Top 3 landing spots for three-star QB Cash Herrera to the class of 2026 ft. Iowa

Three-star quarterback Cash Herrera is becoming one of the most promising prospects in the 2026 class after making the transition from Orange Glen to Bishop last season. He has already received offers from Iowa, Colorado State, Minnesota, UCLA, Virginia Tech, San Diego State and Washington State, among others.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound signal caller is ranked as the No. 44 quarterback in the 2026 class by 247 Sports and the No. 67 prospect in California. Other recruiting channels like On3, Rivals and ESPN haven’t ranked him yet.

During his sophomore season, Herrera threw for 2,647 yards and 31 touchdowns, completing 64.4% of his passes while also scoring five rushing touchdowns, contributing to Bishop’s 8-3 record.

Let's see which three programs have the most potential to earn Herrera's commitment.

Top 3 programs vying for Cash Herrera's commitment

3. San Diego

According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Aztecs have a 3.2% chance of securing Herrera's commitment. This percentage may seem low, but the chance of staying close to home and becoming the face of a program on the rise can be attractive to Herrera.

Herrera is one of the top quarterbacks in the CIF San Diego Section, competing with Akili Smith Jr., Troy Huhn, Brady Palmer, Zachary Benitez, Kreet Makihele and Quinn Roth, among others. So, joining San Diego State will allow him to continue representing the region while potentially elevating the program to new heights.

San Diego State has yet to secure a commitment in its 2026 recruiting class, which means the door is wide open for Herrera to become a cornerstone recruit.

2. UCLA

UCLA has long been a dream destination for many Southern California prospects and Herrera is no exception. The Bruins extended an offer to him on June 18 and he has already visited the campus twice. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, UCLA has a 2.7% chance of landing his commitment.

“I first visited in the spring and it was great to spend time with coach Eric Bieniemy, coach Ted White and DeShaun Foster," Herrera told On3. "They are great coaches and people. It has been fun being around them and they are very relatable."

Coach Bieniemy's pro-style offense is designed to prepare quarterbacks for the NFL, which Herrera has openly praised besides the Bruins academics.

“The academics at UCLA speak for themselves and it has always had a great program," Herrera said. "I am ready to see what the new staff does."

UCLA has only wide receiver Jonah Smith committed to the 2026 class.

1. Iowa

Iowa has emerged as the frontrunner in Herrera's recruitment, with the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine giving the Hawkeyes a 76% chance of landing his commitment. He visited the program for the first time in June with his family to camp and got an offer from the Hawkeyes.

“I was surprised at how much I liked it," Herrera told On3. "It is in a small town where everyone loves the football program. Iowa has a great culture and fan base."

Besides the culture, the strong relationship Herrera has developed with coach Lester makes the Hawkeyes an ideal fit.

"I like coach Tim Lester a lot too," Herrera said. "He came from the NFL, their offense will do stuff like NFL teams and I like that a lot. Me and coach Lester have a good relationship.”

Iowa has four-star offensive tackle Carson Nielsen committed in its 2026 recruiting class.