Turf Show Times
The Los Angeles Rams are one of three teams with two first round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. With Matthew Stafford managing injuries and getting older, it is widely presumed that the Rams will target Stafford’s successor in next year’s draft. The 2026 quarterback class is being labeled as a very good one, making it that much more important to pay attention to these players throughout the season.
Week 1 of the college football season got underway over the weekend with Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik and others all starting their 2025-26 campaigns. While some of the performances were lackluster, it’s a strong reminder that Week 1 is just one game in a long season and overall process. Many of these players are 20 or 21 years old. They are not finished products and will improve with experience. You don’t come to conclusions in September and the Rams will have their choices.
Every week throughout the college football season, I will be watching some of the top quarterback prospects for 2026 and rating their performances. My ratings will also take into account the opponent that the quarterback faced.
This past weekend, I watched Ohio State-Texas, Penn State-Nevada, LSU-Clemson, South Carolina-Virginia Tech, and Notre Dame-Miami very closely and took notes. Below is an accumulation of what I saw. Let’s go quarterback by quarterback and break down how each performed.
Nussmeier didn’t start well, but he grew into it and got more comfortable as the game progressed. Nussmeier looked very poised in the pocket and displayed good touch and accuracy against a good Clemson defense. One of his better throws came just outside the red zone on the move. The LSU quarterback threw an accurate ball across his body to find an open receiver. He had another ball along the sideline that was perfectly placed in the bucket for his wide receiver to haul in. Nussmeier’s pocket movement and ability to keep his eyes downfield really stood out against a Clemson defensive line that was finding success.
To put it simply, Nussmeier was clinical. He finished 28-for-38 for 230 yards and a touchdown. Most importantly, he didn’t make a mistake to cost his team in what was a defensive battle. Out of the quarterbacks who played over the weekend, Nussmeier was one that looked the most “pro ready”.
Player Performance Rating: 8/10
Right behind him, Carson Beck also showed why he belongs in the early-round conversation. Beck may not have the same upside as some of the other quarterback prospects for 2026. With that said, his experience was evident against Notre Dame on Sunday Night. The Fighting Irish have one of the better defenses in the country and Beck never got flustered. Beck showed that he is someone that could come in and start right away if needed.
Beck stood tall in the pocket and was calm, cool, and collected the entire night. Instead of receivers that dropped passes last...
