Projecting all 13 MAC starting QBs for 2026

Quarterback. It's the position which garners the most attention, and rightfully so. The importance of a chief signal caller cannot be understated to the success of a college football program. The position comes with massive responsibility, both from an on-field tactical perspective and from a leadership standpoint. Oftentimes quarterbacks get too much credit or too much blame, but that's simply life under center.

Thirteen different Mid-American Conference quarterbacks will start Week 1. It's only May, so more than three months separate the present day from the time those starters will be set in stone. But after the conclusion of spring football, we can speculate the starting quarterbacks for all 13 MAC programs.

Here is a rundown of each MAC team's QB situation post-spring, highlighting the likely starter, potential competitors, and the remaining faces to know in the room.

Akron Zips

• Projected starter: Reese Poffenbarger (Gr.)
• Other potential starters: N/A
• Backups: Brayden Roggow (R-So.), Semaj Beals (Fr.), Cibastian Broughton (R-Fr.), Johnny Brookhart (R-Jr.)

Akron is slated to launch 2026 with the well-traveled Reese Poffenbarger at quarterback. The Zips are his fifth destination, as he went from Old Dominion (2021) to FCS Albany (2022-23) to Miami (FL) (2024) to North Texas (2025). Albany represented his only starting gig along the way and it proved successful with multiple all-conference nods. Poffenbarger's status as a backup after his stellar Albany stint is understandable, considering he shared a QB room with the FBS passing touchdowns leader Cam Ward in 2024 and the FBS passing yards leader Drew Mestemaker in 2025. Now it's time to unleash that valuable experience gained behind those star gunslingers in the Rubber City.

Brayden Roggow is the Zips' likely No. 2 quarterback after throwing 17 passes for 91 yards last year. The rest of the QB room is rather inexperienced, but having a sixth-year senior in Poffenbarger compensates for the group's lack of in-game action.

Ball State Cardinals

• Projected starter: Tyler Mizzell (R-Jr.)
• Other potential starters: Keldric Luster (R-Jr.)
• Backups: Bodie Derrer (R-So.), Khalel Wright (R-Fr.), Mason Atkins (Fr.)

Ball State was one of seven FBS teams to average under 140 passing yards per game last year, and the Cardinals respond with a refreshed quarterback room for year two of Mike Uremovich's tenure. All signs point to a competitive QB battle through fall camp, with transfers Tyler Mizzell and Keldric Luster as the candidates. Mizzell began his college career at Wake Forest and took a brief pit stop at Division II Concord University in 2025, firing for nearly 2,900 yards and serving as the team's second-leading rusher at 377.

Luster is on his third FBS program after stints at SMU and Texas State, where he compiled 12 passing attempts and 16 rushing attempts — almost exclusively in fourth quarters of lopsided games. Mizzell and Luster are the premier options fighting for the starting gig on a team in dire need of an offensive spark.

Bowling Green Falcons

• Projected starter: Austin Novosad (Jr.)
• Other potential starters: Hunter Najm (So.)
• Backups: Jay Kastantin (Jr.), Jarin Mock (Fr.)

Whether it's Matt McDonald, Connor Bazelak, or Drew Pyne, Bowling Green has built a brand on luring transfer quarterbacks in recent years. This year's top candidate for QB1 is Austin Novosad, a former consensus 4-star recruit who spent three years at Oregon. Novosad backed up Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, and Dante Moore but still saw action to the tune of 15 passes — including seven in a 2023 Fiesta Bowl victory over Liberty. Bowling Green offers a golden opportunity for the Dripping Springs, TX native to finally showcase his talents after years of sitting behind star passers.

Bowling Green also retains Hunter Najm, who started three games for the Falcons in 2025, including the dominant season finale thrashing of UMass. Jay Kastantin also joins the room after starting for Assumption University at the Division II level.

Buffalo Bulls

• Projected starter: Jason Wright (R-Fr.)
• Other potential starters: Elijah Holmes (R-Jr.)
• Backups: Mason Cumbie (R-Jr.)

Buffalo enters 2025 without a heap of experience at the all-important position. The Bulls no longer roster Ta'Quan Roberson and Gunnar Gray, meaning 100 percent of passing production from 2025 is lost. Jason Wright accrued some experience last year, but only as a runner. He was employed in ground-oriented packages and posted 43 rushing yards on 15 attempts — still awaiting his first passing attempt.

The Bulls have no FBS starting experience at QB, but they enjoy have the luxury of collegiate experience. Elijah Holmes arrives after a stint as the starter for Wingate University. The former Division II quarterback surpassed 3,000 passing yards and delivered 24 touchdowns in 2025. The spring quarterback room is rounded out by Mason Cumbie, who enters his fourth season with the program.

Central Michigan Chippewas

• Projected starter: Angel Flores (Sr.) / Jadyn Glasser (R-Fr.)
• Other potential starters: Marcus Beamon (Sr.)
• Backups: Daniel Gomez (R-Fr.), Geno Seets (Fr.)

