College football QB competition heats up at Alabama, Georgia, others

Ewers pulled away from the five-star true freshman during spring drills and arrived at Big 12 media days with a leaner physique and some heavy Heisman Trophy hype, though without the "Roadhouse"-style mullet he rocked last season.

Other competitions have continued, including at some of the top programs in the Bowl Subdivision. They don't get much better than No. 3 Alabama, which has to replace Bryce Young, but you already know Nick Saban's response when asked who will get the starting nod: I'm not going to, so quit asking.

But the Crimson Tide are not alone among national championship contenders. With season openers inching around the corner, here's where things stand with college football's biggest quarterback competitions:

No. 1 Georgia

Contenders: Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff. 

Beck moved a step ahead of Vandagriff leaving the spring and seems close to nailing down the task of replacing Stetson Bennett, with coach Kirby Smart suggesting earlier this month he might announce the new starter after the second scrimmage of fall camp. The fourth-year junior put up nice numbers in the backup role, hitting on 26 of 35 attempts for 310 yards and four touchdowns last season, and that track record of production, while slight, gave him an early lead in this competition. A redshirt sophomore, Vandagriff made two attempts last season.

Pick: Beck. This has leaned toward Beck since the winter, and he's seemingly done nothing so far to give his primary challenger a chance to climb the hypothetical depth chart.

No. 3 Alabama

Contenders: Tyler Buchner, Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson.

A summertime addition to the quarterback room, Buchner is reunited with former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. But while his familiarity with Rees' general scheme and previous starting experience are clear advantages, Buchner hasn't been able to make a clear dent in the competition that currently leans just slightly toward Milroe, who played extensively in place of Young early last season. All three contenders could easily start the opener, but don't be surprised if Saban uses the Middle Tennessee game as a final audition before taking on Texas one week later in a key non-conference matchup.

Pick: Simpson. Milroe has to prove to the coaching staff that he can cut down on his giveaways. Buchner knows the system and can move. Simpson, a redshirt freshman, might give Alabama the best pocket presence while allowing Milroe or Buchner to provide a boost in certain packages.

No. 4 Ohio State

Contenders: Devin Brown, Kyle McCord.

There's no "sizable gap" between the pair vying to replace C.J. Stroud, coach Ryan Day said this week. That makes it very likely this battle continues deep into August and perhaps even into the opener at Indiana. McCord was seen as the offseason favorite after throwing for 606 yards across the past two years, but Brown hasn't backed down in a contest for one of the plum spots in the country: OSU quarterbacks have averaged 41.2 touchdowns per season since Day was named offensive coordinator in 2017.

Pick: McCord. Give Brown credit for making this into a very real competition. But McCord is the safe bet to eventually rise to the starting role and become the latest OSU passer to put up crooked totals.

No. 22 Mississippi

Contenders: Jaxson Dart, Walker Howard, Spencer Sanders.

Lane Kiffin brought in Sanders from Oklahoma State and Howard from LSU to push Dart, who threw 20 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in an up-and-down 2022 season. This seems to have worked: Dart left the spring in the driver's seat and should eventually hold off Sanders, a multiple-year starter with the Cowboys. That would leave Howard in a developmental role, a good spot for the former five-star prospect.

Pick: Dart. There will be some role for Sanders. But Dart's experience and solid supporting cast should yield a stronger second season as the starter.

No. 25 Texas A&M

Contenders: Max Johnson, Conner Weigman.

Johnson is pretty much a proven commodity in the SEC after throwing 27 touchdowns as LSU's starter in 2021 and another three last year before suffering a season-ending hand injury. His steadiness might speak to new A&M coordinator Bobby Petrino, especially given the Aggies' wealth of talent at the skill positions. But while he might represent more of a gamble at this point in his career, Weigman has a drastically higher ceiling. He threw eight touchdowns without an interception as a freshman and led A&M to wins against Massachusetts and LSU to end the regular season.

Pick: Weigman. A&M has two solid options. Weigman's upside should be enough to sell Petrino and Jimbo Fisher.

UCLA

Contenders: Ethan Garbers, Donte Moore, Collin Schlee.

Garbers made 88 attempts with four touchdowns and four interceptions as the backup to departed five-year starter Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Chip Kelly added Schlee from Kent State and five-star recruit Moore this winter. Moore is Kelly's highest-rated signee as a college coach, including his wildly successful run at Oregon. The freshman's rise up the pecking order is only a matter of time; he's too good to keep on the sideline in this era of quick-trigger transfers, leaving Kelly to try and thread the needle between what's best for UCLA today and tomorrow.

Pick: Garbers. If we're picking for the season opener, at least, Garbers' experience and knowledge of the system gives him the edge. But look for Moore to get his feet wet in non-conference games against Coastal Carolina, San Diego State and North Carolina Central before league play begins in earnest against Utah on Sept. 23.

Auburn

Contenders: Robby Ashford, Payton Thorne.

New coach Hugh Freeze added Thorne this summer and now has two very different skill sets at his disposal. A two-year starter at Michigan State, Thorne has experience, hit-and-miss production and more of a pure pocket presence. Ashford is a wonderful athlete who ran for 710 yards in 2022 but hit on just 49.2% of his 250 attempts. Freeze never used a two-quarterback system during stints at Mississippi (2012-16) and Liberty (2019-22), though his final team with the Flames did go through three starters due to injuries and ineffectiveness. Will he find a way to use both Thorne and Ashford in 2023?

Pick: Thorne. He's a solid option after throwing for 46 touchdowns the past two seasons with the Spartans. There still has to be a role for Ashford, who is too explosive and dynamic to keep on the sidelines.

Freeze announced Thursday afternoon that Thorne would start the season opener against UMass.