Top 12 QB setups entering 2024 season: These college teams are doing the most to support their signal-callers

A quarterback’s success is almost always proxy to the weapons he has around them. From offensive line to running back to wide receiver, these college programs have done the best job surrounding their signal-caller with a supporting cast built for success in 2024.

One thing that was clear while building the rankings was that for as much grief as the transfer portal gets, it’s a quarterback’s best friend. Not only does it allow for freedom of movement that makes for a much easier path to playing time, but it allows for quick acquisition of talent and you’ll see below it’s distributed rather evenly across the country.

12. SMU Mustangs

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Preston Stone threw for nearly 3,200 yards and 28 TDs in 12 games.  USATSI

QB: Preston Stone

Top playmakers: Jake BaileyRJ MarylandJaylan Knighton

Top blockers: Justin OsborneLogan Parr

SMU averaged the eighth-most points in FBS last season behind stud quarterback Preston Stone, who returns for his fourth season. Should he suffer an injury, as he did last year towards the end of the season, the Mustangs also have Kevin Jennings at quarterback. All Jennings did was help SMU finish off a conference championship with a win at Tulane.

The running back room has three studs returning with Jaylan Knighton, LJ Johnson, and Camar Wheaton. The top six pass-catchers return with Jake Bailey leading the way and then there’s big-time tight end R.J. Maryland, who will contend for all-conference honors.

11. UCF Knights

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KJ Jefferson gets a fresh start at UCF after his promising Arkansas career soured in 2023.  UCF Athletics

QB: KJ Jefferson

Top playmakers: RJ HarveyPeny BooneKobe Hudson

Top blockers: Marcellus Marshall

The Knights have experienced quarterback KJ Jefferson, who gets a fresh start from Arkansas and will enjoy driving defenses crazy in Gus Malzahn’s veer system alongside stud running backs RJ Harvey and Peny Boone. Wide receiver Kobe Hudson had 900 yards last year for UCF and Xavier Townsend could have a strong year. On the offensive line there’s second team All-Big 12 selection Marcellus Marshall at guard.

10. Oklahoma Sooners

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Oklahoma let Dillon Gabriel walk to turn the offense over to five-star sophomore Jackson Arnold. 

QB: Jackson Arnold

Top playmakers: Deion BurksNic AndersonGavin Sawchuk

Top blockers: Branson Hickman

The Sooners easily have one of the top receiver rooms with newcomer Deion Burks from Purdue and returning pass catchers Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony, and Jamil Farooq to name a few. There’s also speed merchant Brenan Thompson, who could have a breakout season. At running back there’s Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes, but don’t forget about incoming blue-chipper Taylor Tatum. On the offensive line, Oklahoma has some holes to fill (all five spots, actually) but picked up what could be one of the best centers in the country with Branson Hickman in the portal.

9. Missouri Tigers

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Brady Cook has blossomed into one of college football’s best, most consistent quarterbacks. 

QB: Brady Cook

Top playmakers: Luther Burden IIITheo Wease Jr.Mookie CooperBrett Norfleet

Top blockers: Connor TollisonCayden Green

Missouri signal-caller Brady Cook had a breakout season in 2023 with 29 total touchdowns and a rousing, 11-win season. The Tigers should once again be a strong presence with megastar Luther Burden, one of the top receivers in the country, and Theo Wease. Mookie Cooper also returns (returning pass-catchers is in fact the theme of Mizzou’s offense).

There’s also stud tight end Brett Norfleet, a massive 6-foot-7 talent who continues the program’s strong tradition of tight end talent. Missouri’s offensive line has three out of five starters returning with center Connor Tollison leading the way. Incoming transfers Marcus Bryant (from SMU) and Cayden Green (from Oklahoma) were excellent transfer pickups on the offensive line.

8. Georgia Bulldogs

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Carson Beck may be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — but first he’ll go for a national championship. 

QB: Carson Beck

Top playmakers: Dominic LovettOscar Delp, Benjamin Yurosek

Top blockers: Tate Ratledge, Earnest Greene

A lot of media outlets have crowned Beck as the top returning quarterback in college football and he’s definitely got some help around him with one of nation’s top retuning offensive lines. Tate Ratledge is one of the best pass-blocking interior lineman in the country and Georgia also brings back both starting offensive tackles in Earnest Greene and Xavier Truss. The Bulldogs have one the best tight end room in the country even with Brock Bowers departing, thanks to stud transfer Ben Yurosek and the promising Oscar Delp. At receiver Dominic Lovett returns, also with prized transfers Colbie Young and London Humphreys.

7. NC State Wolfpack

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Can Grayson McCall spin his magic in Raleigh?  Pack Pride/247Sports

QB: Grayson McCall

Top playmakers: Kevin ConcepcionNoah RogersJustin JolyJordan Waters

Top blockers: Anthony Belton

NC State pulled sixth-year signal-caller Grayson McCall out of the portal from Coastal Carolina but also put some big time talent on the offensive side of the ball to insure success. McCall has productive sophomore Kevin Concepcion to throw to as well as Ohio State transfer Noah Rogers and highly touted transfer tight end Justin Joly. At running back there is Jordan Waters from Duke and Dylan “Hollywood” Smothers from Oklahoma. Safe to say that NC State has a very underrated crop of playmakers at the skill positions.

