College Football 2024: Ranking Top 25 Quarterbacks in CFB

Welcome to Bleacher Report's first quarterback rankings of the 2024 college football season.

Every week throughout the upcoming campaign, we'll rank the top 25 quarterbacks in the nation based solely on their on-field performance in 2024. That means past performance, future expectations, physical tools and NFL upside have all been removed from the equation.

Since no games have been played yet, though, past performance and future expectations will be the basis for our preseason rankings.

An updated version of these rankings will be published each Tuesday morning, with players rising and falling based on where they were ranked the previous week, so it will be a fluid process throughout the year.

With only 25 spots up for grabs and 134 quarterbacks to consider, let's kick things off with an honorable mention slide featuring the "Next 25" who just missed the cut.

Let the debate begin.

These players received serious consideration, but ultimately missed the final cut for a spot in the Top 25. They could be the first to jump into the rankings with a strong early showing:

Hank Bachmeier, Wake Forest
Rocco Becht, Iowa State
Byrum Brown, South Florida
Hudson Card, Purdue
Thomas Castellanos, Boston College
Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
Dequan Finn, Baylor
Brett Gabbert, Miami (OH)
Taylen Green, Arkansas
KJ Jefferson, UCF
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
Mikey Keene, Fresno State
Haynes King, Georgia Tech
Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Kyle McCord, Syracuse
Graham Mertz, Florida
Miller Moss, USC
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
Donovan Smith, Houston
Preston Stone, SMU
Tyler Van Dyke, Wisconsin
Jacob Zeno, UAB

25. Joey Aguilar, Appalachian State

2023 Stats: 293-of-460, 3,757 yards, 33 TD, 10 INT; 245 rush yards, 3 TD

After two seasons at Diablo Valley College in California, Aguilar was one of the most productive FBS newcomers in the nation last year. He set the Appalachian State single-season records for passing yards, touchdown passes and total offense while leading the team to a 9-5 record and a victory in the Cure Bowl.

24. Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma

2023 Stats: 44-of-69, 563 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT; 116 rush yards, 1 TD

A 5-star recruit and the No. 8 prospect overall in the 2023 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings, Arnold is set to step into the Oklahoma starting role despite limited experience after sitting behind Dillon Gabriel as a freshman. He threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona in the Alamo Bowl, but he also threw three interceptions in the first start of his career. Can he rack up yardage in the Sooners' high-powered offense?

23. Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee

2023 Stats: 28-of-45, 314 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT; 71 rush yards, 3 TD

Another 5-star recruit from the 2023 cycle and the No. 3 player overall, Iamaleava spent most of his freshman season watching on the bench behind Joe Milton III. He got the start against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl and led the Volunteers to a lopsided 35-0 victory, throwing for 151 yards and a touchdown while adding another 27 yards and three scores on the ground. He still has a lot to prove, but he could be a Top 10 guy in these rankings by midseason.

22. DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State

2023 Stats: 180-of-315, 2,638 yards, 21 TD, 7 INT; 219 rush yards, 6 TD

Once a vaunted 5-star recruit at Clemson, Uiagalelei never quite lived up to expectations in two seasons as the Tigers starter before spending the 2023 season at Oregon State. His 59.1 percent completion rate and 57-to-24 touchdown-to-interception ratio over four collegiate seasons leave something to be desired, but he is an experienced signal-caller taking over the reins of a team that won 13 games in 2023.

21. Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech

2023 Stats: 166-of-285, 2,085 yards, 17 TD, 3 INT; 818 rush yards, 5 TD

Drones took over as the Hokies starter in Week 3 last season and settled in nicely as the campaign progressed. Over his final four games, including a Military Bowl victory over Tulane, he threw for 779 yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception, adding another 412 rushing yards at 7.4 yards per carry during that stretch. He has serious breakout potential with a full spring as QB1.

20. Drew Allar, Penn State

2023 Stats: 233-of-389, 2,631 yards, 25 TD, 2 INT; 206 rush yards, 4 TD

Allar did a nice job limiting turnovers and steering the ship for a team that won 10 games on the strength of its defense and running game, but he will need to do more this season to meet expectations. The former 5-star recruit has the physical tools to be a major weapon, but his 6.8 yards per attempt last year highlights a conservative approach.

19. Will Rogers, Washington

2023 Stats: 142-of-237, 1,626 yards, 12 TD, 4 INT; -13 rush yards, 1 TD

After putting up huge numbers during his sophomore (4,739 yards, 36 TD) and junior (3,974 yards, 35 TD) seasons at Mississippi State, Rogers played in just eight games last year due to a shoulder injury. The grad transfer will now be tasked with replacing Michael Penix Jr., as the Huskies make the move to the Big Ten.

18. Grayson McCall, NC State

2023 Stats: 151-of-224, 1,919 yards, 10 TD, 6 INT; 48 rush yards, 1 TD

After winning Sun Belt Player of the Year honors in 2020, 2021 and 2022 at Coastal Carolina, McCall was knocked unconscious against Arkansas State on Oct. 21 last year and didn't play again the rest of the season. Despite the injury, his strong track record made him one of the biggest names in the transfer portal before landing at NC State.

