Five college football QB competitions I can’t stop thinking about

College quarterback competitions go in the direction of the fullback position. It is an endangered species. It has become rare for college football team to not go into spring practice knowing who their starting quarterback will be.

These days, most quarterback decisions are settled in the winter. A team either removes its new starter from the transfer portal or pays to keep an incumbent quarterback that it intends to be its starter.

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Teams like Ohio State, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas And Georgia kept talented and established quarterbacks. No drama. No fuss. They know their owners.

More: Florida coach Jon Sumrall roasts rivals, might live to regret it

Other teams, like LSUMiami, along with Texas Tech, spent big to acquire a top-tier starter in the portal. No fuss here either. These teams know their starters.

That still leaves a handful of teams without an established starter returning or a plug-and-play transfer. In these outposts, we can expect an old-fashioned battle of quarterbacks. Do you remember it?

With spring practice upon us, here are five quarterback competitions I can’t stop thinking about:

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Main contenders: Keelon Russell, Austin Mack

Kalen DeBoer’s future will be tied to how Alabama’s quarterback position develops. He got that job, in part, because of what he did with Michael Penix Jr. in Washington. Alabama hasn’t shown that type of offensive firepower.

If Alabama’s quarterbacks go out in 2026, DeBoer’s seat will start to sizzle. But wait on that hot seat, because Russell might be the real deal. If he becomes a star, it would boost confidence in DeBoer.

Russell, a former five-star recruit signed by DeBoer, offers the most upside. Mack returns as a veteran. His ties to DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb go back to Washington, before Mack followed DeBoer to Alabama. Mack was brought in to finish the Rose Bowl blowout loss after starter Ty Simpson was released.

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Best possibility: Russell lives up to his recruiting hype and takes the job in April. It gives the Tide the highest ceiling.

North Carolina

Main contenders: Billy Edwards Jr., Taron Dickens, Miles O’Neill

Bill Belichick will initiate a transfer, but which one? THE Tar Heels brought a set of options, but not a slam dunk. This will be the new offensive coordinator The work of Bobby Petrino to efficiently sort through all of this – or else Belichick I will head to the hot seat.

Behind Door #1: Edwards. He was a mid-level producer in the Big Ten as Maryland’s starter in 2024 before a knee injury sidelined him last year at Wisconsin.

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Behind door #2: Dickens. His FCS stats look great. Oh, but there’s this: He’s listed at 5-11, 180 pounds.

Behind door #3: O’Neill. Petrino previously coached him at Texas A&M. O’Neill became the substitute there.

Behind Door #4: They’re all going bankrupt and UNC is considering a buyout check.

Best possibility: Edwards returns to health and provides reliable ground. Dickens rides smoothly (hey, Trinidad Chambliss did it at Ole Mademoiselle) and offers an interesting alternative.

Virginia

Main contenders: Beau Pribula, Eli Holstein

Of course, it seemed like Virginia had its quarterback situation sorted out when it plundered Pribula. He’s a dual threat who went 6-2 as Missouri’s starter before suffering an ankle injury.

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Then, a few days after getting Pribula, Virginia doubled down by adding Holstein, another transfer. He was a starter in Pittsburgh until he lost his job midway through last season.

The last time we saw each quarterback, Pribula was faring better than Holstein. This makes Missouri transfer the man to beat. If you can start in the SEC, there’s no reason you can’t thrive in the ACC. Holstein’s initial experience adds an element of intrigue, however. Let’s not forget that Holstein won his first seven games as Pitt’s 2024 starter.

So, it’s Pribula or Holstein, right? Well, just wait a minute. Since this is college football in 2026, a judge needs to have some say in the matter. Former Virginia starter Chandler Morris is suing for a seventh year of eligibility, because who wants to enter the real world if there’s a path to becoming a perpetual college quarterback?

Best possibility: Pribula returns from injury with a vengeance. Virginia needs the guy who shredded Kansas in a rivalry victory for Missouri.

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Main contenders: George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon, Ryan Staub

This one already has more dead ends than a corn maze. Tennessee attempted a big move. No luck. Then Joey Aguilar went to court to sue his dream of being the Vols’ eighth-year seniorbut a judge refused it.

This offseason theater has overshadowed the fact that Tennessee might possess a good option in MacIntyre, a redshirt freshman who is very talented. Is it durable? He is tall, thin and unproven. Brandon, a five-star recruit, is even greener. Staub, a former Colorado backup, provides a safety valve behind the hot youngsters.

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The situation could be particularly troubling without coach Josh Heupel’s strong track record in developing quarterbacks. Last year, UCLA decided it didn’t want Aguilar to be its starter. So, Heupel caught it and turned it into the SEC’s game-leading passing yards. Who is next?

Best possibility: MacIntyre appears sturdy and stable and allays concerns about his slender frame.

Main contenders: Jeremy Hecklinski, Hank Brown

Don’t you wonder what Iowa could do if it produced a good quarterback? Not even elite, just really good.

Iowa’s last 300-yard passing game? This happened in a time before the words “coronavirus” and “COVID” were part of our daily vocabulary.

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The Hawkeyes quietly extended their streak to 13 consecutive winning seasons last year with a quarterback whose only 200-yard passing play resulted in a bowl victory against Vanderbilt. Despite the aerial limitations, the Hawkeyes’ offense improved with Mark Gronowski at the trigger, but he was finished.

Hecklinski and Brown were with the program last year as backups. Neither played much. Hecklinski enjoys an inside advantage, with higher upside potential.

Best scenario: Let’s be real, Iowa being really good at quarterback probably remains a pipe dream, so stay solid elsewhere on the roster.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s lead national college football columnist. Send him an email to [email protected] and follow him on @btopppmeyer.

This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Best College Football Quarterback Competitions 2026: Start With Alabama