Week 1 in college football is a time of unbridled optimism. Every team has a clean slate, and every quarterback is a potential hero. But for a handful of signal-callers, that optimism evaporated in a hurry, replaced by a weekend of frustration, missed throws, and head-scratching decisions.
While many quarterbacks shined, several had debuts they'd rather forget. We looked at the numbers, the context, and the competition to determine which QB truly had the worst Week 1 of the 2025 season.
The contenders
The hype train derailed: Arch Manning, Texas
No player entered the season with more pressure than Arch Manning. Living up the Manning name and all the hype surrounding him was enough. But he recently had a book wrote about his recruitment. Oh, and also taking over the #1 team in the country, his first test was a brutal road trip to #3 Ohio State. The result? A 14-7 loss where the offense never found its rhythm. Manning's stat line (170 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) isn't a complete disaster on paper, but for a player of his pedigree in a game of that magnitude, failing to lead a single touchdown drive until the final minutes was a massive disappointment.
No Answer on the big stage: Cade Klubnik, Clemson
In the other marquee matchup of the weekend, Cade Klubnik and the #4 Clemson Tigers hosted #9 LSU. Clemson's defense did its part, but the offense was completely stagnant in a 17-10 loss. Klubnik looked rattled against the LSU pass rush, finishing with 230 yards, 0 touchdowns, and a costly interception. He was also 19-38 and finished with a QBR in the 30's, yikes. In a showcase game at home, failing to find the end zone through the air is a recipe for a rough week of film study.
Turnover troubles: Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech
Facing #13 South Carolina, Virginia Tech's Kyron Drones struggled mightily to protect the football. While he threw for 221 yards, he was only 15 of 35. His performance was defined by his inability to finish drives and his critical mistakes. He ended the 24-11 loss with 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, effectively killing any chance the Hokies had of pulling off the upset.
High drama, highly paid flop: Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Nico Iamaleava left up to his name as he left the Vols behind in a dramatic fashion. He signed an initial NIL deal, but his camp reportedly pushed for a higher compensation package, which Tennessee and its NIL collective said no to. There are multiple sides to the whole story, so if you are interested you can read all about it here. But boy did that turn into a week 1 disaster. Utah rolled UCLA 43-10 and Nico was 11 of 22 for 136 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. To make matters worse, Joey Aguilar who was planning to start for UCLA before all the Iamaleava drama started for the Vols and excelled.
Anemic offense in a win: Zach Calzada, Kentucky
And then there's Kentucky's Zach Calzada. Unlike the others on this list, he got the win. But the context is what makes his performance so alarming. Against a MAC opponent in Toledo, a game that was supposed to be a tune-up, Calzada orchestrated one of the worst passing attacks in recent memory. He finished with a paltry 85 passing yards on 23 attempts, with 1 rushing TD and 1 INT. The offense looked completely inept, with Calzada seeming unsure and inaccurate all afternoon.
The verdict: Who was the worst?
Manning and Klubnik get a slight pass for facing two of the best defenses in the entire country. Their struggles were disappointing but, to a degree, understandable. Drones was simply bad, and his turnovers cost his team dearly. Nico Iamaleava was dominated and looked very bad, but he did get up over 100 yards.
The "winner" of the worst Week 1 has to be Zach Calzada.
To be that unproductive against a non-Power Five opponent at home is simply inexcusable. While the others lost to good competition, Calzada barely survived a team he should have dominated. His performance didn't just inspire a lack of confidence; it created genuine alarm for the rest of Kentucky's season. Getting a win never felt more like a loss, and that earns him the unfortunate title of Week 1's biggest QB catastrophe.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. Psalm 91. #UpTheAlbion