College Football 26 is now in early access, allowing us to get an in-depth look at each player’s stats and perks. By navigating to the Player Management menu in the game, you compare players across every FBS team in the game to determine who comes out on top in any given position. You can also check out their scores on every metric in the game, even ones that aren’t entirely necessary for their position. This can give us a better insight into how each top quarterback in the game stacks up against each other.
With any College Football 26 rankings, there is bound to be some debate over EA Sports’ accuracy in their top picks. Whether it’s the toughest stadium to play at, or the top-ranked player in a given position, fans will often find some notable exclusions or strange inclusions in EA’s rankings. I’m not going to litigate how good of a choice I think any of these players are for the top 10, since regardless of real-life performance, these are the top-ranked players in the game, which is what matters for gameplay.
10
Arch Manning Of The Texas Longhorns
Arch Manning Has A 90 Overall Score
Arch Manning is the sophomore QB for the Texas Longhorns, though he is likely better known for being part of a football dynasty. Arch is the grandson of NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of Eli and Payton Manning. His father, Cooper Manning, was also a top prospect coming out of high school, before being diagnosed with spinal stenosis before the start of his college career. Arch Manning has seemingly carried on the family legacy of football excellence, earning himself a top spot in the ranks for College Football 26.
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Manning has a 90 overall rank, and is designated as a pocket passer. Manning’s silver Sleight of Hand ability gives him an edge on Play Action passes, and On Time makes him better at quick passes. Manning’s only gold ability, Step Up, significantly improves his accuracy when stepping into the pocket, but only when not under pressure. To get the most out of Manning as your QB you’ll want to deliver to routes early, and pick plays where the offensive line isn’t going to quickly collapse on you.
9
DJ Lagway Of The Florida Gators
DJ Lagway Has A 90 Overall Score
DJ Lagway has a pretty impressive track record for a sophomore QB. This five-star recruit managed to throw for over 1,900 yards last season, despite playing through an injury for part of it. Lagway is once again healthy and has been practicing during the off-season, so it will be exciting to see what he can do this year. EA Sports clearly thinks he has a lot of potential, given that he’s the number nine quarterback in College Football 26.
Lagway has a 90 overall score, and while he might not have as many abilities as some other top QBs, the ones he does have are mostly high-level ones. Lagway’s platinum Extender ability makes him one of the best QBs at breaking sacks, and his gold Off Platform ability gives him increased accuracy when throwing during a scramble. These perks and his high speed stat help him earn his Dual Threat designation, since he can run and throw well.
8
Carson Beck Of The Miami Hurricanes
Carson Beck Has A 91 Overall Score
Before the 2024 season, Carson Beck was expected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Although Beck led the Georgia Bulldogs to the playoffs, a UCL injury cut his season short, and he ended up transferring to Miami for his senior year instead of entering the NFL Draft. Beck will be replacing first overall pick Cam Ward, who will be playing for the Tennessee Titans this fall. While these are some big shoes to fill, Beck has proven to have some pretty big shoes of his own.
Strangely enough for a top-ranked QB in College Football 26, Carson Beck doesn’t have any of the game’s special physical or mental abilities. Still, a 91 overall score is nothing to sneeze at, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Beck doesn’t still play well in the game. That said, if you prefer QBs with perks that direct you to play a certain way, then Miami might not be the team for you this year.
7
Sam Leavitt Of The ASU Sun Devils
Sam Leavitt Has A 91 Overall Score
Arizona State University may have lost the Peach Bowl earlier this year, and while Sun Devils fans likely weren’t pleased by the narrow overtime defeat, there was one silver lining. The game showed that the then-freshman QB, Sam Leavitt, had a lot of potential. While the Sun Devils will likely feel the absence of Cameron Skattebo, who was drafted by the New York Giants, it’s also nice to know their QB could be their next big star.
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Leavitt has an overall score of 91 in College Football 26, and perks like Sleight of Hand and On Time are helpful for any passer. However, his best quality in the game is the combination of a platinum Step Up ability and a gold Resistance. Step Up gives a big boost to accuracy while stepping into the pocket and not under pressure, which synergizes perfectly with Resistance’s ability to protect against pressure while standing in the pocket. Combined, these perks make Leavitt one of the game’s best pocket passers.
6
Blake Horvath Of The Navy Midshipmen
Blake Horvath Has A 91 Overall Score
After a decent streak of underwhelming football teams, the Naval Academy has managed to step things up in recent years. Senior QB Blake Horvath, considered to be one of the program’s best playmakers, has likely played a role in this reversal of Navy’s recent reputation. Horvath is quick on his feet and a serious rushing threat, scoring 17 rushing touchdowns last year.
