Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia & Notre Dame Duos Previewed | College Football Special

A 77% completion rate doesn't happen by accident. Julian Sayin enters his second season as Ohio State's starting quarterback having led the nation in that category a year ago, and he's doing it alongside what many scouts consider the top NFL prospect in college football. Jeremiah Smith, the No. 1 ranked recruit in the 2024 high school class out of Florida's Chaminade-Madonna, has already established himself as a mismatch problem at the college level — and he's still just getting started.

Out west, Oregon enters the season with a quarterback room that turned heads this offseason. Dante Moore, who completed nearly 72% of his passes for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025, opted to return for another year rather than enter the NFL Draft. A top-five overall prospect in the 2023 class, Moore won two Michigan state championships at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit — crediting a soccer background for the footwork and quick feet that define his game. Joining him in Eugene is wide receiver Dakorien Moore (no relation), a former Duncanville, Texas standout who made an immediate impact as a freshman with nearly 500 receiving yards. His high school coaches describe him as a complete athlete — punter, cornerback, return specialist — not just a receiver.

At Georgia, Gunner Stockton returns under center after a high school career at Rabun County that produced state records in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns. His head coach describes a leader who has never missed a workout, practice, or meeting across five years in the program. Alongside him on the roster is safety K.J. Bolden, a versatile two-way standout from Buford, Georgia — roughly an hour from Athens — who projects as one of the nation's top defensive backs.

Notre Dame's quarterback situation comes with a storyline that stretches back decades. C.J. Carr is the grandson of longtime Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr and the son of former Wolverines quarterback Jason Carr — yet he chose to suit up for the Irish, a decision his family fully supported. With transfer portal additions including former Ohio State wide receiver Quincy Porter, Notre Dame enters the season with a retooled roster and legitimate expectations heading into a favorable schedule.