The term “Big Three” usually refers to basketball, and people immediately think of the Miami Heat (even though the Celtics formed a Big Three before the Heat did). In football, it refers to a team’s quarterback, running back, and wide receiver combination. The Steelers of the 70s had Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and John Stallworth. The Cowboys of the 90’s had Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin.
Who would be the dynamic trios in the NCAA, though? With more than 100 teams to choose from, here are the Top 10 college football quarterback, running back, and wide receiver combos for 2026.
10. Notre Dame
Just like USC, Notre Dame features an experienced and highly-touted quarterback, and inexperience at the other positions. CJ Carr was a redshirt freshman last season, and completed 66.6% of his passes for 2,741 yards (228.4 yards per game) and had 24 touchdowns to just six interceptions. His Heisman odds are +600, so even if the fans in South Bend don’t have faith in him, Las Vegas does.
Running back Aneyas Williams has big shoes to fill this year. He only carried the ball 24 times last season, spending most of his time watching Jeremiyah Love carry the workload. On the plus side, Williams did average 9.3 yards per carry and 20 yards per reception. He is a pure home-run hitter. Jordan Faison is the team’s top returning receiver, hauling in 49 catches for 640 yards and four touchdowns last season.
9. LSU
As per usual, Lane Kiffin’s squad is chock-full of transfers. Of the Big Three, only running back Caden Durham was on the Tigers’ roster last year, recording 505 yards on 111 carries and scoring three touchdowns. Quarterback Sam Leavitt transferred in from Arizona State, but only played seven games last season. He also only completed 60.7% of his passes, so despite his arm talent, there are questions about his performance.
LSU will feature three transfer wide receivers. Kiffin brought Winston Watkins with him from Ole Miss, but Watkins only caught 26 balls last season. Jayce Brown (41 receptions for 712 yards) comes over from Kansas State, and the team’s headliner is Hawaii transfer Jackson Harris (49 receptions for 963 yards and 12 touchdowns).
8. Texas A&M
Marcel Reed is the first dual-threat quarterback on the list (but he won’t be the last). He completed 62.1% of his passes last season for 243.8 yards per game and 25 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. He also ran the ball 104 times for 493 yards and seven touchdowns. He will carry the Aggies with his arm and legs, with a little help from returning players.
Running back Rueben Owens had 119 carries for 639 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and five touchdowns last season. He also averaged 10 yards per reception (13 receptions for 130 yards). The team’s top receiver, Mario Craver, returns after hauling in 59 receptions for 917 yards, and he’ll be joined by Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton (42 receptions for 511 yards and eight touchdowns).
7. Auburn
The Tigers brought in the most intriguing transfer for the 2026 season by signing South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown. He was elite in the pocket last season, completing 66.3% of his passes for 263.2 yards per game and a 4:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also had 1,008 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on 175 carries. He’s at +3500 for Heisman, which might actually be a great bet.
Jeremiah Cobb returns at running back after a 2025 season with 969 yards on 175 carries. He will be joined in the backfield by Baylor transfer Bryson Washington (154 carries for 788 yards). Keshaun Singleton returns as the team’s top receiver. Last season, he had 50 receptions for 877 yards and eight touchdowns.
6. Texas
Arch Manning may be the most hyped quarterback since Tim Tebow, and while a lot of that may have to do with his last name, there is a boatload of talent to go with it. He was considered a Heisman favorite last season, but had a disappointing 61.8 completion percentage. He did have 26 touchdowns to just seven interceptions, but he needs to make better decisions. His supporting cast should help in 2026.
Cam Coleman comes over from Auburn after a sophomore season with 56 receptions and 708 yards. He will team up with Ryan Wingo (54 receptions for 834 yards and seven touchdowns) to form one of the deadliest receiver duos in the country. The Longhorns will also feature a running back tandem of Hollywood Smothers (160 carries for 939 yards and six touchdowns for NC State last year) and Raleek Brown (186 carries for 1,141 yards for Arizona State). More weapons mean no excuses for Manning.
5. Indiana
The defending champions are following the Lane Kiffin approach to their Big 3, replacing them with transfers. Only receiver Charlie Becker returns, after a season where he caught 34 passes for 679 yards (20 yards per catch). Their top WR will be Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh. The 6’3 wideout runs a 4.3 forty and caught 59 passes last year for 662 yards and six touchdowns. Both receivers will be trying to get open for Josh Hoover.
The TCU transfer completed 65.9% of his passes last season for 289.3 yards per game and 29 touchdowns. He is by far the most experienced signal-caller on the list, coming into 2026 with more career passing yards than any other active quarterback. He will be handing the ball to Boston College transfer Turbo Richard, who had 749 yards last year on 145 carries, and also caught 30 passes for 213 yards.
4. Oregon
Last year’s runners-up have college football’s best quarterback and the deepest group of receivers. Dante Moore could have been the number two pick in the NFL Draft this summer, but chose to return and chase a title rather than play for the New York Jets. He completed 71.8% of his passes last season and had 30 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. Returning in the backfield with him is running back Jordon Davidson (113 carries for 667 yards and 15 touchdowns).
The Ducks may have lost Kenyon Saddiq, but they have four outstanding receivers, headlined by Iverson Hooks. The UAB transfer had 72 receptions for 927 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Evan Stewart (48 receptions for 613 yards, Jeremiah McClellan (38 receptions for 557 yards), and Dakorien Moore (34 receptions for 497 yards) round out the receiver room.
3. Oklahoma State
This is actually North Texas at number three, because when new head coach Eric Morris left the Mean Green for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, he brought his Big Three with him. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker is a long shot for the Heisman (+5000) despite leading the country in passing yards (4,379) last year. He completed 68.9% of his passes and had 34 touchdowns to nine interceptions.
Running back Caleb Hawkins had 1,434 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2025. Her also caught 32 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns. Wyatt Young is the team’s top receiver, hauling in 70 receptions for 1,264 yards and 10 touchdowns last year for North Texas.
2. Ohio State
The Buckeyes’ offense is all about Jeremiah Smith. He went from 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024 to 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025. He did see an uptick in receptions (87 to 76), but all of that could be based on teams double- and even triple-teaming the receiver. He’s sure to be a top three pick in the 2027 draft, but his team’s success this year will be based on how he handles the extra attention.
Thankfully, Smith will have the nation’s most accurate passer getting him the ball. Julian Sayin completed 77% of his passes last season and had 32 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. Despite his success, he remains a polarizing figure among scouts and analysts. Joining him in the backfield will be Bo Jackson, who had 1,090 yards on 1790 carries as a true freshman in 2025.
1. Miami
The best Big Three belongs to the Miami Hurricanes, thanks to the transfer of Duke quarterback Darrian Mensah. The breakup with the Blue Devils was contentious, but at the end of the day, Miami gets a player who completed 66.8% of his passes last year for 3,973 yards (283.8 per game) and had 34 touchdowns to just six interceptions. As hard as it may be to believe, he is an upgrade over Carson Beck from last season.
Running back Mark Fletcher returns after posting 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns on 216 carries last season. Receiving passes from Mensah will be his Duke teammate Cooper Barkate (72 receptions for 1,106 yards) but more importantly, Malachi Toney (109 receptions for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns). The Hurricanes are poised again for a deep playoff run.
Top 10 College Football Big Threes
USC just missed the list (Jayden Maiava, Waymand Jordan, King Miller, and Twerrell Anderson), and Ole Miss could have made it if their top receiver hadn’t followed his coach from last year to LSU. Penn State and Mississippi State are also on the outside looking in, and SMU had only two pieces of a Big Three.
