Who are the 25 most important QBs in the FCS as the 2025 season is underway?
We take a look at the most valuable position in sports. Keep in mind that this isn’t a ranking of the 25 best FCS quarterbacks. It’s a list of the most important.
Teams with legit FCS title aspirations will be the highest ranked, as their QB play is among the most important in the subdivision.
25 Most Important FCS Quarterbacks
This is not a ranking of the 25 best FCS QBs. It’s a ranking of who is the most important on a national level.
25. Pat McQuaide, Villanova
24. Hayden Johnson, Lehigh
23. Stone Earle, Abilene Christian
22. Cade McNamara/Jacolby Criswell, ETSU
21. Kekoa Visperas, Tennessee Tech
Visperas transferred to TN Tech after a couple of years starting for EWU. The Golden Eagles return a ton of experience after just missing the playoffs. Visperas could be the last ingredient for a breakthrough season. McNamara (Iowa/Michigan) and Criswell (North Carolina) are two fascinating transfers with P4 starting experience. ETSU has an experienced offense, and more consistent QB play can get the Bucs back to the playoffs. McNamara and Criswell are expected to split snaps. Earle is back and has been named ACU’s starting QB. He was the starter as a freshman in 2021 before spending the last few seasons in the FBS. ACU has a ton of offensive production to replace from last year’s playoff squad. Earle can ease that with standout play. Johnson led Lehigh to the playoffs last year as a freshman. With a bulk of its starting lineup back, Lehigh could make more noise this season. McQuaide transfers to Nova after a couple of years starting at Nicholls. He was up and down there. Nova should be strong defensively, is loaded at RB, and has a super-experienced offensive line. McQuaide will get an opportunity to lead the offense and get the Wildcats back in the playoffs.
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20. Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
19. Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State
18. Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona
17. Sam Vidlak, Stephen F. Austin
16. Jaden Craig, Harvard
Craig may be the top NFL prospect among FCS quarterbacks. He’ll be crucial for Harvard to win the Ivy League and potentially make an impressive FCS playoff debut. If JSU wants to repeat as Celebration Bowl champs, Morgan’s play will be counted on after an All-SWAC season. Pennington led NAU to the playoffs in his debut season. With a lot of experience back, he could help the Lumberjacks take another step forward. SFA is getting preseason Top 25 love after just missing out on the playoffs last year. Vidlak was terrific in his first season at SFA and could deliver an All-American season. Dickens takes the full reins of WCU’s explosive offense. He showed eye-opening flashes last year. The Catamounts are on the come-up, but they’re looking to get over the hurdle and into the postseason bracket.
15. DJ Smith, Mercer
14. Joshua Wood, Idaho
13. DJ Williams, Southern Illinois
12. Tommy Rittenhouse, Illinois State
11. Derek Robertson, Monmouth
Smith and Williams showed strong potential early last season before injuries either slowed them down (Smith) or ended their season (Williams). They’ll be key figures for teams with playoff aspirations. Illinois State has high expectations, returning a wealth of experience. Rittenhouse needs to take the next step after a solid season for ISU to compete better with top teams. Idaho is very high on Wood, a transfer from Fresno State. If he plays at a high level, the Vandals have the experience on the o-line and the strength/depth at RB to be a good offense. Robertson is coming off an All-American season, throwing for 3,937 yards, 31 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Ultimately, it’ll be up to Monmouth’s struggling defense to improve for the Hawks to make the playoffs, since the offense will do its thing. But Robertson’s play will also need to remain at a high level.
10. Devin Farrell, Rhode Island
The Rams finally broke through last fall, finishing 11-3 and reaching the playoffs (losing 17-10 at Mercer in the second round). Farrell played a big role in that success with an All-CAA campaign. The redshirt sophomore started nine of the first 10 games before a season-ending injury. If not for that injury, we could be talking about Rhody as a 2024 quarterfinal team. Farrell’s numbers were OK, going 124/214 passing (58%) for 1,670 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while rushing for 302 yards and five scores. But when he was on, the Rams were a scary outfit. If he elevates his play this fall, keep an eye on this team to be back in the discussion for a Top 8 seed. The offense will be relied on more as the defense has much more production to replace.
9. Keali’i Ah Yat, Montana
Montana’s quarterback situation was a mess last year. A two-QB system between redshirt freshman Ah Yat and FBS transfer Logan Fife resulted in inconsistencies, no offensive flow, and frustrations running high on the sidelines and in Montana’s fervent fan base. Ah Yat looks like the frontrunner to be Montana’s 2025 starter after Fife transferred to New Mexico State. But the Grizzlies brought in USC transfer Jake Jensen to push Ah Yat. Montana has solid experience on the o-line, is loaded at running back, and has some speedsters at wide receiver. The defense has a chance to be better despite a whole new starting unit. Add in a favorable home schedule, and expectations should be high for the Griz. But if QB play resembles last year, Montana will be an early playoff exit again after getting a taste of the national championship game in 2023.
