Here are the options that Missouri football could explore at quarterback in the transfer portal.
Here we go again.
Missouri football is almost certainly going to turn to the transfer portal for a quarterback. A team spokesperson confirmed to the Columbia Daily Tribune on Thursday that starting quarterback Beau Pribula intends to transfer this offseason. The college football transfer portal officially opens Jan. 2.
Now, Mizzou doesn’t necessarily need a starter. Talented true freshman Matt Zollers is going to start for the Tigers against Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 27 in Jacksonville, Florida, for his third start with the program.
Missouri may well stick with Zollers moving forward.
But, at the very least, depth is an issue in Columbia heading into 2026. Zollers and incoming true freshman Gavin Sidwar are the only scholarship quarterbacks currently expected to be on the roster next season.
Mizzou definitely needs depth. It might want a starter.
Here are nine players who are currently expected to enter the transfer portal, with three players we think could come in and be instant starters, three would likely be competition and three who likely would be depth behind Zollers:
Instant QB1 options for Missouri football
The following players are the current high-profile options expected to enter the portal. The expectation would be that they could arrive and immediately start.
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
The general consensus appears to be that Sorsby, if not NFL-bound, is making his way to Lubbock, Texas, to join the big-spending Texas Tech Red Raiders. That shouldn’t dissuade teams looking for a starter, like Mizzou. The Denton, Texas, native threw for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and five picks this season and also rushed for 580 yards and nine scores.
Drew Mestemaker, North Texas
Everyone and their dog expects Mestemaker to follow his head coach, Eric Morris, from North Texas to Oklahoma State when the portal opens. But … it’s not quite so cut and dry, according to a report from Matt Zenitz at 247Sports. If there’s a window to try and land Mestemaker, there’s an FBS-leading 4,129 passing yards and 31 touchdowns worth of a reason to enter the bidding war.
Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
This is an expensive option. The demand will be extremely high for the former five-star prospect. But, he’s in the portal and has a high ceiling, so he’s certainly worth considering. He threw for 2,000 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions this season.
Options for a quarterback competition
Always compete, as the coaches say. Interest will be high in these players, and Mizzou could offer a chance to come in and battle with Zollers for the starting job.
Colton Joseph, Old Dominion
Joseph had an excellent season at ODU and fits the recent Mizzou mold of a dual-threat. He threw for 2,624 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 picks, and he added 1,007 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns.
Katin Houser, East Carolina
The former Michigan State quarterback beat out former Mizzou player Jake Garcia for the starting job at ECU and had a bit of a comeback year in 2025. He threw for 3,300 yards, 19 touchdowns and six picks, and his offensive coordinator has since been hired as the playcaller at Ole Miss.
Depth options at quarterback for Missouri
Unlikely to be starters, but solid or intriguing depth pieces that shouldn’t run the risk of running Zollers off.
Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
Dickens is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the most outstanding offensive player at the FCS level. He threw for 3,508 yards, 38 touchdowns and two interceptions this season — in nine games. He passed for more yards (582) in a game against Stanford than Texas A&M had total offensive yards (478) against the Bulldogs this year. Worth a look, surely.
Jaden Craig, Harvard
Craig has a lot of experience at the FCS level with Harvard, with 28-career games, more than 6,000 passing yards, 52-career touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He has one year of eligibility left.
Marcus Stokes, West Florida
Maybe we’re prisoners of the Trinidad Chambliss moment, but Stokes is a Harlon Hill finalist — the Division-II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy — and put up some some big passing numbers for Division-II West Florida. He threw for 3,297 yards, 30 touchdowns and 13 picks.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Here are Missouri football’s current transfer portal QB options
Category: General Sports
