CBS Sports shakes up Top 25 QB rankings after Week 10 of College Football

A MASSIVE shake-up occurred in CBS Sports‘ Top-25 quarterback rankings this week.

After a dominant performance against Penn State, in which he passed for 316 yards and four touchdowns, Ohio State sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin jumped three spots to the No. 1 ranking. In his first season as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, Sayin has led the reigning National Champions to an undefeated 8-0 (5-0) record.

Along with Sayin, who is now the Heisman Trophy frontrunner, familiar names such as Georgia Tech‘s Haynes King, Indiana‘s Fernando Mendoza, Duke‘s Darian Mensah and Alabama‘s Ty Simpson round out the top-five. NC State‘s CJ Bailey and UConn‘s Joe Fagnano also jumped into the top-10.

The entire list is below.

1. Julian Sayin (Ohio State) +3

Sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin has been perfect for the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes this season. Through eight games, Sayin has passed for 2,188 yards, 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He has dominated Big Ten competition, as he’s tossed 15 touchdowns and no interceptions in games against Washington, Minnesota, No. 17 Illinois, Wisconsin, and Penn State.

He has found a strong connection with superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Sayin and Smith have connected for 725 yards and nine touchdowns this season, with their longest hook-up coming via an 87-yard touchdown in the Buckeyes’ 70-0 drumming of Grambling State on Sept. 6. Ohio State is scheduled to face just one ranked opponent over its final four games of the season (No. 21 Michigan), meaning Sayin could very well lead the Buckeyes back to the CFP in his first season as the starter.

2. Haynes King (Georgia Tech)

Veteran quarterback Haynes King led Georgia Tech to an 8-0 start before it suffered its first loss of the season last Saturday to NC State. Although they now sit at 8-1 (5-1), the Jackets are more than still alive in their quest to make the College Football Playoff for the first time ever. In eight games this season, King has passed for 1,888 yards, nine touchdowns and just two interceptions. He’s been even better on the ground, rushing for 754 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“It means a lot,” King said about his season. “The legends that’s come through here and just getting mentioned in that category (of best Georgia Tech quarterbacks of all time). In just the same sentence as them, it means a lot to me. But the job’s not done, and if we don’t finish it the right way then you’re going to be forgotten about. That’s not necessarily what I’m thinking about, but as long as we handle our business, everything will be just fine.”

3. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)

Many thought Indiana would be one-and-done following its appearance in last season’s College Football Playoff. This could not have been farther from the truth however, as the Hoosiers knocked off No. 3 Oregon on Oct. 11 and jumped all the way to No. 2 in the polls for the first time in program history. Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been instrumental in their 9-0 start, as he’s passed for 2,124 yards, 25 touchdowns and just four interceptions this season.

“I want to be consistently the best Fernando Mendoza that I can become,” Mendoza told CBS Sports’ Jenny Dell on last week’s ‘Inside College Football‘. “It really starts with the coaching points of keeping every play to itself. Once a play happens, good, bad, or indifferent, put it behind you.”

4. Darian Mensah (Duke) +17

Quarterback Darian Mensah was one of the most prized transfers this offseason when he announced his departure from Tulane. Mensah ended up heading to Duke, where he has continued to evolve into one of the best players in all of college football. Over eight games this season, Mensah has passed for 2,572 yards (fifth most in NCAA), 21 touchdowns and two interceptions.

His best game of the season came on Saturday, as he passed for 361 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in a nail-biting 46-45 win over Clemson. With another season of college eligibility remaining, Mensah could certainly be one of the first quarterbacks selected in the 2027 NFL Draft.

5. Ty Simpson (Alabama)

Things started off rough for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson this season, but he has been the best quarterback in the SEC since the Tide’s season-opening loss to Florida State. Since that loss, Alabama has won seven consecutive games (including four against ranked opponents). Through eight games this season, Simpson has thrown for 2,184 yards, 20 touchdowns and just one interception. In their four games against ranked opponents, Simpson threw nine touchdowns to just one interception.

