Top 25 QB rankings entering Week 9 of college football
Another edition of the On3 Top 25 quarterbacks is out for Week 9 and for the first time no quarterbacks dropped out of or moved into the ranking. With several quarterbacks not playing and the list getting less volatile, it was just a shuffling up and down the list.
And after being unseated for one week, the old quarterback at No. 1 has reclaimed that spot. The conference breakdown is as follows (and identical to last week): Seven from the SEC, six from the Pac-12, four each from the ACC and Big Ten, two from the Big 12, one Group of 5 quarterback and Sam Hartman.
Check out the full On3 Top 25 quarterbacks heading into Week 9 below.
1. Caleb Williams, USC
Williams climbed back into the top spot largely thanks to an off day from the man now holding the No. 2 spot. Even still, Williams and USC took a second-straight loss.
Williams was solid against Utah, going for 256 yards at a 70.6% completion rate, but he didn’t throw a touchdown. He did add a rushing score.
2. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Penix and Washington scraped through by the skin of their teeth on Saturday, winning a clunker a week removed from a high-flying win. Penix struggled.
He completed 64.3% of his passes for 275 yards and a pair of interceptions as the Huskies offense didn’t score a touchdown in a 15-7 win. He’ll look to bounce back down the stretch.
3. Drake Maye, North Carolina
Maye was solid on a night that North Carolina really needed him to be great. And as a result, the Tar Heels took a bit of an inexplicable loss.
Maye finished completing just 50% of his passes but threw for 347 yards and a pair of touchdowns while rushing for another. He did throw an interception.
4. Jayden Daniels, LSU
Daniels continued his supernova season in a blowout win on Saturday. He was electric in a low-volume performance.
Daniels went 11-of-15 for 279 yards and three touchdowns. He’s leading the nation in passing yards per attempt, passing touchdowns, passing efficiency, total yards, yards per play and is tied for No. 1 in total touchdowns responsible for.
5. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Sanders and Colorado had the week off after a disappointing loss to Stanford. And one that greatly hurt Colorado in efforts to make a bowl game.
Sanders has been the key to Colorado’s offensive success, and the Buffaloes will need him to keep being prolific down the stretch. That national leader in completions will be content to keep chucking the ball around the yard.
6. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
Gabriel and Oklahoma pulled off a survival act on Saturday, withstanding a late push from UCF. And with the win, the Sooners remain undefeated with an inside path to College Football Playoff contention from the Big 12.
Gabriel was his usual self against UCF, completing 65.8% of his passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns. He did throw an interception, his third of the season.
7. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
McCarthy vaulted himself into the thick of the Heisman race, for now, with a sizzling rivalry performance on Saturday night. And his highly efficient stat line doesn’t do the passing prowess he put on display — especially to his tight ends — justice.
McCarthy went 21-of-27 for 287 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. He once against wasn’t needed beyond the third quarter.
8. Bo Nix, Oregon
Nix and Oregon bounced back from a tough loss with a fairly resounding win on Saturday. And by keeping at one loss, Nix and the Ducks remain well and alive in the CFP race.
Nix went 18-of-25 for 293 yards and two touchdowns, plus a rushing score. He also kicked his first pooch punt of 2023, good for 37 yards.
9. Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
Hartman and Notre Dame has the week off after a big win over USC. But he moves up a spot by virtue of one Big Ten quarterback who struggled mightily sliding down the list.
Hartman is on track to have one of his better seasons as a passer, if not his most prolific. He’s completing passes at a career-high 64.5% rate for a career-high yards per attempt and adjusted yards per attempt. He’s also cut his turnovers back.
10. Carson Beck, Georgia
Beck was in a similar boat to Hartman this week. Georgia was idle but he moved up thanks to another quarterback falling past him.
Things pick up big time for Georgia now and Beck will be critical, especially without Brock Bowers. So far he’s been just what Georgia has needed in the passing game, but he might have to bring just a tad more going forward.
Quarterbacks No. 11 through 25
11. Jordan Travis, Florida State
12. Drew Allar, Penn State
13. Brady Cook, Missouri
14. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
15. Cameron Ward, Washington State
16. Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
17. Kyle McCord, Ohio State
18. Jalen Milroe, Alabama
19. Quinn Ewers, Texas
20. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
21. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
22. DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State
23. Graham Mertz, Florida
24. Michael Pratt, Tulane
25. Riley Leonard, Duke
No one new in the Top 25 this week, but it is worth noting that Penn State’s Allar did slid out of the Top 10 after being there most of the season. In his first big test on the road at Ohio State, his struggles — and Penn State’s — were evident from the early stages.