CBS Sports shakes up Top 25 QB rankings after Week 9 of College Football

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

After a dominant performance against NC State, in which he passed for 423 yards and four touchdowns, Pittsburgh freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel skyrocketed 42 spots to the No. 1 spot. Along with Heintschel, familiar names such as Haynes King, Fernando Mendoza, Julian Sayin and Ty Simpson round out the top-five.

The entire list is below.

1. Mason Heintschel (Pittsburgh) +42

Pittsburgh freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel has skyrocketed to the top of CBS Sports‘ Top-25 rankings following an extremely strong stretch of four games. Over the past four weeks (all wins), Heintschel has passed for 1,207 yards, nine touchdowns and just three interceptions. Since taking over as Pitt’s starter in October, he leads the ACC in passing yards, touchdowns and QBR (71.8).

“It’s definitely surreal,” Heintschel said about the past month. “It’s kind of a crazy feeling for sure but I’m trying everything I can to just keep the main thing the main thing and focus on ball as much as I can. There’s a lot of external factors, but the main goal here is to keep winning. That’s the mindset I have. Go in every week, keep attacking and get better.”

2. Haynes King (Georgia Tech) +2

Veteran quarterback Haynes King has led Georgia Tech to one of the best seasons in program history. The Yellow Jackets are currently 8-0 and are on track to make the College Football Playoff for the first time ever. In seven games this season, King has passed for 1,480 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception. He’s been even better on the ground, rushing for 651 yards and 12 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) -1

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 two weeks ago and jumped all the way to No. 2 in the AP Poll for the first time in program history. Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been instrumental in their 8-0 start, as he’s passed for 1,923 yards, 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season.

“I think it comes down to Coach (Curt) Cignetti‘s philosophy of keeping it one play and one game at a time,” Mendoza said following Indiana‘s win over UCLA last Saturday. “I think our team did great because there was a lot of outside noise. UCLA is a fantastic football program and they were coming off a three-game winning streak. They came in our house, but our team excelled.”

4. Julian Sayin (Ohio State) -1

Sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin has been perfect for the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes this season. Through seven games, Sayin has passed for 1,872 yards, 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He has dominated Big Ten competition, as he’s tossed 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in games against Washington, Minnesota, No. 17 Illinois and Wisconsin.

He has found a strong connection with superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Sayin and Smith have connected for 602 yards and seven 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 five 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.

5. Ty Simpson (Alabama) -4

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. Marcel Reed (Texas A&M)

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 look en route to their first ever appearance in the College Football Playoff.

In the win against LSU last Saturday, 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.

7. Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss) +6

Ole Miss‘ Trinidad Chambliss has been one of the best stories in all of college football this season. After taking over for an injured Austin Simmons, he’s led the Rebels to a 7-1 record and a likely appearance in the College Football Playoff. In eight games this season, Chambliss has passed for 1,864 yards, nine touchdowns and one interceptions. He’s also rushed for 375 yards and five touchdowns.

“Quarterback is just fabulous, man. He’s a winner,” Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables said about Chambliss. “Being a former national champion [Ferris State], had over 4,000 yards and 51 touchdowns in one season. Most guys go through a whole career and don’t hit those numbers. And he’s thrown for just under 1,600 yards, eight touchdowns, only one interception on the year. He’s rushed for 323 yards, so about 50 yards a game, just enough to kind of piss you off, five touchdowns.”

8. Bear Bachmeier (BYU) +6

BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, along with Pittsburgh‘s 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 sport. Bachmeier stepped up to the plate following Jake Retzlaff‘s departure and has been more than up to the challenge.

In Saturday’s 41-27 win over Iowa State, 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.

9. Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati) -4

After struggling mightily in Cincinnati‘s season-opening 20-17 loss to Nebraska, Sorsby has been nearly perfect for the now No. 17 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats. Through eight games this season, Sorsby has passed for 1,843 yards, 20 touchdowns and just one interception. That interception came in the season-opener, means he’s gone six straight games without a pick.

He’s surpassed the 300-yard mark in two games this season and has passed for multiple touchdowns in six straight games. This includes a five-touchdown game against Northwestern State and a three-touchdown game against Bowling Green. He is currently in the mix to win Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

10. Dante Moore (Oregon) -1

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is still a top-10 arm in the sport, but has not quite lived up to the hype that surrounded him earlier this season. Through eight games this season, Moore has passed for 1,772 yards, 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions. The Ducks are 7-1 and look to be on their way back to yet another College Football Playoff appearance.

“I’m looking at it this way. Honestly, and I like to make sure that I’m giving the right advice…There’s a responsibility to watch the tape, get information, and get the right info out there in case anyone’s listening and wants to make a decision off of it. I desperately want to see all of these guys go back to school for another year,” NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay said about Moore. “Four of the top-five guys that I’ve got on this list, the top-four all can play another year.”

No. 11-25

11. Gunner Stockton (Georgia) -1
12. Jayden Maiava (USC) -1
13. Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) -5
14. Byrum Brown (USF) -7
15. Joey Aguilar (Tennessee)
16. Conner Weigman (Houston) +9
17. Evan Simon (Temple) +17
18. Blake Horvath (Navy) +12
19. Josh Hoover (TCU) -7
20. Demond Williams (Washington) +17
21. Darian Mensah (Duke) +3
22. Joe Fagnano (UConn) -5
23. CJ Carr (Notre Dame) -4
24. Drew Mestemaker (North Texas)
25. Avery Johnson (Kansas State) +11