EJ Manuel names Top 5 QBs under pressure for 2026 college football season

ESPN’s EJ Manuel names his top five college football QBs under the most pressure in 2026, as revealed on College Football Live. Thursday’s show was leading into Week 1 of the season and there’s no question these quarterbacks have a big billing to live up to. Each of these signal callers is on a team that could make the CFP, if not win the national championship this season. So right there, there’s pressure on the QB taking the field. $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage So without further ado, let’s dive into the five QBs that are under the most pressure this season, per Manuel. We begin at No. 5 and will work our way up the pressure cooker. 5. CJ Carr, Notre Dame Carr’s next step in development is going to be key as Notre Dame’ QB. With two first round running backs no longer on the roster, the offense is more on Carr’s shoulders. Now, that’s pressure! Add in the fact that Notre Dame went 10-2 last year, was left out of the CFP and is now a national title contender in 2026, that’s a recipe for expectations through the roof. Still, Carr projects to be one of the best, but he’ll under pressure to do so. 4. Dante Moore, Oregon Manuel went with Moore and its an interesting case to look at the Oregon QB. Moore opted to return to college and chase a national championship, and potentially a Heisman, with the Ducks. Rather than go to the NFL this past spring, where he could’ve been a top five pick, Moore wanted one more in the collegiate game. With the receiving talent around him, a solid defense and head coach Dan Lanning leading the way, it’s on Moore to deliver Oregon’s first national championship. 3. Arch Manning, Texas Funny enough, Manuel didn’t put Manning No. 1. Arch Manning might have the most pressure, due to the modern age of social media and NIL in college athletics, than his entire family. (We’re still waiting on what happens with Marshall Manning). Arch Manning had Heisman and national little expectations as a first year starting QB for Texas last year and it’s no different in 2026. The difference is, the dual threat signal caller has a year under his belt, improved down the stretch in 2025 and might have a better roster around him this fall to get it all done. 2. Sam Leavitt, LSU Leavitt might have more to prove than to be a QB under pressure. Maybe it’s both. He hit the transfer portal and left Arizona State where he became a star in 2024, leading the Sun Devils to the CFP. Injuries and struggles last year hurt his stock at ASU, but elected to leave and seemingly was Lane Kiffin’s top choice. With the work Kiffin’s done with quarterbacks in the past, the amount of changes he made to the Tigers’ roster, and LSU already have CFP and national title expectations within a couple of years, yeah, Leavitt is under pressure in 2026. 1. Josh Hoover, Indiana Now we get to Manuel’s top QB under pressure over in Bloomington, Indiana. Why you ask? Well for starters, Hoover replaces Heisman winner and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, who led Indiana to a 16-0 national championship season a year ago. Hoover was a gunslinger at TCU and will have to be reined in a bit under Curt Cignetti. Too many turnovers can cost you games, but Cignetti and the Hoosiers might have the roster to repeat as champions. So yes, a lot is going to be on Hoover’s plate this fall.