Horvath has a 91 overall score in CFB 26 and a litany of abilities that reflect his strong running game. Horvath’s platinum Workhorse and Adrenaline abilities are especially important for a running QB. Workhorse minimizes Wear and Tear, while Adrenaline helps recover from it quickly. This helps keep Horvath from getting injured, a serious concern for a QB who is likely to get tackled more than a pocket passer would.
5
John Mateer Of The Oklahoma Sooners
John Mateer Has A 91 Overall Score
2024 was John Mateer’s first starting season, and he wasted no time making a strong first impression. Mateer threw for five touchdowns and rushed for a sixth in his first career start. His strong start wasn’t just beginner’s luck, as Mateer went on to be named the top offensive performer in the Pac-12, though to be fair, there isn’t a ton of competition in the two-team division. Still, Mateer is a strong player, and it isn’t surprising to see him near the top of the leader boards in College Football 26‘s rankings.
Mateer’s 91 overall score is complemented by a variety of abilities that cement him as a dual threat QB. Extender improves his ability to break sacks, which can help with both running and passing. Mobile Resistance gives you the option to throw during a scramble if it doesn’t look like there are any safe avenues for running. Mateer’s platinum Adrenaline ability also allows you to make some risky plays and not worry about him getting injured.
4
Lanorris Sellers Of The South Carolina Gamecocks
Lanorris Sellers Has A 91 Overall Score
Lanorris Sellers and the Gamecocks got off to a bit of a rocky start in the 2024 season. Sellers fumbled the ball seven times, and threw for four interceptions during the first half of the season. However, he managed to not only turn things around (only giving up three interceptions in the second half of the year), but he also put up some serious numbers. Sellers passed for nearly 1,500 yards in the second half of the season, and ran for another 436, rightfully earning him the dual threat label from College Football 26.
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Sellers’ platinum Extender ability accurately reflects his mobility in and out of the pocket, and combined with a platinum Off Platform will make it easy to complete passes on the run in CFB 26. Downhill also makes him a serious running threat, since it will allow Sellers to break tackles more easily after reaching top speed. These abilities, coupled with his 91 overall score, will make Sellers a force to be reckoned with.
3
Drew Allar Of The Penn State Nittany Lions
Drew Allar Has A 92 Overall Score
Despite reportedly being seriously considered by several NFL teams, including the Tennessee Titans, Drew Allar decided to return to Penn State for his senior year in 2025. Allar is considered one of the top returning senior QBs in college football, making it no big surprise that he would earn one of the top five spots in College Football 26. He is also one of only three quarterbacks to earn a 92 overall rating in the game.
Allar is not as mobile as some of the other top-ranked QBs, but a platinum Sleight of Hand will significantly improve your chances of pulling off big Play Action passes. A gold Step Up is also helpful for completing passes. Clearheaded will also make it harder for Allar to get flustered during games, making him a good QB to play on the road.
2
Cade Klubnik Of The Clemson Tigers
Cade Klubnik Has A 92 Overall Score
Hopes are high for Cade Klubnik going into the 2025 season. While College Football 25 has him ranked second overall based on stats, a panel of analysts from USA Today placed Klubnik in the number one spot. Interestingly enough, EA Sports‘ website also ranks Klubnik at number one, even though sorting QBs in-game results in LSU’s Garret Nussmeier in the top spot. Regardless of whether you think he deserves to be number one or two, there’s no denying Cade Klubnik is one of the best.
Klubnik has a 92 overall score, though his short and deep throw accuracy scores get up to 93. This is perfect for a pocket passer, and his gold On Time and Step Up abilities will also help you complete passes. Perhaps his most impactful ability is his platinum Dot, which gives a big boost to accuracy when throwing with your feet planted in a clean pocket. As long Klubnik stays protected, he should be able to pull off some impressive passes.
1
Garrett Nussmeier Of The LSU Tigers
Garrett Nussmeier Has A 92 Overall Score
LSU’s Garret Nussmeier turned some heads after deciding not to enter the transfer portal, despite the Tigers not making the playoffs last year. In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Nussmeier explained that he wanted to focus on LSU as a team, instead of simply seeking the best situation for himself. This type of dedication and loyalty is something NFL teams might want to take notice of, however LSU’s season turns out this year.
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Nussmeier is a pocket passer who excels at short throws thanks to his platinum On Time ability, and his 94 accuracy rating for short tosses. Nussmeier also has a 96 score for throwing power, meaning you can deliver some very quick and accurate short passes, making it difficult for the defense to pick you off. College Football 26 players should not sleep on Garret Nussmeier anymore than NFL scouts should.
Source: Yahoo Sports, USA Today
EA Sports College Football 26
- Released
-
July 10, 2025
- ESRB
-
E
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer
