The transfer portal has swung the balance of power in college football. What players frequently changing teams has done is provide an instant opportunity for rebuilding their program.
When looking at the college football QB power rankings, you can see that while there are many transfers at the top of the list, there are still some programs that develop from within.
Here’s a look at the top six quarterbacks entering the 2023 season:
6. Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
Hartman is coming to the Fighting Irish from Wake Forest. Hartman passed for 3,071 yards, 12 interceptions. This was a big pickup for Notre Dame.
Hartman is the ACC’s career leader in touchdown passes and set a number of school records at Wake Forest. The Fighting Irish will hope that Hartman’s experience will help get Notre Dame off to a quick start in 2023.
5. Jordan Travis, Florida State
Travis, a redshirt senior, transferred to Florida State in 2019 and helped the Seminoles turn things around last season and possibly saved coach Mike Norvell’s job. Travis threw for 3,124 passing yards last season and 24 touchdowns last season. Travis only threw five interceptions.
During the 2022 season, Travis established himself as one of the top players in the college football QB power rankings. Florida State had a 10-3 record last season and finished second in the Atlanta Division.
4. Bo Nix, Oregon
Nix, a fifth-year senior, was one player that many people making college football picks would have picked against in the past. At Auburn, Nix struggled to find a home in the SEC. Nix threw for 3,593 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.
When it came to team success, Nix helped put Oregon back on the right track. After getting demolished by Oregon in the season opener, the Ducks recovered to finish 10-3 overall, including a 7-2 record in conference. If Nix is able to perform at the same level, Oregon should again be in the mix for a conference championship.
3. Drake Maye, North Carolina
When it comes to college football odds, Maye showed he could be successful as a freshman for the Tar Heels. Maye passed for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns last season. He also ran for 698 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
The Tar Heels are in a good position to be successful this season as the ACC doesn’t have many high-powered teams in the mix this year. Should Maye build off his strong freshman year in the right way, it should allow him to take another leap forward.
2. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
The Pac-12, despite not producing a champion in the CFP era, has had plenty of dynamic quarterbacks who guide wide-open offenses. Penix, a fifth-year senior, came to the Huskies from Indiana. What anyone looking at the college football QB power rankings will see is he changed Washington’s fortunes.
The Huskies were one of the college football teams that showed the most improvement last season. Washington finished last season 11-2 and won the Alamo.
1. Caleb Williams, USC
The Oklahoma transfer found plenty of success after following coach Lincoln Riley to Southern California. What eludes both Riley and Williams is success in the College Football Playoffs. Williams was able to earn the Heisman Trophy last season thanks to his college football player stats.
Williams passed for 4,537 yards with 42 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also piled up 382 rushing yards and scored 10 times. What Williams, who guided USC to the Pac-12 title game, will need to prove is that he can win in the postseason. The Trojans got upset by Utah in the Pac-12 title game and lost to Tulane in the Sugar Bowl.
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