We are down to four starting quarterbacks in the College Football Playoff. But who is the best QB left standing?
The College Football Playoff semifinals are upon us as the final four teams of Indiana, Oregon, Miami, and Ole Miss do battle to see which two finalists will play for the national title on Monday, Jan.
19. While each school prepares for its biggest game of the decade this week, each quarterback in the semifinal brings a special story and background to the dance. As the transfer portal continues on in the background, the quartet of signal callers all know the process well, having all transferred to where they are today in the quest for a championship. Before the games kick off, here is my ranking of the final four starting QBs left standing in the nation, from worst to best. More news: LSU, Lane Kiffin to Host Top-Rated Transfer Portal QB in Major Signing Push ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 31: Carson Beck #11 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 24-14 during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. More news: Ole Miss Poach 5-Star Player from Lane Kiffin, LSU in Transfer Portal Heist 4. Carson Beck It’s funny how this new era of college football works. If this were a little over a year ago, Beck would have been first in the ranking without any question. To be honest, in the middle of last year, most believed Beck would already be in the NFL at this point as a possible high-round draft pick. Instead, his Georgia tenure ended in injury, which pushed him to transfer to Miami, where he’s become the stalwart veteran of the offense but not its star or engine. While Beck can still have a game where he goes off and looks like the NFL starter he was once projected to be, he is the not the focal point of this Miami team or even its attack, with the Hurricanes rushing game and physicality its calling card. 3. Dante Moore From one QB who pundits and fans thought could be a top-three pick in 2025 to a player many believe will be a top-three pick in 2026 if he declares for the draft. Moore is an incredible player and a former five-star at UCLA who took time to develop into the star player he’s become in Eugene. He has an incredible ball thrower who might have the best deep pass in the country. Why is he not higher? As a player and prospect, I think Moore might be the best of the four. His results against tough defenses this season, though, leave me worried. In his first game against Indiana, he had some good throws, but overall threw two picks and lost the game. Last week against Texas Tech in the quarterfinals, he was decent but threw an interception and relied on his team to be the catalyst for the win. PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3 in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Pasadena, California. 2. Trinidad Chambliss Who would have thought the kid from Ferris State would be on the cusp of a national title a year later? Chambliss has only gotten better throughout the year, and he had one of the best games by any QB in the Sugar Bowl against SEC rival Georgia. He’s deceptively larger than a lot of people give him credit for, incredible out of the pocket, and can hit moon shots down the field when called upon. If this were an NFL Draft discourse, I would take Moore, but it’s not. In the CFP, Chambliss has shown he’s a quarterback who can take over a game and will his team to victory. 1. Fernando Mendoza The boring top answer, but yes, I’m going with the Heisman trophy winner and projected No. 1 overall pick in 2026’s NFL Draft. As someone who became a fan of Mendoza during his time with the California Golden Bears, he is the type of cool, calm, and unbothered QB that continues that school’s great lineage of 21st century players under center, such as Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff. Like Goff at Cal, there’s a calm when he has time in the pocket and can surgically pull apart a defense. Unlike Goff, however, Mendoza has the mobility to make action happen with his legs if the pocket gets a bit too chaotic. Mendoza is the type of player who can almost bore you with his mechanical rhythm of marching down the field. Then, right when you least expect it, he’ll throw a deep back shoulder throw that wows you and proves why he’s the best QB in the country.
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