8. Jaden Rashada/Cardell Williams, Sac State
There is an “OR” on Sac State’s depth chart with Rashada listed first. Rashada was a 4-star HS recruit and started three games at Arizona State as a freshman in 2023. He went to Georgia in 2024 and did not play. Williams is another FBS transfer from Tulsa, where he started four games in 2023. He was a backup in 2024. In Sac State’s Go-Go Offense with plenty of skilled talent on the roster, QB play will be key for the Hornets to live up to the preseason hype.
7. Victor Gabalis, Tarleton State
Tarleton’s experienced defense looked great in Week 0, shutting out Portland State for a 42-0 road win. The offense looked explosive as well despite losing its All-American WR and RB from last fall. Gabalis is now a 3-year starter and one of the better returning QBs in the FCS. He can light defenses up, but is also prone to interceptions. In 2023, he went 164/301 passing for 2,492 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Last fall, Gabalis finished 193/309 for 2,883 yards, 23 TDs, and 11 interceptions. As Tarleton rises quickly nationally, Gabalis is a big-time factor in whether the Texans are a legitimate FCS contender.
6. Caden Pinnick, UC Davis
Pinnick showed flashes of brilliance in his first career start last week. The redshirt freshman was a playmaker vs. Mercer. In the first half, he was 11/14 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 55 yards and a score (all stats that now don’t count after a long lightning delay eventually led to a no-contest). Pinnick cooled off in the second half after Mercer’s defense saw his strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies. He’ll have to continue to evolve his game as teams get more film on him. Davis looked strong for most of that game. And if Pinnick can deliver like he did in the first half, the Aggies will be right in the mix in December.
5. Richard Torres, UIW
After reaching the 2024 quarterfinals, retaining most of its top talent, and bringing in multiple FCS transfers with All-Conference accolades, UIW had huge preseason expectations. But its Week 0 performance at Nicholls was a dud, losing 20-6. It was the first time UIW didn’t score a touchdown in a game since September 2017. The o-line was struggling against pressure, and Torres’ inexperience showed with his lack of pocket awareness. He was sacked three times while going 23/35 passing for 175 yards, 0 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Torres had high expectations after playing well in a couple of starts in 2023. He’ll need to improve in a hurry for UIW to rise back up the rankings, or else redshirt freshman and UCF transfer EJ Colson may be the answer.
4. Aidan Bouman, South Dakota
Bouman returning for his sixth season of college ball is massive for USD, which is coming off its best FCS season with a trip to the semifinals. The 6-foot-5 lefty threw for 2,959 yards, 19 touchdowns, and four picks last year while finishing No. 5 in FCS passing efficiency and being PFF’s No. 3-graded FCS QB. The Coyotes were hit hard during the spring transfer portal window, losing multiple starting offensive linemen along with other key pieces. They feel they reloaded as well as they can through their development system while adding impact transfers. But if the Yotes want to be in title contention again, Bouman will need his best season yet.
3. Chase Mason, South Dakota State
The local hype has been huge for Mason. He’s an elite athlete at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds with breakaway speed. Despite an unorthodox throwing motion with a bit of a sidearm, Mason has an effortless rocket arm (he began his college career on the Nebraska baseball team). That hype has now gone national. Although he has two years of eligibility remaining, Chase has been named on the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List and was named Dane Brugler’s No. 20 senior QB for the 2026 NFL Draft on The Athletic. Mason has been used as a runner in past seasons, rushing 46 times for 464 yards and six TDs last year. His ceiling is super high, but his QB intangibles when live action hits are unknown until we see it. SDSU’s offensive and defensive lines should be among the best in the FCS, and the Jacks will be better at receiver and linebacker than some outsiders may think. If Mason lives up to his potential, the reload at SDSU may happen sooner than some anticipated. If he struggles with consistency and is erratic, this will be more of a rebuilding year.
2. Justin Lamson, Montana State
Lamson, a junior transfer from Stanford, has been named MSU’s starting QB. He played in 24 games with four starts at Stanford, throwing for 804 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions while rushing for 428 yards and 13 TDs from 2023-24. MSU has a strong nucleus returning from its FCS-runner-up team. The Cats will have a top FCS offensive and defensive line, a loaded group of running backs, and explosive pass-catchers. Lamson doesn’t have to be Tommy Mellott. But if he can be efficient throwing the ball, take care of it, and utilize his running abilities when needed, the Bobcats have a strong enough roster to be in the title hunt again.
1. Cole Payton, North Dakota State
From Steve Walker to Brock Jensen to Carson Wentz to Easton Stick to Trey Lance to Cam Miller, NDSU has had an elite lineage of D1 quarterbacks. The last four mentioned were all NFL Draft picks. Next up is Cole Payton, a fifth-year senior who has waited patiently for his turn. He was a coveted recruit, was the most popular FCS backup in 2022 and 2023, and has been used as a running threat for the last couple of seasons. Payton totaled 615 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns in 2023. The lefty is a freak athlete at 6-foot-3 and 233 pounds with breakaway speed. He hasn’t been able to show off his arm too much, especially in key moments. If Payton has a good season, NDSU is loaded for another natty. If he has an average year and is limited throwing the ball, like 2022 Miller or 2016 Stick, the Bison could fall short of their goals.