Central Michigan offers one of the more experienced quarterback rooms in the MAC, but there isn't a clear No. 1. The Chippewas embodied the multi-QB system throughout the entirety of 2025, using three quarterbacks in the opener and continuing a three-man rotation through the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Northwestern. From a passing perspective, Jadyn Glasser is likely the top option. Glasser started three games in 2024 and made two appearances last fall before suffering a season-ending knee injury. From a mobility perspective (and Central Michigan loves to run), Angel Flores should see the bulk of reps. Flores started three contests in 2025 and produced 527 rushing yards and eight touchdowns as the Chippewas' second-leading rusher.

Expect Glasser and Flores to split time at quarterback in Matt Drinkall's offense, but there may also be a third member that emerges. Marcus Beamon saw ample action in four games last year and totaled 88 rushing yards and 35 passing yards. Geno Seets, a true freshman who originally signed as a wide receiver, made waves in spring camps and could already be in the mix for a contributing spot as well.

Central Michigan may never name a primary starter, but Drinkall's multi-QB experiment was an overall success, as the Chippewas submitted their first winning season under that system.

Eastern Michigan Eagles

• Projected starter: Noah Kim (Gr.)
• Other potential starters: N/A
• Backups: Brogan McCaughey (Sr.), Bryce Button (So.), Jace Stuckey (Jr.), Nick Kinsey (Fr.)

There is a significant experience gap between incumbent starter Noah Kim and the rest of the Eastern Michigan roster. Kim started all 12 games for the Eagles last year and ranked first in the MAC with 2,817 passing yards. The former Michigan State and Coastal Carolina quarterback averaged 33.5 attempts per game in an Eastern Michigan offense with a propensity to sling it, tallying 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Kim is equipped with 17 total collegiate starts. No other quarterback in Ypsilanti has one, although Brogan McCaughey accrued experience as a backup at Yale in the FCS. Bryce Button — Eastern Michigan's reigning Scout Player of the Year — and Jace Stuckey are other reserves returning to the room in 2026.

Kent State Golden Flashes

• Projected starter: Dru DeShields (R-Jr.)
• Other potential starters: N/A
• Backups: Nolan Good (R-Fr.), Deante Ruffin (R-Fr.), Ethan Thanthanavong (So.)

For the first time since 2021, Kent State enters a season retaining its primary starting quarterback. Dru DeShields — finally healthy after overcoming his third ACL tear of his football life — worked miracles on the Golden Flashes last year, and his presence was a massive reason the program elevated from 0-12 to 5-7. DeShields aims to take Kent State to the postseason this year after his vertical passing game produced 2,030 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025, with only three interceptions. His 14.9 yards per completion led the entire MAC and ranked third in the FBS.

Nolan Good and Deante Ruffin are returning backups who saw the field in 2025. Good threw 10 passes and Ruffin threw three, earning valuable playing time in the Golden Flashes' non-conference blowout losses. Kent State also added an NAIA quarterback in Ethan Thanthanavong, so nobody in the room is unfamiliar with firing a collegiate pass.

Miami RedHawks

• Projected starter: Thomas Gotkowski (R-So.)
• Other potential starters: Caleb Heavner (Sr.)
• Backups: David McComb (R-Fr.)

Miami started a sixth-year senior in Brett Gabbert in 2024 and a seventh-year senior in Dequan Finn in 2025. There is no eighth-year senior on the roster, but the quarterback room still contains big-game experience. Thomas Gotkowski started the 2025 MAC Championship Game for Miami, and it was just the quarterback's second career start. While Gotkowski shined on the Midweek MACtion stage in stellar November outings vs. Buffalo and Ball State, the MAC title game vs. Western Michigan and Arizona Bowl vs. Fresno State did not unfold in favorable fashion for the young quarterback. But experience is a great teacher, and Gotkowski now has that after a season with 575 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception on a 44.1 completion rate.

Trinidad Chambliss made the seamless transition from Division II starter to FBS star at Ole Miss, and now another school located in Oxford is testing the D2 pipeline. Caleb Heavner starred as a dual-threat quarterback the last two seasons at Fort Hays, throwing for 3,398 yards and rushing for 1,094 as a potential competitor to Gotkowski. The other quarterback in the room this spring is David McComb, a Kansas transfer awaiting his first collegiate snap.

Ohio Bobcats

• Projected starter: Nick Poulos (Gr.)
• Other potential starters: Matt Vezza (Jr.)
• Backups: Levi Davis (Fr.), Matthew Papas (R-So.), Hype Grand (R-Fr.)

Ohio enjoyed a fruitful 9-year stretch of Nathan Rourke, Kurtis Rourke, and Parker Navarro as its starting quarterbacks, but it's time for a new chapter to commence the John Hauser era. Nick Poulos is the favorite to take the reins after spending two years as Navarro's backup. Poulos started a September contest vs. Kentucky during the Bobcats' 2024 title season, although it resulted in a 41-6 defeat. His experience consists of 57 passes for 290 yards in two years working under offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Scott Isphording. With 183 rushing yards on a 5.1 average, Poulos also offers a hint of mobility — a key feature of all Isphording QBs.

