Ranking the Top 10 Backup Quarterbacks Who Are the Most Important for 2026's Stretch Run

College football’s 2026 season has been shaped by injuries, and Sports Illustrated’s rankings focus on backup quarterbacks most likely to matter during the final four weeks. The piece argues the depth of replacement options at the top makes backups crucial in both teams that already need them and those likely to soon. It notes that the Nos. 2, 4, 7 and 10 quarterbacks on SI’s preseason list have missed time, while other contenders have seen midseason benchings. Backups are ranked by how well they fill in for their teams and potentially keep them in the postseason picture. The article begins with No. 10 George MacIntyre (Tennessee) and No. 9 Byrd Ficklin (Utah), detailing their most recent games and how coaches have used them as options within specific offensive plans, including MacIntyre’s ball-security issues after taking over.