FBS passing leader expected to enter transfer portal, per report
By Andrew Olson
Published:
The most productive FBS quarterback of the 2025 season could be looking for a new home.
Multiple outlets, including CBS Sports, are reporting that North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker is expected to enter the transfer portal. This is far from official, as the transfer portal does not open until Jan. 2 and the report states that Mestemaker has not made a final decision. If Mestemaker enters as expected, though, the highly productive passer will likely have numerous interested teams.
A product of Austin (Texas) Vandegrift, is 2 seasons removed from high school. He enrolled at North Texas as a walk-on in June 2024. This season, Mestemaker won the Burlsworth Award for best player who began his career as a walk-on.
Mestemaker redshirted in 2024, appearing in only 4 regular-season contests and the Mean Green’s bowl game. In the bowl game, he offered a preview of what was to come in the 2025 season, throwing for 393 yards while completing 63.4% of his passes.
In 2025, Mestemaker has completed 70.2% of his passes (292-of-416) for 4,129 yards and 31 touchdowns with just 7 interceptions. He threw for 608 yards in North Texas’s win against Charlotte on Oct. 24.
Mestemaker’s 4,129 passing yards are after 13 games. He’s the leader in passing yards per game with 317.6, over 10 yards per game better than Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson, who is second at 306.8. Mestemaker’s 9.9 yards per attempt is No. 1, a half yard better than Diego Pavia and Fernando Mendoze at 9.4.
North Texas posted an 11-2 record in the 2025 regular season. The Mean Green are set to play in the New Mexico Bowl under interim head coach Drew Svoboda. Head coach Eric Morris accepted the job at Oklahoma State.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
