With six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the most recent NFL draft, a new wave of outstanding quarterbacks is set to shine in the Bowl Subdivision this season.

Many of these players are already well-known, although some will don new uniforms in 2024. Notable among the top quarterbacks changing teams are Dillon Gabriel from Oregon (formerly of Oklahoma) and Cam Ward from Miami (previously at Washington State). Gabriel, now at his third school, is projected to be the top quarterback in the Big Ten and a strong contender for this year’s Heisman Trophy.

He will face stiff competition from Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck, and Shedeur Sanders, all of whom are featured on our preseason list of the best college football quarterbacks for 2024.

Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

Oregon, after successfully acquiring multi-year starter Bo Nix, is set to welcome another seasoned veteran in Gabriel. He impressed as a freshman at Central Florida, racking up 70 touchdowns over two-plus years, and continued to excel during his two seasons at Oklahoma. Last year, he recorded 30 touchdowns and only six interceptions as the Sooners finished the regular season at 10-2, with both losses being by just one possession. Gabriel is one of the key players who might help the Ducks achieve great success in their inaugural Big Ten season.

Quinn Ewers, Texas

Last autumn, Ewers emerged strongly after easily outperforming Arch Manning and Maalik Murphy in the Longhorns’ quarterback competition. After a mixed start in 2022, he threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns despite missing two games, showcasing his best performances in November and December as Texas secured its first playoff spot. With new wide receiver recruits, including standout Isaiah Bond from Alabama, Ewers is poised to further elevate his play in 2024.

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Sanders is expected to produce impressive stats against Big 12 defenses, similar to his previous season in the conference. Despite facing challenges with Colorado in league play and sitting out parts of two games due to a back injury, he managed to throw for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns with just three interceptions, completing 69.3% of his passes—an impressive statistic ranking him eighth in the FBS. Sanders’ postseason prospects will largely depend on whether the supporting cast, including the offensive line, is ready to assist him effectively. If all goes well, Colorado is expected to show noticeable improvement in Deion Sanders’ second year as head coach.

Carson Beck, Georgia

Following in the footsteps of two-time national champion Stetson Bennett, Beck ensured Georgia’s passing game maintained its effectiveness, even surpassing Bennett in yards per attempt (9.5 vs. 9.1) and yards per game (281.5 vs. 275.1). He finished fourth in the nation, completing 72.4% of his passes. His remarkable consistency is noteworthy, as he threw for at least 243 yards in every SEC game, maintained a completion rate above 65%, and only threw six interceptions across 417 attempts.

Jalen Milroe, Alabama

Milroe’s potential under the guidance of Kalen DeBoer, who has had success with quarterbacks in previous FBS head coaching roles at Fresno State and Washington, is exciting. He has already demonstrated his ability as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks after regaining the starting role late last September and leading Alabama to the playoffs with 531 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, in addition to being one of the strongest arms in college football. With the right support, Milroe could elevate his game significantly.

Cam Ward, Miami

Ward is set to boost his visibility on the national stage after spending the last couple of years relatively under the radar at Washington State. The former standout at Incarnate Word will have a critical opportunity to enhance his NFL draft prospects by filling a major position of need for Mario Cristobal at Miami. If he can guide the Hurricanes to nine wins or more and playoff consideration, his candidacy for the Heisman Trophy could gain significant traction.

Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

Defying any skeptics about his fit in Lane Kiffin’s offensive setup, Dart threw for 3,364 yards, ran for 389 yards, and accounted for 31 total touchdowns, pushing the Rebels toward playoff contention in 2023. His performance marked a significant improvement over 2022, a year when Dart and Ole Miss faced challenges against top-tier competition. Last season, he particularly excelled against LSU (389 yards, four touchdowns) and performed admirably in the bowl game against Penn State (379 yards, three touchdowns).

Noah Fifita, Arizona

After a remarkable freshman year, the crucial question for Fifita is whether he can keep improving under new coach Brent Brennan at Arizona. He appears to be on track for postseason honors after throwing for at least 214 yards in every one of his nine starts last season, which included a stunning 527-yard performance against Arizona State. Overall, he completed an impressive 72.4% of his passes, throwing for 25 touchdowns.

Kaidon Salter, Liberty

Similar to the overall performance of Liberty, Salter had an impressive regular season in 2023, though they faced a heavy defeat against Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. Anticipate a comparable situation this fall with another weak schedule that doesn’t include any teams from the Power Four. Salter amassed 2,876 passing yards and added 1,089 rushing yards — making him one of only three FBS quarterbacks to exceed 1,000 rushing yards — while achieving a total of 44 touchdowns in his debut season as the Flames’ starting quarterback.

Jalon Daniels, Kansas

As the key player in the Jayhawks’ dynamic offense, Daniels needs to remain healthy after only participating in three games last season due to injuries. In his standout 2022 season, he completed 74.7% of his passes, recording five touchdowns and just one interception during his limited action, which included two games against Power Four teams (Illinois and Brigham Young). He is seen as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman trophy if Kansas advances further and vies for the Big 12 championship.