17. Will Howard, Ohio State

2023 Stats: 219-of-357, 2,643 yards, 24 TD, 10 INT; 351 rush yards, 9 TD

After going 8-4 at K-State last season, the pressure will be turned up for Howard as he takes over under center for an Ohio State team with legitimate title aspirations. An ugly game against Oklahoma State (15-for-34, 152 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT) ultimately made his overall numbers look a bit worse than his actual performance, and he also had to navigate splitting reps with freshman Avery Johnson throughout the season.

16. Seth Henigan, Memphis

2023 Stats: 318-of-476, 3,883 yards, 32 TD, 9 INT; 274 rush yards, 5 TD

Henigan has steadily improved in three years under center at Memphis, setting career-high marks in completion percentage (66.8), passing yards (3,883), passing touchdowns (32) and QB rating (153.7) last season. His 3,883 passing yards ranked fourth in the nation last year and trailed only Carson Beck (3,941) among players returning to campus this fall. With 3,164 yards this season, he will become the AAC's all-time leading passer.

15. Conner Weigman, Texas A&M

2023 Stats: 82-of-119, 979 yards, 8 TD, 2 INT; 63 rush yards, 2 TD

Weigman was off to a great start last year before suffering a broken bone in his foot against Auburn in Week 4 that ended his season. The former 5-star recruit has an extremely high ceiling, both on Saturdays this fall and on Sundays looking ahead to a potential NFL future. First things first, he needs to prove he's healthy and pick up where he left off last year.

14. Jordan McCloud, Texas State

2023 Stats: 281-of-412, 3,657 yards, 35 TD, 10 INT; 276 rush yards, 8 TD

After stops at South Florida, Arizona and James Madison, McCloud has now found his way to Texas State where he will look to build off a terrific 2023 campaign. His impressive production through the air helped lead James Madison to an 11-2 record in a season that saw the Dukes peak at No. 18 in the AP poll. TJ Finley put up big numbers in the Texas State offense a year ago, so this could be a great fit.

13. Jalon Daniels, Kansas

2023 Stats: 56-of-75, 705 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT; 74 rush yards, 0 TD

If Daniels can find a way to stay healthy for a full season, he has all the tools to be one of the most productive QBs in the nation. In 25 games of action over the past four years, he has thrown for 4,297 yards with 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 63.6 percent of his attempts. The return of Devin Neal will give him an established running back to help bring balance to the offense.

12. Brady Cook, Missouri

2023 Stats: 244-of-369, 3,317 yards, 21 TD, 6 INT; 319 rush yards, 8 TD

Cook was one of the nation's biggest breakout performers during the first half of the 2023 season, throwing for 1,468 yards with 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions during a 5-0 start before fading a bit as the season wore on. With star running back Cody Schrader moving on to the NFL, Cook will be counted on to do even more offensively.

11. Garrett Greene, West Virginia

2023 Stats: 147-of-277, 2,406 yards, 16 TD, 4 INT; 772 rush yards, 13 TD

Greene saw limited action in his first three seasons at West Virginia before turning in one of the more surprising breakout performances of the 2023 season. He closed out the regular season with two of his best individual performances in wins over Cincinnati and Baylor, then led the Mountaineers to a 30-10 victory over North Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. His 772 rushing yards were the eighth-highest total among quarterbacks, and his 13 touchdowns on the ground tied for the lead at the position.

10. Cam Rising, Utah

2023 Stats: Injured, did not play

For much of the 2023 season, it was unclear why it was taking Rising so long to return from a torn ACL he suffered during the Rose Bowl the prior season. Clarity came in October when he finally addressed the situation with the media.

"I wasn't really expecting to do this, but I just want to let everybody know I didn't just tear my ACL," he told ESPN 700. "I tore my meniscus, MPFL, and MCL. It was a big surgery and it's not an easy comeback. I've been working my tail off."

Rising ended up missing the entire season, but he is expected to be ready to roll for the 2024 campaign. He threw for 3,034 yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions last time he was healthy, so expectations are high.

9. Cam Ward, Miami

2023 Stats: 323-of-485, 3,736 yards, 25 TD, 7 INT; 144 rush yards, 8 TD

After testing the NFL draft waters, Ward made the surprising decision to return to campus, and he will now replace outgoing transfer Tyler Van Dyke as the Hurricanes' starting quarterback. He spent much of last year in the Top 10 of these rankings thanks to the pass-heavy attack at Washington State, throwing for at least 300 yards in seven of his 12 games, including a trio of 400-yard performances.

8. Kaidon Salter, Liberty

2023 Stats: 177-of-290, 2,876 yards, 32 TD, 6 INT; 1,089 rush yards, 12 TD

Salter joined LSU's Jayden Daniels (1,134) and Boston College's Thomas Castellanos (1,113) as the only FBS quarterbacks to rush for 1,000 yards last year. He also did plenty of damage through the air, setting Liberty's single-season record with 32 passing touchdowns. The end result was a 13-0 regular season and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. He entered the transfer portal but quickly opted to return to the Flames.

7. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

2023 Stats: 298-of-430, 3,230 yards, 27 TD, 3 INT; -77 rush yards, 4 TD

Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes were the talk of college football during a 3-0 start that saw him throw for 1,251 yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception, including a 510-yard, four-touchdown performance against TCU in the season opener. The team quickly faded and went 1-7 the rest of the way, but Sanders continued to put up impressive numbers all season. Can he make a legitimate Heisman Trophy run this year?

6. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

2023 Stats: 233-of-358, 3,364 yards, 23 TD, 5 INT; 389 rush yards, 8 TD

Dart battled transfer Spencer Sanders to hold onto the Ole Miss starting job last spring, then turned in a terrific junior season where he led the Rebels to an 11-2 record and a victory in the Peach Bowl. His only losses came on the road against Alabama and Georgia, and the Rebels will enter the 2024 season squarely in the national championship conversation. Top wide receiver Tre Harris (54 catches, 985 yards, 8 TD) also returns to give him a familiar target.

2023 Stats: 187-of-284, 2,834 yards, 23 TD, 6 INT; 531 rush yards, 12 TD

Considering he finished the year sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting, it's easy to forget Jalen Milroe was actually benched early in the 2023 season.

After completing 14-of-27 passes for 255 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 34-24 loss to Texas in Week 2, he spent the following week watching from the sideline as Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson both struggled to move the ball in a 17-3 win over South Florida.

Milroe was reinserted in the starting lineup and took off as the season unfolded.

Over the final four regular-season games and the SEC championship, he threw for 1,101 yards, rushed for 326 yards and accounted for 17 total touchdowns before scuffling against the vaunted Michigan defense in the Rose Bowl.

Milroe is poised for a big junior season under new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer.

2023 Stats: 241-of-333, 2,869 yards, 25 TD, 6 INT; -33 rush yards, 0 TD

Noah Fifita did not take over as the Arizona Wildcats' starting quarterback until Week 5 last season, and after playing well in losses to Washington (232 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) and USC (303 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT), he led the team to a 7-0 record the rest of the way.

He set the Wildcats' single-game record with 527 passing yards to go along with five touchdowns in a 59-23 blowout over Arizona State in the regular-season finale, and he capped off a 10-3 season with a victory over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.

Now the former 3-star recruit opens the season as the unquestioned starter for an Arizona squad with legitimate expectations, checking in at No. 21 in the preseason AP poll.

Favorite target Tetairoa McMillan (90 catches, 1,402 yards, 10 TD) also returns, and he will be lining up behind an experienced offensive line.

2023 Stats: 272-of-394, 3,479 yards, 22 TD, 6 INT; 75 rush yards, 5 TD

Quinn Ewers began his college career with a tremendous amount of hype as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class, but after riding the bench as a true freshman behind C.J. Stroud at Ohio State, he transferred to Texas.

After posting modest numbers while missing three games with a shoulder injury in his first season with the Longhorns, the 21-year-old took a significant step toward living up to expectations last year.

Ewers led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff, throwing for 452 yards and four touchdowns against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game to clinch a spot. They ultimately came up short against Michael Penix Jr. and Washington in the Sugar Bowl semifinal, but that performance has pushed expectations even higher for the upcoming season.

Texas will open the year No. 4 in the AP poll in what will be its first season in the SEC, joining Georgia (1), Alabama (5) and Ole Miss (6) in the Top 10.

2023 Stats: 266-of-384, 3,660 yards, 30 TD, 6 INT; 373 rush yard, 12 TD

With 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns in five college seasons at UCF and Oklahoma, Dillon Gabriel is poised to etch his name into the college football record books before the 2024 season comes to a close.

Currently eighth on the all-time passing yardage leaderboard, he needs 4,353 more yards to overtake Case Keenum for the all-time FBS record, though he is only 2,208 yards away from moving into the No. 2 spot.

Gabriel needs 31 more passing touchdowns to pencil his name in atop that leaderboard, with the top spot also currently belonging to Keenum.

At any rate, he will now step into an offensive system that saw Bo Nix thrive last season en route to becoming a first-round pick by the Denver Broncos and a Week 1 starter heading into the 2024 NFL season.

2023 Stats: 302-of-417, 3,941 yards, 24 TD, 6 INT; 116 rush yards, 4 TD

A combination of production, efficiency and expectations landed Carson Beck in the No. 1 spot on our preseason rankings.

After attempting just 58 total passes during his first three years on campus, he took over for Stetson Bennett last season and finished third in the nation in passing yards (3,941) and fourth in completion percentage (72.4%) among QBs who attempted at least 300 passes.

His best game of the season came in a 51-13 shellacking of Kentucky when he completed 28-of-35 pass attempts for 389 yards and four touchdowns, and he threw for at least 250 yards in 11 of his team's 14 games.

Losing tight end Brock Bowers to the NFL is a blow, but there is no shortage of weapons at his disposal on a stacked Georgia roster, and he could play his way into being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft with a strong showing this fall.