Top Quarterbacks Shine in Early 2026 College Football Season

The 2026 college football season has just started, yet several quarterbacks are already emerging as potential NFL prospects. Among them, USC's Jayden Maiava has caught the attention of analysts.

Maiava, a redshirt junior, has thrown for 635 yards and five touchdowns without any interceptions in the first two games, achieving a passer rating of 218.2. His performance follows a strong previous season where he led the Big Ten with 3,711 passing yards. Meanwhile, Miami's Darian Mensah has also impressed, recording 653 passing yards and eight touchdowns with a passer rating of 271.7.

Mensah, who has played for three different schools in three years, has shown remarkable efficiency, completing 91.1% of his passes so far this season. Both quarterbacks are being closely watched as they continue their campaigns, with Maiava set to face a significant challenge against Oregon soon.