College football is just weeks away and there are still a number of blue blood and highly ranked programs who still don't know who their quarterback will be. 

We breakdown 12 of the most important quarterback battles across the country and predict the starter for week one. 

Clemson Tigers

Incumbent starter: Kelly Bryant 

Challenger: Trevor Lawrence 

In his first year as a starter, Kelly Bryant picked up where Deshaun Watson left and led the Tigers to their third consecutive college football playoff appearance—but the passing attack took a big step back. Watson threw for over 4,000 yards and 76 scores during the previous two seasons. Bryant managed just 2,800 yards through the air with 13 touchdowns and eight picks. 

Enter true freshman and five-star recruit Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence was the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2018 and is already a better passer than Bryant. Bryant obviously has the edge in experience and as a runner, but Lawrence’s ability to move the chains through the air is nothing if not appealing.

Bryant may take the first snap from center on Sept. 1 against Furman, but it won’t be long before Lawrence is QB1. 

Projected week 1 starter: Bryant

Georgia Bulldogs

Incumbent starter: Jake Fromm

Challenger: Justin Fields

It’s hard to imagine the returning quarterback of a Georgia squad that went 13-2 and was so close to beating Alabama for a national title being in danger of losing his spot, but that’s just how good true freshman Justin Fields is. A year ago, Fromm was the true freshman who stepped up after Jacob Eason went down and took the college football world by storm, throwing for 2,600 yards and 24 scores. 

Quarterback guru and former Arizona Cardinals head coach, Bruce Arians, had the following to say about the Georgia quarterback room: 

"I’m amazed at Jake, his command of the team, not just on the field. When I was sitting in the team meeting room, he walked in and you could tell it was his team—at such a young age. The young quarterback (Fields) is just an unbelievable athlete. There are no worries about the quarterback position at the University of Georgia."

While Fields will undoubtedly push the second-year starter, Fromm is the man in Athens. However, with the new redshirt rule, Fields will definitely see the field and if Fromm suffers from a sophomore slump, look out. 

Projected week 1 starter: Fromm

Alabama Crimson Tide

Incumbent starter: Jalen Hurts

Challenger: Tua Tagovailoa 

Over the past two seasons, Jalen Hurts has led Alabama to back-to-back national title game appearances and 26-2 win-loss record. But his struggles to move the ball through the air have him on the hot seat. 

In fact, it’s the reason Nick Saban elected to turn to freshman Tua Tagovailoa at halftime of the national championship game. 

A year ago, Tagovailoa appeared in eight games in mop-up duty and completed 63 percent of his passes for over 600 yards and 11 scores. Hurts completed just 60 percent of his throws for just over 2,000 yards and 17 scores. While Hurts is likely a better runner, Tagovailoa is more than capable on the ground, as last year he averaged nearly five yards per carry and scored two rushing touchdowns. 

This will, without a doubt, be the most-watched quarterback battle, and last weekend things got even more interesting when Hurts shared how he really felt about how the situation was being handled. 

While Hurts has been a great leader for the Crimson Tide, Tagovailoa may be the most talented quarterback this Alabama program has ever season. As our man Kolby Paxton pointed out, Hurts should make sure Saban doesn’t play him in more than four games so he can graduate and transfer with two years of eligibility remaining.

Projected week 1 starter: Tagovailoa

Ohio State Buckeyes

Challengers: Dwayne Haskins, Tate Martell

Dwayne Haskins became a household last fall when JT Barrett suffered an injury in the third quarter of the Michigan game. When Haskins entered the game, the Buckeyes were trailing, 20-14. At the final buzzer, Ohio State had won their sixth straight game against Michigan, 31-20. 

Haskins oversaw three Buckeye touchdown drives and catapulted himself into the driver's seat to become Barrett’s replacement. 

Out of powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School, Tate Martell is an extremely talented runner, but just doesn’t have the passing accuracy or control of the offense like Haskins does. Martell will definitely see the field in mop-up duty and will serve as one of the best backups in the country.

Projected week 1 starter: Haskins

Florida State Seminoles

Incumbent starter: Deondre Francois

Challenger: James Blackman

Technically, Deondre Francois is the incumbent starter, but he did only play one game last year. Francois tore his patella tendon late in the fourth quarter of last year’s opener with Alabama, and if that injury had not occurred, this likely wouldn’t be a battle. 

However, James Blackman made the most of his opportunity and by the end of the season was a solid starter for the 'Noles. Couple that with Francois missing a good bit of spring ball recovering from the injury and Blackman may have the edge heading into fall camp. 

No matter which way it shakes out, Florida State fans have the luxury of knowing they'll have an experience backup who knows how to win.

