Making the CFB Playoff With an Inexperienced QB?

Recently, we looked at quarterbacks returning who had good starting experience, and what the prospects were for their teams in this article right here. It makes sense to look at the other national programs, and note who has some experience to lead their team or very little. Even Mr. FishDuck took a short break from his fun at PinUp-Casino to address the QB fortunes with me of many of the prominent teams we follow.

QBs with SOME Starting Experience

1. Texas – Archie Manning – Redshirt Sophomore

Young Archie has the pedigree. Dad Cooper was a very good QB in high school who was injured and unlike his Dad Archie, who starred at Ole Miss and the NFL, and his brothers, college and NFL stars Peyton and Eli, Cooper did not have the chance to play big-time college football.

Manning has all of the physical gifts, but will they be realized? First look, August 31, 2025 at Ohio State.

Returning Production: No. 102. Returning production on offense: No. 126. The new starters on O are talented, but there is a lot of talent to replace.

4. Georgia – Gunnar Stockton – Redshirt Junior

Stockton stepped in for the injured Carson Beck in the 2nd half of the SEC champ game against Texas, and closed the deal. He also played decently in the Sugar Bowl playoff loss to Notre Dame, 20 of 32 passing for 234 yards and one TD. With no quality experienced backup, the pressure is on Gunnar in 2025, where again, the Dawgs will play one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

Returning Production: No. 104th. Returning production on offense. No. 108.

5. Notre Dame – Open Competition.

Irish QB, Redshirt Junior Steve Angeli, does have some quality game experience. He was Dam-good in engineering the Sun Bowl destruction of Oregon State. Against Penn State in the Orange Bowl semifinal playoff game, Angeli went 6 for 7 when QB Riley Leonard was in concussion protocol, setting up an Irish TD.

Angeli is battling Redshirt Freshman, CJ Carr, grandson of Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, for the starting spot. A competition that is expected to last until the opening game at Miami.

Returning Production: No. 62. Returning production on offense: No. 88.

6. Oregon – Dante Moore – Redshirt Sophomore

Dante was the nation’s 2nd rated recruit in 2023. When Bo Nix portaled into Eugene, Dante signed with UCLA where the true freshman was thrown to the wolves by Chip Kelly. At UCLA, Dante was 114-213, 53,5% completions, 1610 yards, 11 TDs, and 9 interceptions.

In this day and age of instant gratification, Moore evidenced outstanding maturity by transferring to the Ducks and sitting out a year under the tutelage of OC Will Stein and Heisman finalist QB Dillon Gabriel.

I hope I am correct in viewing Moore as significantly underrated coming into 2025. There is no reason for On3 or any other rating service to have QBs with no starting experience ranked ahead of Dante.

Returning Production: No. 108. Returning production on offense: No. 109.

Quarterbacks with Little or No Experience

2. Ohio State – Julian Sayin – Redshirt Freshman

Sayin, a 5-Star transfer from Alabama has a lot of returning O production at Ohio State. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the best in the nation. Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss are quality wideouts. ESPN preseason All-American Tight End, Max Klare, transfers in from Purdue. CJ Donaldson Jr. from West Virginia comes in to replace Henderson and Judkins at running back. CJ rushed for over 2,000 yards and 30 TDs for the Mountaineers.

Returning Production: No. 97. Returning production on offense: No. 92. Returning Coordinator production: ZIP.

9. Alabama – Tyler Simpson – Redshirt Junior

Simpson came into Bama as a 5-Star recruit. He is the biggest “if” on a Tide roster loaded with Blue Chip talent.

Returning production: No. 30.

Conclusions: Dante Moore of Oregon is underrated. How did DeBoer end up with this situation at QB? Will Archie be all that? Julian is preseason ranked, and not Dante? Just Sayin.

Come On August 30!

Jon Joseph
Aiken, South Carolina
Top Photo by Eric Becker