college football player during his first campaign at Arkansas. He was 230-for-381 for 3154 yards and 15 touchdowns over nine interceptions and also added 602 rushing yards with eight scores on the ground. He’ll be asked to lead the efforts to save Sam Pittman‘s job.

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Texas A&M: Marcel Reed

Reed saw action in 2023 and then began the 2024 season behind Conner Weigman before taking over for SEC play. He finished 147-for-240 for 1864 yards and 15 touchdowns along with six interceptions. Reed also rushed for 543 yards. The question for Reed is his ceiling, but Collin Klein might be able to get enough out of the Aggies’ signal-caller and the good pieces around him without the need for transcendent quarterback play.