Top College Football Programs with the Toughest QB Decisions Entering 2025

The moment the final whistle blew, college football teams quickly turned their attention to the 2025 season.

As always, the conversation starts at quarterback.

If a program needs to replace its signal-caller, that topic will dominate the offseason noise. Alabama, Michigan and four teams that reached the College Football Playoff in 2024 fall in that category.

The choices for the following list may seem a bit boring, since it's full of blue-blood programs and recent powerhouses. I hear you.

However, the reality is everybody else in B/R's early Top 25 either has a returning starter or clear-cut newcomer, whether that's a transfer—like Carson Beck at Miami—or recent reserve—think Arch Manning at Texas.

Jalen Milroe is headed to the NFL, leaving a very interesting situation for second-year coach Kalen DeBoer.

A holdover from the Nick Saban era, Ty Simpson was a 5-star recruit in the 2022 cycle. The others in the competition are Austin Mack—who redshirted at Washington in 2023 before following DeBoer to Bama—and incoming 5-star signee Keelon Russell.

Simpson doesn't have a strong hold on the QB1 label, considering he's attempted just 50 passes in three seasons. Still, he enters the offseason as the front-runner to replace Milroe.

The added challenge is Alabama cannot waste much time.

In the opening month of the season, the Crimson Tide play at Florida State, home to Wisconsin and at Georgia. They'll be favored in the first two matchups, no matter who's under center. But that looming trip to UGA will be a particularly meaningful game.

The early leader is Gunner Stockton. That much we know.

During the 2024 campaign, he served as the backup to Carson Beck. After an elbow injury sidelined Beck, Stockton effectively played the rest of the SEC Championship Game and started the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame during the College Football Playoff.

Stockton will attempt to hold off Ryan Puglisi, a 4-star addition in the 2024 cycle. He enrolled early last year, so the expectations and process—and competition—of spring practice won't be unfamiliar.

Georgia opens the season with Marshall and Austin Peay before closing the month at Tennessee and home to Alabama.

So, again, we'll quickly know how UGA feels about its decision.

Perhaps the most interesting QB competition lands at Michigan, where a prized freshman is a potential Day 1 starter.

The obvious truth of the 2024 season is the Wolverines had a frustrating year because they didn't have a quarterback. Those struggles—with the revolving door of Davis Warren, Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle—led Michigan to swiping 5-star Bryce Underwood from his LSU pledge.

He won't be handed the reins, of course.

Michigan brought in Mikey Keene, a transfer with three-plus years of starting experience at UCF and Fresno State. Plus, the Maize and Blue return Jadyn Davis, a 4-star signee in 2024.

Given the team's favorable slate—no Penn State, Oregon, Iowa, Illinois or Indiana—the Wolverines have a real chance to surge in 2025.

But only if they get this right.

Notre Dame has been steadfast on its belief that the successor to Riley Leonard is already in South Bend.

At no point recently did the Fighting Irish strongly pursue a transfer. That's a departure from the last two offseasons, where Marcus Freeman and Co. plucked Sam Hartman and Leonard out of the portal.

The expected solution is either Steve Angeli or CJ Carr.

Angeli held the second-string job last season, throwing just 36 passes. However, he certainly gained some support after helping Notre Dame score on its last possession of the first half in the Orange Bowl.

Carr, a top-75 recruit in the 2024 cycle, is a flashier name but missed much of his first season on campus with an elbow injury.

Either way, the winner of the competition will be tasked with navigating a difficult slate. In particular, Notre Dame plays at Miami, hosts Texas A&M and travels to Arkansas before September ends.

On one hand, nobody feels bad for Ohio State. The reigning champions are trying to figure out which highly recruited QB to start.

Those poor Buckeyes, you might be thinking.

Nevertheless, this competition has plenty of talent and no clear-cut answer. Julian Sayin is perceived as the front-runner yet attempted 12 passes while taking a redshirt in 2024. He's no sure thing, nor is Lincoln Kienholz after his 22 throws as a third-stringer in 2023.

Ohio State also recently added 5-star Tavien St. Clair, who enrolled early and will be available for spring practice.

When the Buckeyes return to the field in the fall, their new QB will be making his starting debut against Texas—in what might be a showdown between teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the nation.

The consensus thought is Dillon Gabriel's replacement will be Dante Moore, the backup on the 2024 team.

Between his prior experience at UCLA and Oregon not having a veteran option, that's a logical expectation. Moore passed for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions with the Bruins in 2023.

Let's be careful not to suggest he's a shoo-in, though.

Moore has much to prove at the college level, and Austin Novosad was a respected 4-star prospect in the 2024 cycle. Novosad, at the very least, should not be overlooked this early in the offseason.

Oregon's schedule isn't painless by any means, but there's a definite path to another CFP trip if the Ducks settle this major variable.