There have been some outstanding performances by Group of Five quarterbacks this season.
This is a list of some of the quarterbacks having big seasons. It’s not a rating of their NFL potential, nor is it a list of all the quarterbacks having outstanding years, just some that have really stood out:
James Madison QB Alonza Barnett III
Season statistics: Barnett has completed 61.4% of his passes for 1,786 yards, 16 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has rushed for 396 yards and 10 touchdowns. More impressively, James Madison is 8-1, with the lone loss a 28-14 defeat at Louisville. The Dukes are ranked No. 24 in this week’s Associated Press poll.
Signature 2025 performance: During a 63-27 home win over Old Dominion, he completed 17 of 25 passes for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Barnett also rushed for 153 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries.
Notable: Barnett patiently waited for his turn after attempting a total of 12 passes over his first two seasons at JMU before enjoying a breakout year in 2024.
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USF QB Byrum Brown
Season statistics: Brown has completed 64.6% of his passes for 2,203 yards, 19 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He leads the Bulls in rushing with 705 yards and nine touchdowns.
Signature 2025 performance: During his last game in a 53-23 win over UTSA, Brown completed 14 of 15 passes for 239 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
Notable: Brown is among the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, including Power Four teams. He is enjoying a bounce-back season after being limited to just five games a year ago due to injury. With a 7-2 record, he has USF competing for a berth in the American Conference Championship.
UConn QB Joe Fagnano
Season statistics: In 344 passing attempts, Fagnano has yet to throw an interception. Fagnano is completing 68.9% of his passes for 2,845 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has run for 141 yards and two scores and is third among FBS quarterbacks in touchdown passes.
Signature 2025 performance: During a 38-23 win at Boston College, he completed 23 of 31 passes (74.2%) for 362 yards, and he also rushed six times for 25 yards and a score.
Notable: Fagnano began his career at Maine, spending three years there and is now in his third year at UConn. He is 10th nationally in passing efficiency (162.41) and recently led UConn to a 37-34 win over Duke, where he threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 51 yards on six carries.
Navy QB Blake Horvath
Season statistics: Despite missing last week’s game against Notre Dame with an upper body injury, Horvath leads all FBS quarterbacks in rushing with 926 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has completed 63.5% of his passes for 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Signature 2025 performance: In a 34-31 home win over Air Force, he completed 20 of 26 passes for 339 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Horvath also rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. His 469 yards of total offense set a single-game school record.
Notable: Horvath’s 13 rushing touchdowns are tied for the third most in FBS regardless of position.
Old Dominion QB Colton Joseph
Season statistics: Joseph has completed 61.7% of his passes for 2,231 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He has rushed for 620 yards and nine touchdowns.
Signature 2025 performance: In a 47-7 win over Coastal Carolina, he completed 17 of 30 passes for 305 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
Notable: Joseph has the highest passer efficiency (162.65) of any G5 quarterback. He ranks 10th nationally in that category.
North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker
Season statistics: Mestemaker has completed 69% of his passes for 2,702 yards, 21 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has only rushed for 51 yards but has four touchdowns.
Signature 2025 performance: In a 54-20 win at Charlotte, Mestemaker completed 37 of 49 passes for 608 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.
Notable: His first career start came in last year’s 30-28 loss to Texas State in the First Responder Bowl. Mestemaker threw for 393 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Air Force QB Liam Szarka
Season statistics: Like Horvath, Szarka is more known for his running. He has rushed for 903 yards and 13 touchdowns. Szarka has completed 62.4% of his passes for 1,260 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Signature 2025 performance: In a 44-35 home loss to Hawaii, he completed 10 of 12 passes for 278 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Szarka also rushed for 139 yards on 17 carries.
Notable: Szarka is 12th nationally in rushing with 903 yards and is second among quarterbacks, trailing only Horvath. He also leads the Mountain West in rushing, averaging 100.33 yards per game.
San Jose State QB Walker Eget
Season statistics: Eget has completed 59.9% of his passes for 2,941 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Signature 2025 performance: During a 30-29 loss at Stanford, he completed 36 of 58 passes for 473 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Notable: Eget is the Mountain West leader in passing yards per game with 326.78.
