EA Sports has finally released official player ratings for College Football 26, and they’re mostly what you’d expect. You’ve got top-tier talent like Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs sitting comfortably at 98 and 96 OVR, respectively, while other big names like Jeremiyah Love received a 95 OVR. What’s surprising, though, is the lack of QBs in the top 10.
These ratings are directly based on a player’s performance, meaning our QBs need to step it up a notch. Still, if you’re planning on getting into College Football 26, you should know the top QBs featured in the game. Out of the top 100 players announced, we have 7 QBs. Let’s talk about each of them and what they bring to the table.
Cade Klubnik – Clemson Tigers
Cade Klubnik takes the top spot for QBs in the top 100 players of CFB 26. Klubnik has a 92 OVR in the game, an admirable rating and one that justifies his dominating presence on the field. The 6’2 QB for the Tigers has a balanced stat spread, with his Passing stats well above other players in his role. He also has a 91 in Awareness, something you’ll need to make those quick decisions right after the snap.
Due to his 2024 stats, Klubnik already reserves the title for one of the top-rated QBs in CFB 26. In the 2024 season, the Tigers QB covered a total of 3,639 yards, had 36 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and his total quarterback rating was 78.7. Given that he stood 12th overall in QBR, it was slightly lower than expected. However, he had an impressive 2024 season overall.
Drew Allar – Penn State Nittany Lions
This second QB was no surprise. Star QB Drew Allar is right up there with Cade Klubnik at a 92 OVR in CFB 26. Allar plays for Penn State and has been the talk of the town on several occasions. He was projected to get a rating boost from his CFB 25 version, and that’s exactly what took place. Allar has been one of the highest-rated players during the previous season and continues to outshine most other QBs.
In CFB 26, he features a very balanced stat spread. Some notable stats include his Throwing Power, which is at 98, and Awareness at 95. Stopping this powerhouse from a successful snap is not easy. As for his 2024 season, he had a comparatively lower QB rating. With a 77.5 QBR, he was rated 16th overall in the League. However, he managed to secure 8 interceptions and covered an astounding 3,327 yards in total with 24 touchdowns. Definitely a top QB you’ll want to try in CFB 26.
Garrett Nussmeier – LSU Tigers
It would be highly improbable to have a top QBs list without someone from the LSU Tigers. Garrett Nussmeier is here to represent the Tigers in CFB 26 with a 92 OVR. He is the third and final QB to receive this rating, making him one of the top 3 QBs in the League at the moment. The 6’2″ QB outshines both his counterparts in terms of 2024 season stats. Rated 10th overall, Nussmeier covered 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Surprisingly, he wasn’t rated higher than Allar and Klubnik in CFB 26.
Moving on to his CFB 26 stats, the player is built like a tank. He has a 98 on Toughness, so good luck trying to sack him. His Awareness is slightly below what we’d hoped for, sitting at 89, but what he lacks there, he makes up for in his throwing stats. Overall, a very solid pick if you’re looking for good QBs.
Carson Beck – Miami Hurricanes
We might be out of the 92 OVR range, but we’re only going down a point. The first QB rated at 91 OVR is Carson Beck, the 6’4″ powerhouse for the Miami Hurricanes. Beck recently transitioned from the Georgia Bulldogs to the Miami Hurricanes and wasted no time proving his worth. The Hurricanes QB has been named numerous times as one of the top QBs in the League, and with a 9th overall QBR, it makes sense.
Although he’s one of the top-rated QBs in CFB 26, Beck lacks some key aspects needed to put him above everyone else. His CFB ‘26 stat spread shows a few sub-80 stats, such as Speed and Throwing Under Pressure. However, make no mistake about his abilities as he has a 98 in Play Action and a 96 in Awareness, one of the most important stats out there. He had a good 2024 season as well, with 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. While he may not be the first pick as a QB, he won’t disappoint you on the field.
John Mateer – Oklahoma Sooners
Next up, we’ve got the Oklahoma Sooners’ QB, John Mateer. Mateer has a 91 OVR in CFB 26 and is much more balanced compared to other QBs in terms of stats. The 21-year-old QB from Little Elm is planning to wow recruiters and fans alike this season after an average run in the 2024 season. Mateer was ranked 34th overall according to QBR, which affected his draft prospects. However, he still had 3,000+ yards covered as well as 29 touchdowns.
But regardless of his time in real life, he’s one of the top-rated QBs in CFB 26. He has received a great stat spread with many 90+ ratings. Most notably, he has a 98 in Stamina and 95 in Toughness. Waiting for him to tire out would bear no results. His passing stats are also pretty good, so you don’t have to worry about him fumbling passes, even under pressure. John Mateer will be a fun QB to play with in CFB 26. He might make a few mistakes here and there, but overall, a solid pickup.
LaNorris Sellers – South Carolina Gamecocks
LaNorris Sellers is one of the youngest QBs featured here at just 20 years of age. The South Carolina Gamecocks QB stands tall, at 6’3″ and a 91 OVR in CFB 26. Sellers recently made headlines for refusing an $8 million trade deal, opting to stay at the Gamecocks. He had a rocky 2024 season, being rated 40th overall according to QBR. Regardless, he still managed to snag 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions last season. While not the best stats, he still has a lot of time to improve.
Similar to John Mateer, Sellers’ stat spread for CFB 26 is quite balanced. Most of his stats are around the 90-mark, with Throw Power at 96 and Toughness at 97 being the most prominent. Some of his General stats could be higher, like Strength, but we’ll have to compromise somewhere. Check out LaNorris Sellers if you’re looking for a QB with strong throwing capabilities and more resistance to tackles.
Sam Leavitt – Arizona State Sun Devils
Rounding out our top-rated QBs list is Arizona State Sun Devils QB, Sam Leavitt. At just 20 years of age, Leavitt has made a name for himself in college football. He had an outstanding run last season, with an 80 rating according to QBR. Leavitt received a 91 OVR in CFB 26. His stat spread, however, is slightly disappointing, even among other 91 OVR QBs. His Strength is at 63, and his Ball Carrier category is sub-par.
But it’s not all bad. He’s got great throwing power, and his Passing category is one of the best compared to other QBs. While you won’t want him to face a tackle head-on, you can get some amazing passes out of him. His Stamina is at 95, which is always a plus point for QBs. Leavitt wouldn’t be our first pick if it came to it, but he’s a solid contender for top QBs. Maybe learning to play around him, more to his strengths, would be better than taking him in blind.
