Fall camp has a way of sharpening the biggest questions in college football, and for plenty of programs, the loudest one is still the same: who’s taking the first snap at quarterback?
Across the country, several teams are staring down open competitions at the most important spot on the field, with different styles, different resumes and very different kinds of pressure. Some battles lean on experience.
Others are all about upside. A few are so tight they could bleed into the regular season.
Here’s a look at how those races are shaping up.
At Alabama, Russell made a major statement in the spring game, throwing four touchdowns while Mack was sidelined with an injury. But Mack has a built-in edge of his own after being signed by Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer at Washington in 2023, and he already knows offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
Mack has also worked ahead of Russell in some fall camp drills, and the two have been close to even in the competition. Right now, Mack looks like the steadier choice.
Still, Russell’s ceiling is hard to ignore, especially if Alabama wants a spark for a rushing attack that has been stuck in neutral.
Florida’s quarterback race has Philo out front for now. He was better than Jones in the spring and already understands Buster Faulkner’s offense from his time at Georgia Tech.
Jones may have the stronger arm, but Philo’s familiarity with the system gives him the edge entering Week 1. That said, coach Jon Sumrall has made it clear this could stretch into the season, and Jones has the kind of traits that could eventually swing things his way.
Tennessee’s situation looks built for Brandon. Josh Heupel’s offense asks quarterbacks to attack deep, and the five-star recruit has the kind of arm that fits that job description.
He can launch it 70 yards downfield, and his dual-threat ability only adds to the appeal. MacIntyre may be the more advanced processor right now, but Brandon’s fit in the offense - the kind of fit that brings Hendon Hooker to mind - gives him the advantage.
Clemson’s battle has one of the more interesting profiles on the board. Vizzina already has a 317-yard, three-touchdown start on his résumé from a game against SMU last fall, while Reynolds brings a strong arm, the ability to extend plays and a recruiting background that once included Oregon, Oklahoma and Miami.
Dabo Swinney has left the door open for Reynolds to win the job, especially after the progress he’s made mentally. Even so, Vizzina still looks like the safer pick after his extended audition as QB1 when Cade Klubnik was injured last year.
Oklahoma’s competition is tied to the challenge of replacing a quarterback who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting. Curtis, a former five-star freshman, has taken hold of the battle thanks to his 6'4" frame and arm strength. Berlowitz, a fourth-year quarterback, knows Tim Beck’s offense, but his floor may not be strong enough to hold off Curtis’s higher ceiling.
Iowa’s quarterback battle stands out because of how little outside help the Hawkeyes brought in. Kirk Ferentz stayed in-house and chose between Hecklinski and Brown, a pair of former three-star quarterbacks who were backups last season.
Neither has much game experience, with only six collegiate appearances between them, so this one feels like a true toss-up. If there’s a lean, Hecklinski may have a small one after moving ahead of Brown on the depth chart last season and showing flashes of big-play ability.
Michigan’s race brings a four-man fight into the picture. Freshman Fette and sophomore Dyer offer upside, but neither has taken a collegiate snap.
Keene brings far more mileage, with 39 games of experience from two years as Fresno State’s starter before transferring to Michigan, though he missed the 2025 season because of injury. Boley, meanwhile, has Power 4 experience after throwing 12 interceptions in 301 attempts last season at Kentucky.
He has cleaned things up in fall camp so far, and that background could give him the edge.
At Arkansas, first-year coach Ryan Silverfield’s staff has put a premium on ball security, and that points to Jackson. He emerged from spring as the favorite and has looked like the cleaner operator, with command of the offense and better turnover control. Hill is still very much in the mix, though, and his familiarity with Tim Cramsey’s scheme from Memphis could fuel a late push.
Florida State is dealing with the challenge of replacing Byrum Brown, who last year became just the 12th player in FBS history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000. Van Buren, a junior transfer from LSU, and Kromenhoek, a sophomore transfer from Mississippi State, both come from Power 4 programs and both bring real competition to the table. Van Buren has a bit more experience, including starts at LSU late last season, and that may be enough to give him the slightest edge in a battle that otherwise looks dead even.
Duke’s quarterback situation is another tough one, made even trickier by the departure of Darian Mensah on the portal’s last day. That left Eget, a San José State transfer, and redshirt freshman Mahan to sort out the job.
Eget has the more established résumé, with two seasons of starting experience for the Spartans, while Mahan knows the Blue Devils’ offense better. Still, Eget is in position to win it if the turnovers he has struggled with - 19 interceptions over the last two years - stay in check.
In Other News...
Tennessee Already Has A Tight End Concern In Fall Camp
Tennessees tight end room is already getting a closer look in fall camp after Ethan Davis was slowed by an injury on the first day of practice. The sophomore has been out of action since then, and with the unit still sorting through recent transfers and new arrivals, the Volunteers have been forced to spread the work around while Davis watches from the sideline.
In the meantime, DaSaahn Brame, Cole Harrison and Luca Wolf have taken reps and gotten more chances to show where they fit. Tight ends coach Alec Abeln has indicated the injury is not considered serious, and Tennessee is treating Davis carefully rather than rushing him back, but the opening stretch of camp has already put some early pressure on a position group that needed clean reps. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee May Already Be Leaning On Two Newcomers Up Front
Tennessees front line looks a lot different this fall, and not just because the Volunteers are replacing all four defensive line starters from last season after they moved on to professional football. With key depth pieces Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring also gone, the reshuffle has put a premium on the newcomers who arrived to stabilize a position group that has to find answers fast.
Rodney Garner has stressed the need for steady improvement in camp, and two transfers have already started to separate themselves in the conversation. Xavier Gilliam and Jordan Norman have been productive enough to draw attention in practice, and both are positioned to matter right away as Tennessee sorts out who can absorb the snaps and responsibility left behind up front. [Read more 🡒]
Rodney Garner Sent Tennessees Defensive Line A Message They Needed
As Tennessee closes in on the 2024 season, Rodney Garner has made it clear the defensive line still has work to do before it looks like a finished group. The veteran coach has seen enough in practice to know the position room cannot afford to drift through August, especially with departures already thinning out the depth chart and new faces trying to carve out roles.
The bigger challenge now is finding someone who can steady the unit and become a reliable presence up front. Penn State transfer Xavier Gilliam and Tulane edge Jordan Norman are among the additions expected to help, but Garners message was broader than any one player: the line needs consistency, leadership and a clear voice before the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]