CBS Sports ranks quarterbacks in College Football Playoff from No. 1 to 12

CBS Sports ranked all 12 quarterbacks in the College Football Playoff from top to bottom ahead of Friday night’s opener. A certain Heisman winner topped the list.

There’s a lot of quality quarterbacks across college football, including the ones on this list. Now, they all have a blank slate as they work to win a national title.

Without further ado, let’s dive into CBS’ ranking of the College Football Playoff QBs. We’ll start at the top.

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Mendoza is the College Football Playoff’s top quarterback per CBS Sports. It’s easy to see why considering he is the Heisman Trophy winner.

Mendoza led all of FBS QBs with 33 touchdown passes. He also had 2,980 yards, only six interceptions and a 71.5% completion percentage. Mendoza pilots the top team in the country.

2. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

Chambliss has been stellar since taking over as the full-time starter in the early parts of the year. He’s CBS’ second best QB in the College Football Playoff.

The former Division II star needed no adjustments and could make a statement leading this Ole Miss team, even without Lane Kiffin. This year, he threw for 3,016 yards, 18 touchdowns, three interceptions, a 65.5% completion percentage, and had 470 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

3. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

Sayin is still in the top three of College Football Playoff quarterbacks, despite less than stellar performances against Michigan and Indiana in his last two games. He’s been highly accurate all season and one of the more impressive redshirt freshmen in the country.

This season, he led the FBS in completion percentage at 78.4%. He also threw for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns and six interceptions.

4. Dante Moore, Oregon

Moore was one of the most improved quarterbacks in the country this year and now he’ll get his crack at the College Football Playoff. Oregon hosts JMU in the first round, giving Moore a ripe opportunity in front of the home crowd.

This year, Moore threw for 2,733 yards, 24 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 72.5% completion percentage. Based on his season and Oregon’s talent level, CBS placed him in the top four.

5. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Reed rounds out the top five quarterbacks in the College Football Playoff this season. Texas A&M almost feels like an afterthought coming in right now since they lost their last game to Texas.

But this team is still 11-1 and hosting Miami in the first round, thanks in large part to Reed. This year, he has 2,932 yards, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 61.8% completion percentage.

6. Gunner Stockton, Georgia

Stockton’s dual threat ability could be a difference maker for the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff. Georgia gets a first round bye and await the winner of Ole Miss and Tulane.

Early in the season, Stockton was a Heisman candidate. While the waned, he had a solid season: 2,691 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 70.7% completion percentage to go along with 442 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

7. Carson Beck, Miami

Like Stockton, Beck was an early season pick to be in the Heisman conversation. That also waned, but he had a great bounce back year following his transfer from Georgia.

This year, the sixth year man had 3,072 yards, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a career high 74.7% completion percentage. Miami takes on Texas A&M on the road in the first round.

8. Behren Morton, Texas Tech

Morton has been very solid this year, but Texas Tech has been more dominant on defense, including in wins over BYU for the Big 12 title. There was an injury at the quarterback position too, but Morton is a difference maker on offense when he’s healthy.

If they’re going to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals, they’ll need Morton at his best. This year, he has 2,643 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 67% completion percentage.

9. Jake Retzlaff, Tulane

Tulane wants to surprise some people in the College Football Playoff and Retzlaff might have the juice to do so. It’ll be a tough task going to Ole Miss, but he’s been firing on all cylinders this season.

After coming in from BYU, Retzlaff didn’t put up gaudy numbers but was very efficient. He had 2,862 yards, 14 touchdowns, six interceptions, a 62.4% completion percentage, 610 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.

10. Ty Simpson, Alabama

There are moments where Simpson looks like the best quarterback amongst this College Football Playoff group. Other moments show the growing pains as he develops.

Still, CBS had him lower in this ranking but he’s more than capable of leading Alabama to a win on Friday night. This year, he has 3,268 yards, 26 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 64.3% completion percentage.

11. John Mateer, Oklahoma

Mateer could’ve been much higher up on this list, but a hand injury and surgery led him to some second half struggles this season. Still, he’ll have a chance to make a mark in the College Football Playoff.

A dual threat from Washington State, Mateer could’ve been Heisman caliber. If he can recapture some of that magic, Oklahoma will be dangerous. This year, he was limited to 2,578 yards, 12 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, a 62.1% completion percentage, 416 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

12. Alonza Barnett III, James Madison

You’re probably thinking, “who?” Barnett leads James Maidosn into the College Football Playoff and the Dukes are a massive underdog against Oregon. 

Still, Barnett has been a really good dual threat quarterback this season, despite not getting the attention like others. He has 2,533 yards, 21 touchdowns, eight interceptions, a 59.9% completion percentage, 544 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.