Grading college football's big-money QBs after their Week 1 debuts
247Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- High-end starting quarterbacks in college football are commanding multi-million dollar deals, driven by the transfer portal's ease of movement and competitive market.
- Miami's Darian Mensah, a Duke transfer reportedly earning over $6 million this season, delivered a strong Week 1 performance, validating his high price tag.
- Many top-paid quarterbacks are transfers adapting to new programs, while some highly-touted young players like Alabama's Keelon Russell and Tennessee's five-star freshman Faizon Brandon also made notable debuts.
- The investment in these quarterbacks remains risky, as not all programs have seen a return on their spending early in the 2026 season.
- Week 1 performances provide early insights into how these big-money quarterbacks are living up to expectations, with grading based on their initial games.
