Things are getting hot in college football. It has been only a month since the 2024 season has dropped its curtains. But the discussion of who is going to claim the spotlight in 2025 has peaked. Right now it’s all about the quarterbacks. Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns is widely considered the frontrunner for 2025, but five other underdog QBs are looking to steal his thunder. Surprising right? 

After all, the latest member of the Manning legacy is believed to be the Heisman favorite. Well, at least the Texas QB got his name mentioned. Sadly, the LSU Tigers QB Garrett Nussmeier goes completely unnoticed. 

Arch Manning gets bitten by harsh reality 

Now the Manning hype is real. After all, the 2025 season is going to be extra special for the Longhorns QB as the first-year Texas full-time starter. With Quinn Ewers getting sidelined with injury, Manning saw extensive playing time. He then came up tossing 806 yards and eight touchdowns. Steve Sarkisian’s QB also has the rushing upside that Heisman voters often covet from the quarterback position. While fear of filling in big shoes must be plaguing Manning’s heart, the analyst came up with more reality checks.

Now it’s not just Manning; 5 QBs looking for breakout seasons are giving him a run for his money!

Josh Pate, on his podcast, named five quarterbacks who might derail the Texas Longhorns star. The analyst starts with, “Arch Manning of course qualifies. I saw the Heisman odds it’s insane how high he is, but yes, he’ll be his own conversation this year.” But here come the other players, who got up on the hype train. Surprisingly, all of them come off as underdogs.

To start with, it’s Oregon Ducks’ QB Dante Moore. Prior to transferring to Oregon in 2023, Moore spent his freshman season at UCLA, where he was an on-and-off starter for the Bruins. He is the first Bruin QB of any class to make his first career start on the road (at San Diego State) and lead the team to victory since 2012 (Brett Hundley). And Pate thinks Moore’s time in Eugene, learning and developing behind Dillon Gabriel, will pay off big time this 2025. He believes Moore will be grateful for the experience down the road, saying, “They’ll probably be a time down the road when Dante Moore hears his name called in the NFL draft….and he’ll be thanking the good lord that he was put in a position where he actually had to sit for a year.”

The next up in line is Washington Huskies QB Demond Williams Jr. During his first season, Williams showed a lot for Jedd Fisch to be excited about. He carries a strong resume of having completed over 78 percent of his passes for 944 yards, 8 touchdowns, and an interception.

Pate then names Ole Miss Rebels’ QB Austin Simmons as Manning’s threat. “He’s a much bigger kid about 6’4,” 215. He was tossed into the Georgia game, led a scoring drive…Lane Kiffin won’t fail. With a talent like that, unless there’s injury he won’t fail,” reminded Pate. Simmons got some playing time last year, appearing in nine games as the Rebels’ backup quarterback and completing 59.4% of his passes. Kiffin is clearly hoping he can step up and fill the shoes of Jaxson Dart. Now who was next on the analyst’s radar?

It’s none other than the Ohio State Buckeyes QB Julian Sayin. “When you watch and throw it’s really unique. It’s got like one of the fastest releases you’ll ever see. There is zip on the ba-l. And it’s not like physically he is the most imposing presence that you’ll ever see but when you watch him play, his game will standout pretty quick,” complemented Pate, who’s seen Sayin’s skills firsthand at the Elite 11 level. Sayin transferred to Ohio State this season and, despite having just one touchdown under his belt so far, his confidence is growing quickly.

Last but not least, comes Baylor Bears QB Sawyer Robertson. Yes, the same man who found Monaray Baldwin for an incredible 30-yard touchdown. And, by the way, in his first season as a college starter, Robertson threw for over 3,000 yards.

But the list looks like it’s missing out on someone, right?  

4,000 yards and still not on the radar?

Well, yes, it’s none other than Brian Kelly’s QB Garrett Nussmeier. While Pate believes that Arch Manning would face a serious threat from the underdogs, he did not take Nuss’ name. The Tigers QB has picked up the hype ever since he returned to Baton Rouge by not committing to the NFL Draft. Although he will not impress scouts with his height and weight distribution, the player is known to move well enough to escape trouble while looking downfield. 

However, not to forget how the past season went for Nussmeier. He threw over 4000 and 29 tuddies, 12 picks, and had a whole lotta turnover. In that way, the Tigers had to pay heavy prices. On that note, an insider on the Locked on SEC podcast did not mince his words while commenting about Nussmeier’s chances in the Heisman race. 

He commented, “We’ll move to the underrated conversation is Garrett Nussmeier of LSU—not because I think he’s bad, but I just think he’s being discussed as if he’s a Heisman candidate and the best quarterback in the SEC. I just don’t think that he is.” On top of that, Brian Kelly’s program can’t be counted on when it comes to consistency. With so many up-and-coming players emerging, will the hyped-up QBs like Manning and Nussmeier lose their glow, and will 2025 crown some unexpected kings of college football?