The Bobcats brought in an experienced quarterback in Matt Vezza to compete with Poulos. Vezza shined at the FCS level, throwing for 2,673 yards and 19 touchdowns as New Hampshire's 2025 starter — complemented with 605 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. True freshman Levi Davis is another intriguing name to watch in a room of emerging dual-threats.

Sacramento State Hornets

• Projected starter: Carson Conklin (Jr.)
• Other potential starters: N/A
• Backups: Jackson Sharman (Jr.), Jamar Malone (R-Fr.), Jaylen Patterson (R-Fr.)

Welcome to the MAC, Sacramento State!

The Hornets significantly shift the geographic center of the conference, and now they'll look to shift the standings with strong quarterback play. The projected starter is Carson Conklin who earned three starts for a 9-4 Fresno State team a year ago — highlighted by an upset over eventual Mountain West champion Boise State. Conklin is certainly familiar with Sacramento State, as he started for the Hornets prior to his 2025 season in Fresno. He was an FCS Freshman All-American with 2,876 passing yards and 28 touchdowns and looks to recapture that magic as he boomerangs back to the capital of California.

Idaho State transfer Jackson Sharman is the likely QB2 after a stint as a reserve in the FCS. The remainder of the quarterback room comprises of incumbent backup Jamar Malone and New Mexico State transfer Jaylen Patterson.

Toledo Rockets

• Projected starter: John Alan Richter (Jr.)
• Other potential starters: Khamoni Robinson (Jr.)
• Backups: Jake DeHaan (Jr.), Walter Moses (R-Fr.)

It's rare to see in this age of the transfer portal, but John Alan Richter is slated to elevate to a full-time starting role in his fifth year with the program. During his first four years at Toledo, Richter backed up Dequan Finn and Tucker Gleason, and he even fell behind Kalieb Osborne (who followed head coach Jason Candle to UConn) on the depth chart last year. But 2026 is finally the QB's turn. His first major action transpired in 2024, checking in for an injured Gleason against Buffalo and showcasing his deep ball to the tune of 227 yards and two touchdowns. He earned his lone collegiate start in a 13-6 victory over Northern Illinois a week later. Richter's all-time stats are impressive, throwing for 699 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception on 63-of-96 efficiency.

Khamoni Robinson presents another interesting option for Toledo's new-look offense under head coach Mike Jacobs. Robinson and Jacobs reunite after previously working together at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne in 2023. Robinson was Lenoir-Rhyne's starting quarterback last season, throwing for 2,391 yards and 20 touchdowns, and he adds a mobility element that Toledo's offense could employ in some packages.

UMass Minutemen

• Projected starter: Pop Watson III (R-Jr.)
• Other potential starters: RJ Johnson III (R-Jr.)
• Backups: Will Perry (R-So.), Aedan McCarthy (Fr.)

UMass hit rock bottom at 0-12 in 2025, and the Minutemen look to climb out of the FBS cellar with William "Pop" Watson III, a Virginia Tech transfer who logged two starts in 11 appearances from 2023-25. Watson is a Massachusetts native, building an impressive résumé at Springfield Central with two state titles and the state's Gatorade Player of the Year award as a senior. He has 558 passing yards and 81 rushing yards to his name in limited action, serving as the Hokies' QB1 for the Commonwealth Cup rivalry and Duke's Mayo Bowl in 2024.

The Minutemen also trot out RJ Johnson III. Johnson began his college career at Toledo but transferred to Florida A&M, where he started and posted 2,597 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and four interceptions as an FCS starter. UMass also retains Will Perry — the only rostered quarterback to see action in a Minutemen uniform, logging 11 passes in the 2024 finale vs. UConn.

Western Michigan Broncos

• Projected starter: Broc Lowry (R-Jr.)
• Other potential starters: N/A
• Backups: Trey Petty (R-So.), Mason Reynolds (R-So.), Vance Holtz (R-Fr.), Jaxson Dosh (Fr.)

There is no doubt who will hold the reins of the 2026 Western Michigan offense. The Broncos have the luxury of retaining the 2025 MAC Offensive Player of the Year in Broc Lowry. Lowry led Western Michigan to its first MAC championship in nine years behind his dual-threat abilities, rushing for 963 yards (sixth among FBS quarterbacks) and 14 touchdowns (tied for eighth among FBS quarterbacks), while throwing for 1,803 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. Expect Lowry QB powers and QB draws to be focal points of the Broncos' offense as they attempt to become the first repeat champion since 2012 Northern Illinois.

Western Michigan employed a two-QB system to start 2025, but that will not be the case in 2026. Nobody else on the roster has appeared in a collegiate game.