6. Texas Longhorns

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Quinn Ewers must get comfortable with a new supporting cast, but boy are they talented (and fast). 

QB: Quinn Ewers

Top playmakers: Isaiah BondCJ BaxterJaydon Blue

Top blockers: Kelvin Banks, Jake Majors

The Texas Longhorns return four starters on the offensive line with junior Kelvin Banks the future high NFL draft choice. Cameron Williams could be an emerging star on the offensive line at right tackle (he’s the only new starter). Guard Hayden Conner and center Jake Majors are good players. So you know Ewers will be protected. On the perimeter, Texas lost five players with significant production but scored some outstanding talent in the transfer portal with speedster Isaiah Bond, Silas Bolden and Matthew Golden, along with tight end Amari Niblack. The one-two duo of CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue is one of the best duos in the game.

5. Ole Miss Rebels

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Jaxson Dart, Tre Harris & Co. figure to light up scoreboards in 2024. 

QB: Jaxson Dart

Top playmakers: Tre HarrisCaden Prieskorn, Juice Wells

Top blockers: Nate KalepoJulius Buelow

Ole Miss and Jaxson Dart arguably have the best receiving corps in the country for 2024. Tre Harris at receiver and Caden Prieskorn at tight end will have tons of production but don’t forget about Juice Wells who is coming back from injury. At running back it’s a very deep room with Ulysses Bentley IV taking over for the departed Quinshon Judkins, helped by Henry Parrish from Miami as well as Rashad Amos from Miami (Ohio). Lane Kiffin has a sterling reputation with quarterbacks and offensive play-calling and should get a mention here.

4. Miami Hurricanes

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Cam Ward should be Miami’s first draft pick at quarterback since Ken Dorsey in 2003!  Christopher Stock, 247Sports

QB: Cameron Ward

Top playmakers: Xavier RestrepoDamien MartinezJacolby George

Top blockers: Francis MauigoaJalen Rivers

The Hurricanes spent big bucks in the transfer portal to surround Cam Ward with elite playmakers and offensive line protection. It all starts with Damien Martinez at running back. He transferred in from Oregon State and was a huge pickup. Behind him, Mark Fletcher is an emerging star at the position. The wide receiver room is very solid with Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George returning but there’s also stud transfer Sam Brown from Houston coming in via the transfer portal. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa is on a three-and-out trajectory to the NFL.

3. LSU Tigers

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Garrett Nussmeier should not be much of a statistical passing dropoff from Jayden Daniels.  USATSI

QB: Garrett Nussmeier

Top playmakers: Kyren LacyMason TaylorCJ Daniels

Top blockers: Will Campbell, Emery Jones, Garrett Dellinger

Most people expect a little bit of a decline in production with Heisman trophy winner Jayden Daniels departing at LSU, but the Tigers still have a strong signal caller in four-year quarterback Garrett Nussmeier taking over after learning with a clipboard for a couple years. LSU has the nation’s most outstanding tackle duo in Will Campbell and Emery Jones up front, plus the return of both guards, including Dellinger. At receiver the Tigers lose two first-rounders but Kyren Lacy is primed for a breakout campaign and there’s transfers CJ Daniels and Zavion Thomas.

2. Oregon Ducks

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Dillon Gabriel is part of Dan Lanning’s continued efforts to infuse the Oregon program with talent. 

QB: Dillon Gabriel

Top playmakers: Tez JohnsonEvan StewartTerrance Ferguson

Top blockers: Ajani CorneliusJosh Conerly Jr.

The Oregon Ducks and Dan Lanning have infused the team with talent from the high school ranks and of course from the transfer portal. Oregon had the second-ranked transfer class in the country in 2024, headlined on offense by the decorated Dillon Gabriel and former five-star wideout Evan Stewart. Tez Johnson, Traeshon Holden and Gary Bryant Jr. are also great options at wide receiver, to go along with Terrance Ferguson at tight end. Offensive tackles Ajani Cornelius and Josh Conerly Jr. are two stud returning protectors on the offensive line.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

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Will Howard is separating in the fall QB battle from Devin Brown, left, and Julian Sayin. 

QB: Will HowardJulian Sayin or Devin Brown (but it will be Howard — trust us)

Top playmakers: Emeka EgbukaQuinshon JudkinsTreVeyon HendersonJeremiah Smith

Top blockers: Donovan Jackson

The Buckeyes have a wide receiver room that could arguably be the best in the country (and there’s a lot of good receiver rooms in college football) with several receivers on their two and three-deep rotation that could start anywhere else in college football. All eyes will be on true freshman five-star receiver Jeremiah Smith, but they also boast one of the nation’s top returning receivers in Emeka Egbuka. At running back it’s an embarrassment of riches as Quinshon Judkins moved to Columbus from Ole Miss and returning 1,200 yard rusher TreVeyon Henderson. Four out of five offensive lineman return, led by stud left guard Donovan Jackson — though it’s acknowledged by all that the unit needs to improve anyway.

And don’t forget offensive coordinator Chip Kelly comes over from UCLA after serving as head coach.

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