Transfer Quarterbacks Power Four Teams Into Top 25

Transfer Quarterbacks Power Four Teams Into Top 25

Four quarterbacks who changed schools in recent years are now driving some of the most talked-about offenses in college football. Miami's Darian Mensah, LSU's Sam Leavitt, Oregon's Dylan Raiola and Cincinnati's JC French IV have each used the transfer portal to find new footing - and in several cases, new ceilings - four weeks into the season.

Mensah left Tulane for Duke before landing at Miami this spring, taking over for Carson Beck, who had exhausted his eligibility. Through four games, Mensah has thrown 14 touchdown passes against 12 incompletions and zero interceptions, pairing with wide receiver Malachi Toney to anchor an offense that lacked a pocket passer capable of extending plays a year ago. He has now started 31 career games, a number that places him alongside recent national-title-winning quarterbacks such as Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Ohio State's Will Howard and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. Miami, 4-0, has yet to face a ranked opponent and won't until a November meeting with Notre Dame, though a road win at Wake Forest has gained weight as the season progresses. The Hurricanes play at Clemson this week. weather dushanbe

Leavitt, now at his third school in four years after stints at Michigan State and Arizona State, led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff appearance last season before a season-ending foot injury pushed him to LSU. His start under coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and head coach Lane Kiffin has been uneven - three interceptions in a Week 2 win over Louisiana Tech, then a loss to Ole Miss in which he finished 16-of-27 for 158 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His clearest performance of the season came in a more recent outing in which he stayed in rhythm with receiver Winston Watkins Jr., throwing with anticipation rather than relying on his scrambling ability. LSU next faces McNeese State.

Raiola transferred from Nebraska to Oregon expecting to serve as a backup to Dante Moore in 2026, but was thrust into a starting role after Moore sustained a head injury against USC. Raiola threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns in that Week 4 win in the Coliseum. Coach Dan Lanning said Moore is "doing much better" and in "recovery mode," though the Ducks are proceeding cautiously with his return. Oregon has a bye before hosting an undefeated, Top 25-ranked UCLA team. Elsewhere, Mississippi State sophomore Kamario Taylor leads all SEC quarterbacks with 14 touchdown passes through four games and has guided the Bulldogs to their first AP Top 25 appearance since the end of the 2022 season, including road wins over Minnesota and South Carolina and an upset of Missouri. Mississippi State hosts No. 7 Alabama this week, pitting Taylor against fellow 2025 recruiting-class quarterback Keelon Russell.

French, who transferred to Cincinnati from Georgia Southern, has filled the void left by Brendan Sorsby's departure, completing close to 75% of his passes without an interception this season as the Bearcats remain unbeaten. Cincinnati travels to Arizona this week to face Noah Fifita, the Wildcats' four-year starter, who leads the Big 12 in completion percentage and ranks among the conference's top passers in touchdowns and yards.