One thing in the world that is permanent is change. Nothing remains in stasis, including college football (CFB) with certain roster rollover due to extinguished eligibility, exacerbated by wide open, largely unregulated free agency, poaching going unpunished, and players being paid over the table.
Quarterback is the most important position in any team sport. Which preseason top teams have returning starters, new starters with some experience, and new starters with little or no experience? A team does not need a superstar QB to win a title, but it does require a leader who can execute a game plan, while not turning the ball over. Mr. FishDuck took a break from his research into using a reliable VPN for Mac in order to give his quarterback opinions on those returning in 2025.
The Sporting News 2025 Preseason Top 25 is a composite of its poll and eleven other of the most recognized preseason polls including CBS, ESPN, On3, and USA Today.
These are the top 12 teams in the Sporting News poll: 1. Texas; 2. Ohio State; 3. Penn State; 4. Georgia; 5. Notre Dame; 6. OREGON; 7. Clemson; 8. LSU; 9. Alabama; 10. Tennessee; 11. Miami; and 12. ASU. (ASU is ranked 13th and South Carolina 12th but the B12 will have at least one team in the playoff and ASU is the B12’s top-ranked team.)
Except for ASU, all of these teams enter 2025 with a Blue Chip Roster, a roster with at least 50% four and five star recruits. Sixteen teams entered 2024 with Blue Chip Rosters. None of these 16 teams used transfers to qualify as Blue Chip. Plugging holes in a Blue Chip Roster as Ohio State did in 2024, certainly helps the cause, but no team to date has been able to assemble a Blue Chip Roster using only players from the transfer portal.
Blue Chip Rosters Matter
Since the inception of the BCS in 1998, every CFB Champion has had a Blue Chip Roster. Using this benchmark, all of the above top 11 have a chance to win it all in 2025-26. ASU does not have a Blue Chip chance, but it was ASU that took Texas into overtime last season and was ‘This-Close’ to playing Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl semifinal.
Cade Klubnick leads a loaded Tiger roster in 2025. (Screenshot from ACC Digital Network Video)
On3 ranked the 2025 Top-25 Top Impact QBs. These Top 12 QBs made the list: 1. Sam Leavitt, ASU; 2. Drew Allar, Penn State; 4. Archie Manning, Texas; 6. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU; 7. Carson Beck, Miami; 8. Cade Klubnick, Clemson; 10. Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee; and 25. Julian Sayin, Ohio State.
Like all preseason polls, the preseason rankings of QBs are all over the place. You can find polls with Penn State’s Allar, LSU’s Nussmeier, Clemson’s Klubnick, and even Archie Manning whose biggest highlights at Texas have come against UTSA and Mississippi State on top.
Returning, Experienced, Quality Starters
(Note, returning production as determined by ESPN+ Bill Connelly, is a decent indicator of success, but of less importance with the transfer portal. And, along with terrific players, less than terrific players also return.)
7. Clemson – Cade Klubnick – Senior
Klubnick returns as the starter at Clemson for the third year, playing for OG Garrett Riley for the third year. Klubnick showed significant improvement in 2024, leading Clemson to the ACC title and the playoff. He posted 11 games with multiple TD passes and 200+ passing yards and threw for 316 yards and three TDs in Clemson’s playoff loss to Texas in Austin.
In 2025, Clemson is No. 1 of 134 P4 and G5 teams in returning production and No.1 in returning production on offense.
Sam Leavitt kept the ‘Devils hot. (Screenshot from Blake’s Take Video)
12. ASU – Sam Leavitt – Redshirt Sophomore
When Kenny Dillingham brought in Sam Leavitt from Michigan State to the Arizona State, he made a devil of a good choice. Leavitt was a breakout star for ASU, and the B12 Freshman of the Year with 2885 passing yards, 443 yards rushing and 29 TDs.
He and star running back Cam Skattebo, off to the NFL, almost took down favored Texas in the Peach Bowl, with Leavitt playing a terrific game without his top receiver, Jordyn Tyson, 75 receptions, 1001 yards, 10 TDs, who returns in 2025.
