CJ Carr has been making waves this offseason, consistently highlighted as one of the top quarterbacks to watch. But there's one analyst who takes it a step further, suggesting Carr is second only to Oklahoma's John Mateer. This ranking by Crissy Froyd, a respected college football insider, places Mateer at the pinnacle of her Top 10 college quarterbacks list, with Carr trailing closely behind.
Froyd's list has sparked conversations, particularly since she didn't elaborate on her criteria for these rankings. Yet, Carr’s position as the second-best quarterback isn’t entirely unexpected. His performances have garnered significant admiration, even as some analysts note areas for growth as he gears up for his sophomore season leading Notre Dame's potentially explosive offense.
Here's Froyd's Top 10 college quarterbacks for the 2026 season:
- John Mateer, Oklahoma
- CJ Carr, Notre Dame
- Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
- Dante Moore, Oregon
- Julian Sayin, Ohio State
- Arch Manning, Texas
- Sam Leavitt, LSU
- Gunner Stockton, Georgia
- Jayden Maiava, USC
- Darian Mensah, Miami
The choice of Mateer at the top is intriguing, especially given his mixed performance last year. In 2025, Mateer threw for nearly 3,000 yards, tallying 14 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, with six of those picks coming in just two games.
This was a stark contrast to his 2024 season with Washington State, where he delivered over 3,100 yards, 29 touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions. These earlier numbers likely fuel Froyd's optimism for Mateer's potential resurgence in 2026.
Mateer isn't the only one with high expectations. Aaron Murray, a former Georgia quarterback and current college football insider, also sees a promising season ahead for the Oklahoma QB, albeit with some caution.
On the other hand, CJ Carr's inaugural season as Notre Dame's starting quarterback saw him throw for 2,741 yards, with 24 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. These stats are quite comparable to Mateer's, despite Carr being in only his first year as a starter compared to Mateer's fourth college season.
Carr's game isn't without its areas for improvement. He needs to develop a better sense for when to throw the ball away rather than forcing plays or losing yardage by scrambling unnecessarily. Nevertheless, the recognition of Carr as a top-tier quarterback, right behind Mateer, should energize Notre Dame fans as they look forward to the upcoming season.
In Other News...
Former Notre Dame QB Sends CJ Carr A Telling Message
Kenny Mincheys move out of South Bend was always going to leave a little ripple behind, given how long he had been part of Notre Dames quarterback room and how many different faces he watched cycle through it. After backing up the likes of Sam Hartman, Riley Leonard, Steve Angeli and then CJ Carr, Minchey decided a fresh start was the best path for him, a choice that also closed the book on a stint that included 10 games in an Irish uniform.
Even after leaving, Minchey made it clear theres no bitterness attached to the quarterback battle he lost. He offered support for Carr and Notre Dame heading into the season, while also pointing to Kentuckys coaching staff and quarterback development as the reasons he felt comfortable making the jump. It is the kind of message that says plenty about both sides of the decision, and leaves Carr with a former teammate still pulling for him from a distance. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Just Got Shut Out Of A QB Race That Mattered
Notre Dame already has one quarterback in its future plans, with Trey Tagliaferri committed as the Fighting Irishs 2028 recruit, but the next layer of the position board has turned in a different direction. Kingston Preyear had been one of the more important names for the Irish to track, given his profile as a highly rated quarterback prospect and the kind of arm talent that can shape an entire class.
Preyear is now set to choose from Alabama, Florida and Vanderbilt when he announces his commitment on July 10, leaving Notre Dame on the outside of a race it had hoped to stay in. For a program that is always balancing long-term depth with high-end upside at quarterback, the narrowing of that list matters almost as much as the decision itself. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Closing In On A Defensive Recruiting Statement
Notre Dame has already landed offensive lineman Albert Simien for its 2027 class, and the momentum around that group appears to be building on the defensive side as well. The Irish are reportedly in position to add linebacker Roman Igwebuike and defensive tackle Brayden Parks, two prospects who would give the class a much different feel if both follow through.
Igwebuike brings the kind of national profile Notre Dame wants in a linebacker target, with several programs still in the mix, while Parks has emerged as a priority along the defensive front. If the Irish can finish the job on both recruits, it would amount to a meaningful early statement for a 2027 class that is starting to take shape with some real upside. [Read more 🡒]