“There’s things he can keep getting better at, just staying within himself,” head coach Kalen DeBoer said about Simpson earlier this season. “That’s really the key with him, just stay within himself and not try to do too much. When he does that, he stacks plays, he stacks first downs. Sooner or later, we’re in the end zone. I think there’s still a lot of room for improvement, and the sky’s the limit for him.”

6. CJ Bailey (NC State) +29

NC State sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey was expected to be one of the most exciting players in college football prior to the season. Bailey is finally living up to those expectations, as he passed for 340 yards and two touchdowns in the Wolfpack’s 48-36 victory over No. 8 Georgia Tech on Saturday. He also rushed for 34 yards and a score.

In nine games, Bailey has passed for 2,411 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The middle of NC State‘s schedule was rough, as it lost four of five games from Sept. 20-Oct. 25. Bailey’s strong performance gave the Pack their fifth win, meaning they need just one more win in their final three games (No. 18 Miami, Florida State, and North Carolina) to clinch bowl eligibility.

7. Mason Heintschel (Pittsburgh) -6

Pittsburgh freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel skyrocketed to the top of CBS Sports‘ Top-25 rankings last week following a monstrous performance in the Panthers’ 53-34 win over NC State. He continued that momentum on Saturday, as he passed for 304 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-20 win over Stanford.

Over the past five weeks (all wins), Heintschel has passed for 1,511 yards, 12 touchdowns and just five interceptions. The freshman has completely revitalized the program, as it was just 2-2 prior to his first start against Boston College. The Panthers are now 7-2 (5-1) and are ranked at No. 24 in the inaugural College Football Playoff Rankings.

8. Marcel Reed (Texas A&M) -2

Texas A&M is off to a sizzling 8-0 start led by superstar quarterback Marcel Reed, who’s passed for 1,972 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. Reed has also rushed for 349 yards and six more touchdowns. The Aggies have stacked quality wins against Notre Dame and LSU and look to be on their way to their first ever appearance in the College Football Playoff.

In the win against LSU on Oct. 25 (prior to A&M’s bye-week), Reed passed for 202 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 108 yards and two more scores on the ground. The loss ran off Brian Kelly and forced yet another coaching opening in the SEC, the fourth in the conference.

9. Bear Bachmeier (BYU) -9

BYU‘s Bear Bachmeier, along with Pittsburgh‘s Mason Heintschel, has been one of the best freshman arms in the sport. Rocking the No. 47, Bachmeier has passed for 1,693 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions for a Cougar offense that has been one of the best in the Big 12 and college football. Bachmeier stepped up to the plate following Jake Retzlaff‘s departure and has been more than up to the challenge.

In Oct. 25’s 41-27 win over Iowa State (prior to BYU‘s bye-week), Bachmeier passed for 307 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Murrieta, CA native is poised to be one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 Conference over the next few seasons.

10. Joe Fagnano (UConn) +12

UConn‘s Joe Fagnano might be the best quarterback in college football that nobody knows about. Although the Huskies are just 6-3, Fagnano has passed for 2,529 yards, 22 touchdowns and no interceptions this season. He’s surpassed the 300-passing yard mark in four of nine games this season and passed for at least three touchdowns in five of nine games (four consecutive games).

Fagnano jumped into CBS Sports‘ top-10 this week following his performance in UConn‘s 38-19 win over UAB on Saturday. The Williamsport, PA native completed 23/30 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns. He did not throw an interception. With the win over the Blazers, the Huskies clinched bowl eligibility for just the fourth time in the past 15 seasons.

No. 11-25

11. Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) +2
12. Dante Moore (Oregon) -2
13. Alonza Barnett (James Madison) +14
14. Luke Altmyer (Illinois) +20
15. Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss) -8
16. Byrum Brown (USF) -2
17. Gunner Stockton (Georgia) -6
18. Arch Manning (Texas)
19. Conner Weigman (Houston) -3
20. Sawyer Robertson (Baylor) +17
21. Josh Hoover (TCU) -2
22. Demond Williams (Washington) -2
23. CJ Carr (Notre Dame)
24. Drew Mestemaker (North Texas)
25. Jayden Maiava (USC) -13