5 College Football Quarterbacks Who Could Lose Their Starting Job Early in 2025

Thomas Castellanos arrived in Tallahassee with experience, flash, and a sizeable NIL package—but his leash may be shorter than expected. 

After transferring from Boston College, Castellanos has had a rollercoaster offseason that included public spats, former locker room friction, and bold claims directed at Alabama. 

While he boasts 20 career starts, over 3,600 passing yards, and 48 total touchdowns, he’ll need to prove it fast in Mike Norvell’s system. 

Waiting in the wings is redshirt sophomore Brock Glenn, who held his own last season in five starts—including three against Top 15 opponents. 

Glenn has earned the staff’s trust, stayed loyal through the portal cycle, and could push for the job if Castellanos stumbles early.

Ty Simpson – Alabama

Ty Simpson is projected to start Alabama’s opener, but he enters 2025 with pressure from all angles. 

New OC Ryan Grubb has publicly backed Simpson over former Washington transfer Austin Mack and five-star freshman Keelon Russell—for now. 

Mack, who Grubb calls “probably the best pure thrower” in the room, has already shown flashes. Russell, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 class, is an elite talent with sky-high upside. 

Simpson, who’s waited patiently behind Jalen Milroe, has limited game reps (381 passing yards, no passing TDs), but a slow start could leave the door wide open for a midseason switch.

Gio Lopez – North Carolina

Lopez made noise at South Alabama in 2024 with over 3,000 total yards and 25 touchdowns, and now becomes the likely QB1 under Bill Belichick in Chapel Hill. But he’s not alone. 

Max Johnson, a veteran with SEC pedigree from LSU and Texas A&M, had an impressive spring before suffering a season-ending leg injury last year. Johnson has over 5,800 career passing yards and 47 touchdowns and will be pushing for the job.

Lopez might be the long-term plan, but Johnson’s experience and urgency—this is his final year of eligibility—make this one of the ACC’s most fascinating position battles.

Conner Weigman – Houston

Weigman was a major offseason pickup for the Cougars, bringing SEC experience and former five-star pedigree from Texas A&M. 

At first glance, he seems like a lock to start, but Zeon Chriss, who started seven games last year, could complicate things. 

Chriss battled injury all season but still showed flashes with 824 passing yards, 35 missed tackles forced and four rushing touchdowns to go alongside four scores through the air and eight interceptions. 

Weigman has a higher ceiling and cleaner resume (2,694 yards, 19 TDs, 7 INTs), but if Houston’s offense struggles early, Chriss could earn another shot—especially if he’s fully healthy.

Jackson Arnold – Auburn

Arnold’s arrival on the Plains came with big expectations after his time at Oklahoma, but nothing is guaranteed. 

A former five-star recruit, Arnold appeared in 10 games for the Sooners and is the favorite to start for Hugh Freeze. Behind him, though, is a loaded room in five-star freshman Deuce Knight and Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels. 

Knight flipped from Notre Dame and brings dual-threat tools Auburn fans are buzzing about. 

Daniels, with 20 career starts and over 1,100 rushing yards, adds another layer of pressure. 

Arnold will need to assert himself early or risk falling behind in a wide-open race. 

2025 Outlook?

With elite backups in the wings and head coaches looking for early answers, don’t be surprised if one—or more—of these starters finds themselves in a QB controversy before the calendar turns to October.