CBS Sports shakes up Top 10 QB Power Rankings with new No. 1 ahead of Week 7
One of the more interesting ways to rank players during the season is with a power ranking, when the results from week to week weigh heavily on the latest iteration. CBS Sports’ quarterback power rankings, have been one such list, fascinating because of their moves from week to week.
Following Week 6, the very top of the list saw a change as Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel grabbed the top spot after leading an upset of Texas.
What other changes were there this week to the CBS Sports quarterback power rankings? Let’s dive in and begin to dissect them.
1. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
You don’t have to look much further than the result of the game to know why Gabriel as at No. 1 this week. He just scored a huge upset over a conference rival to remain unbeaten. He also played really, really well while doing so.
Gabriel finished his day 23-of-38 passing for 285 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 14 times for 113 yards and a score. On the season Gabriel now has a 16-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, while throwing for 1,878 yards and running for 208 more (with five rushing scores).
2. Caleb Williams, USC
The USC quarterback wasn’t at his sharpest but still managed to get it done when the game was on the line in triple overtime. This time around, Williams used his legs extensively to move the chains and put points on the board, scoring three rushing touchdowns on 41 yards rushing.
Williams finished the game against Arizona with 219 yards passing and a touchdown. He didn’t throw an interception, meaning his yearly tally of interceptions remains at just one while his touchdown total now sits at 22 passing and six rushing. Plus Williams’ skill is just so readily apparent when you watch him that it comes as no shock he remains high on the quarterback power rankings.
3. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Washington was on a bye this week, so the aerial show that Penix has been leading all season long was on break for a bit. But make no mistake about it, it has been a complete fireworks show all season for the Huskies with Penix pulling the trigger.
The Washington quarterback has already thrown for 1,999 yards with 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He’s got receivers that can get open all day, and Penix has had no trouble finding them. He’s a player that could presumably vault to the top of this list on any given Saturday with a huge outing.
4. Bo Nix, Oregon
Another player whose team had a bye this week, Nix got a chance to regroup much the same as Penix. The two are now headed for a massive showdown against each other this week, one that will likely create some separation between the two players in the quarterback power rankings.
Nix hasn’t quite been the same player as he was a year ago, relying much more on his arm than his legs so far this fall. After scoring 14 rushing touchdowns last season, he has had just one so far in 2023. But Nix has thrown for 1,459 yards with 15 touchdowns and just one interception, so he’s more than made up for it with his arm.
5. Jayden Daniels, LSU
If this were the Heisman Trophy race, Daniels might be dead in the water with LSU already having two losses. As a power ranking, though, he still ranks quite high up this list. He’s been phenomenal of late, and basically willed his team to a win against Missouri this week.
Daniels has accounted for at least four touchdowns in the last five games, with five scores in two of them. On the season Daniels has already thrown for 1,969 yards with 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He’s also run for 422 yards and four touchdowns, arguably the best dual-threat production in the country.
6. JJ McCarthy, Michigan
The Michigan quarterback hasn’t put up quite the yardage totals of some of the other quarterbacks on this list, but he’s done a nice job running the operation for unbeaten Michigan so far. McCarthy has thrown 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions, getting the Wolverines into the right spots.
McCarthy’s case will have to be anchored by a strong run by Michigan, most likely, because he’s not putting up quite the numbers of some of the other quarterbacks. But there’s little in Michigan’s path that should stop it in the near future, too, so there’s that.
7. Drake Maye, North Carolina
Maye is coming off his best game of the season, his first with four touchdowns accounted for all year. It hasn’t been quite the statistical start that Maye probably envisioned, but North Carolina is 5-0 and should put him on a stage to play in some big games to come.
On the season Maye has thrown for 1,629 yards with eight touchdowns against four interceptions. He has also run for 174 yards and four touchdowns, showing his running ability when necessary, something that bolsters his spot in the quarterback power rankings.
8. Carson Beck, Georgia
Beck is coming off his most statistically impressive performance in a lopsided win over Kentucky. He threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns in the win, though he was picked off for the third time this season. Beck has proven he can occasionally be a running threat, too, with two rushing touchdowns on the season.
Still, the Georgia gunslinger has settled in quite nicely as a passer. Through the first six games, Georgia is undefeated and Beck has logged 1,886 yards passing with 11 touchdowns against the three interceptions. Not bad work for Stetson Bennett’s replacement.
9. Jordan Travis, Florida State
On the back of a bye week, Florida State dispatched Virginia Tech fairly easily, even with Jordan Travis having his lowest production of the season. Travis finished with just 170 yards and two touchdowns passing, while he ran for another 25 yards in the win.
Travis’ best case to be higher in the quarterback power rankings is that he’s played his best football against the best competition, shining in outings against LSU and Clemson. Still, with Florida State unbeaten he’ll have the chance for other statement wins down the stretch.
10. Jalen Milroe, Alabama
The Alabama quarterback has settled in quite nicely after regaining the starting job a few weeks back. Milroe looks significantly more composed, though he’s still prone to the occasional mistake or misfire in the passing game.
In any case, Milroe threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Texas A&M. That brought his season total to 1,159 passing yards. He’s thrown nine touchdowns and four interceptions. Milroe’s also a rushing threat, having 158 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Honorable Mention
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Kyle McCord, Ohio State
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State
Jacob Zeno, UAB
The honorable mention list includes a number of players on high-profile teams, perhaps most notably Sanders. Colorado still has plenty of big games, so he can play his way back into the top 10, where he was a regular earlier this season. Then the appearance of Uiagalelei on this week’s honorable mention gives us a nice feel-good story in the quarterback power rankings. Stay tuned to see how things shift next week.