ASU is 2nd in returning production and 1st in offense returning production. With the 13th out of 16th easiest schedule in the B12 in 2025, ASU is in good shape to return to the playoff, where it would be a tough out Blue Chip or not.
8. LSU – Garrett Nussmeier – Redshirt Senior
LSU lost four games in 2024 but none of the losses were on veteran QB Nussmeier. Likely a third round pick if he had opted for the 2025 NFL Draft, Nussmeier returns to LSU having been one of five QBs in 2024 to throw for over 4000 yards. His 337 passing yards average had him finishing 3rd in the nation. He gives on the hot seat coach Brian Kelly a chance to make the playoff field in 2025.
36th in Returning Production, 41st in returning production on offense and with the No. 1 portal class to date, Tigers fans have a lot to hope for.
Get Your Popcorn Ready: August 30, 2025, LSU Tigers at Clemson Tigers, Nuss vs. Klubs.
Penn State has some tough returning running backs to help Allar, as Teitum Tuioti can attest to. (Photo by Eric Becker)
3. Penn State – Drew Allar – Senior
Drew Allar led Penn State to a historic number of wins, 13, in 2025, playoff wins over SMU and Boise State, and a gut-wrenching Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame. Allar threw a terrible late interception leading to Notre Dame’s winning walk-off field goal.
Under new OC Andy Kotelnicki, Allar improved his accuracy finishing with a 71.6% completion rate. However, Allar did not play well against PSU nemesis Ohio State, and in the Orange Bowl, where he went 12 for 23, 135 yards and no TDs. But the Buckeyes and the Irish had terrific defenses in 2024.
Against Oregon in the B1G Championship game, Allar was adequate, 20 of 39, 226 yards, 3 TDs, but as in the Orange Bowl, he threw a critical late game interception, this time to Oregon’s Nikko Reed, to seal the win for the Ducks.
PSU is 35th in returning production. 53rd on offense where Tight End Tyler Warren is a big loss. But 13 draft eligible players return for PSU including two top running backs and four starters on the O-line.
11. Miami – Carson Beck – Redshirt Senior
Miami broke the bank convincing Beck to play one more season of college ball. With Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey gone, injuries to his O-line, and a defense that did not resemble Kirby Smart’s top Ds in Athens, Beck did not play up to preseason expectations, including leading the SEC with 12 interceptions.
Nevertheless, Beck helped lead Georgia to another SEC championship and if his right elbow is all good after surgery (and he can find a lift to the practice field
) he could put up impressive numbers for the Canes. We’ll see early on if he is ready. Miami opens versus Notre Dame and has a visit from Florida and its stud QB, DG Lagway, in Week 4.
Returning Production, 75. Returning offense production, 82.
Nico Iamaleava has a ton of upside. (Screenshot from DJ Bruce Ca$h Video)
10. Tennessee – Nico Iamaleava – Redshirt Sophomore
Nico was adequate in 2024, but objective Vols fans will tell you he did not live up to expectations. Leading Tennessee to the playoffs was a significant achievement, but he did this against one of the easiest schedules in the SEC. In 2024 Tennessee will again have a chance to finish 10-2 and make the playoffs, but IMHO the Vols will not contend for the SEC title.
Returning Production, 55. Returning production on offense, 87.
Conclusions: With Nussmeier, and the No. 1 portal class, Kelly best get his Tigers in the playoff field. On paper, Clemson is stacked. Will Dabo return Clemson to the top? I’d love to see Dilly and Sam back in the B12 driver’s seat. Agree? Share your thoughts in the only free, civilized, Oregon Football Message Board, the Our Beloved Ducks forum.
Come On August 30!
Jon Joseph
Aiken, South Carolina
Top Photo by Eric Becker
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Jon Joseph grew up in Boston, Massachusetts but has been blessed to have lived long enough in the west to have exorcised all east coast bias. He played football in college and has passionately followed the game for seven decades. A retired corporate attorney Jon has lectured across the country and published numerous articles on banking and gaming law. Now a resident of Aiken South Carolina, Jon follows college football across the nation with a focus on the Conference of Champions and the Ducks.