Projected week 1 starter: Blackman

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Incumbent starter: Brandon Wimbush

Challengers: Ian Book, Phil Jurkovec

Brandon Wimbush returns to a Notre Dame squad that won 10 games and picked up a win over LSU in the bowl game. However, Wimbush was very inconsistent at times last season and was even benched in the bowl game in favor of Ian Book—who went on to lead the Irish to a come-from-behind victory. 

As good as Book was in that game, it was clear after the spring game that this is Wimbush’s job. Book will keep Wimbush honest and serve as a solid replacement if Wimbush goes down. Four-star recruit Phil Jurkovec is the future, but the Fighting Irish would like to redshirt him.  

Projected week 1 starter: Wimbush

USC Trojans

Challengers: Matt Fink, Jack Sears, JT Daniels

This may be the most wide-open quarterback battle in the country. 

Gone is Sam Darnold and there is no clear-cut replacement in L.A. The trio have combined to throw nine college passes, all by Matt Fink. JT Daniels is a true freshman who should be a Senior in high school this year. The five-star recruit reclassified so he could be part of the 2018 recruiting class where he was the No. 4 overall recruit. 

Daniels has a fantastic arm and can make every throw on the field, and has good enough wheels to hurt you with his legs. The future is now for the Trojans. 

Projected week 1 starter: Daniels

Texas Longhorns

Challengers: Sam Ehlinger, Shane Buechele

Even though Shane Buechele started last year’s season opener, I didn’t list an incumbent starter because both Buechele and Ehlinger each started six games a year ago. 

While I think Buechele is a better passer, I believe Ehlinger is a better fit for Tom Herman’s offense and is a more effective runner. However, Ehlinger must make better decisions if he wants to hang on to the starting spot. A year ago, Ehlinger threw 11 touchdown passes compared to 7 interceptions. 

Despite the inconsistencies, Ehlinger is more of a vocal leader and the type of quarterback who the team rallies around and I fully expect him to take the first snap when the Longhorns look to get revenge on Maryland.

Projected week 1 starter: Ehlinger

Florida Gators

Incumbent starter: Feleipe Franks

Challengers: Kyle Trask, Emory Jones

Feleipe Franks was the main starter for the Gators last year, but it was no secret he struggled most of the season. Franks completed just 54% of his passes with 9 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. 

Kyle Trask has yet to play a down but will get his shot under new coach Dan Mullen. True freshman Emory Jones is the future for the Gators, but I believe Dan Mullen would like to redshirt him if possible. 

Franks showed flashes at times last year and if he can cut down on the turnovers from last season, he could be the man to help the Gators get off to a good start under Mullen.

Projected week 1 winner: Franks

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Challengers: Tristan Gebbia, Adrian Martinez, Andrew Bunch

It will only be a matter of time before Scott Frost turns Nebraska into one of the nation’s best offenses. The question is, who will be under center on week 1 against Akron? 

Whoever it is will be taking their first college snap. Tristan Gebbia was recruited by the previous staff to run a pro-style offense but does have some wheels if need be. True freshman Adrian Martinez comes to Lincoln as a four-star dual threat QB and I believe he will eventually be the future of the Cornhusker program. 

I think Gebbia will take the first snaps for Nebraska, but I don’t think there’s any doubt that Martinez will see the field.

Projected week 1 winner: Gebbia

LSU Tigers

Challengers: Myles Brennan, Justin McMillan, Joe Burrow

Once again LSU begins a season with uncertainty at the quarterback position. However, Ohio State grad transfer Joe Burrow has Tiger fans hopeful heading into the season opener with Miami (FL). 

Burrow only attempted 39 passes while he was a Buckeye, but he completed 74% of his passes for two scores. Burrow has a big strong arm and can make any throw on the field and hurt you with his legs if he needs to. Brennan, a former four-star recruit, while being a solid backup, but LSU wouldn’t have been so aggressive courting Burrow if they didn’t see him as the starter. 

Projected week 1 starter: Burrow

UCLA Bruins

Incumbent starter: Devon Modster

Challengers: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Wilton Speight

Like Florida, Nebraska, and Notre Dame, the future of the position is on campus but likely won’t start this season. True freshman and former four-star recruit Dorian Thompson-Robinson, is the perfect fit for Chip Kelly’s offense, but with two solid options in Devon Modster and Wilton Speight, Kelly can afford to redshirt Thompson-Robinson. 

In five games last season, Modster completed 65% of his passes for north of 600 yards and four scores with no picks. Michigan grad transfer Wilton Speight will be Modster’s biggest challenger. In three years of action for the Wolverines, Speight threw for over 3,000 yards, but completed less than 60% of his passes and was prone to turnovers. 

Modster is a better passer and can definitely run the ball better than Speight which I believe will lead to him get the nod for the Bruins. 

Projected week 1 starter: Modster