2025 College Football QB Rankings: Week 12’s Top 20, Including Marcel Reed

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2025 College Football QB Rankings: Week 12’s Top 20, Including Marcel Reed

2025 College Football QB Rankings: Week 12's Top 20, Including Marcel Reed — Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Jason Burgos · Sportsnaut

Fri, Nov 14, 2025 ·

11 min read

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Having an elite QB can make a huge difference in college football. Dual threats and big arms can have a bigger impact each week than they do in the NFL. So, who are the best signal callers in 2025 DI football? We look to answer that question with our Week 12 college football QB rankings.

20. Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers

college football qb rankings — Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Former Minnesota recruit Athan Kaliakmanis is having a career year in his second season at Rutgers. The senior is eighth in the nation for throwing yards and is, arguably, the lone bright spot for a 5-5 Scarlet Knights team this season.

While the team has struggled against a higher level of competition, the senior has played well in most of those games, including a 386-yard showing against Washington.

Athan Kaliakmanis stats:10 games, 2,705 passing yards, 20 total TDs, -2 rushing yards, 144.9 rating

19. Dante Moore , Oregon

Oregon has national title hopes this year because of the play of sophomore Dante Moore. Early in the season, he was a machine running their offense. However, in recent weeks, he has started to hit some bumps in the road — including throwing for just 86 yards against Wisconsin two weeks ago. It is why he has slipped in our latest college football QB rankings.

Nevertheless, he is a talented signal caller who is still high on many NFL Draft boards because of how he has looked this season.

Dante Moore stats:9 games, 1,884 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 177 rushing yards, 164.7 rating

18. Nick Minicucci, Delaware

Who knows where the Delaware Blue Hens would be right now if not for junior Nick Minicucci? In his first full season as a starter, he has played some impressive ball, throwing for over 300 yards in half of his games. It is why he is top 10 in the nation for passing yards. He has made Delaware worth watching in 2025.

Nick Minicucci stats: 9 games, 2,725 passing yards, 25 total TDs, 231 rushing yards, 133.8 rating

17. Drew Mestemaker, North Texas

North Texas Freshman Drew Mestemaker has quietly had a fantastic season for the Green Mean. The team heads into Week 12 with an 8-1 record, and the Austin, TX native is a huge reason why. He is third in the nation in passing yards and fifth in TDs. In Week 9, he had a performance that won't be topped by anyone this year when he threw for 608 yards against Charlotte.

Drew Mestemaker stats:9 games, 2,702 passing yards, 25 total TDs, 51 rushing yards, 162.0 rating

16. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

After Ole Miss starting QB Austin Simmons suffered a serious ankle injury, Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss was thrust into the QB1 role. Under the guidance of head coach Lane Kiffin, the senior has been far better than anyone expected. The Rebels are 9-1 and are ranked in the top-10 heading into Week 12 because of how well Chambliss has played in some big games. Including a pair of 300-plus yard throwing days against LSU and Oklahoma.

Trinidad Chambliss stats: 10 games, 2,356 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 434 rushing yards, 153.7 rating

15. Darian Mensah, Duke

Duke will always be known for its basketball team, but sophomore Darian Mensah is making the football program worth watching each week. Heading into Week 12, the California native is fourth in the nation in passing yards and TDs, with just four INTs after nine games.

While his team has struggled against top-25-level competition, Mensah is a top QB prospect heading into the draft for a reason.

Darian Mensah stats:9 games, 2,794 passing yards, 24 total TDs, -64 rushing yards, 165.1 rating

14. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt senior Diego Pavia has taken a big step forward in his second season leading the Commodores' offense. He is set to have career highs across the board in 2025, has led his team to an 8-2 record and a top 15 ranking heading into Week 12.

Following a big day against Texas last week, Pavia was able to avoid a big overtime upset against Auburn by hitting on 25 of 33 passes for nearly 400 yards and three more TDs in Week 11.

Diego Pavia stats:10 games, 2,440 passing yards, 28 total TDs, 613 rushing yards, 162.0 rating

13. Walker Eget, San Jose State

This has unsurprisingly been a rough year for the Mountain West program, San Jose State . But the one saving grace has been some outstanding play of senior Walker Eget. His final year in college football has been his best by far, and includes a pair of days throwing for well over 400 yards. It is why he leads the nation in passing yards heading into Week 12 and lands in our latest college football QB rankings.

Walker Eget stats:9 games, 2,941 passing yards, 17 total TDs, 65 rushing yards, 140.9 rating

12. Kevin Jennings, SMU

SMU has developed junior Kevin Jennings over the last four years and is really coming on strong late in the 2025 season. After a breakout campaign in 2024, Jennings has taken a big leap forward, with 2,810 passing yards and 23 total touchdowns after 10 games. He hit a career peak in Week 10 when he threw for 365 yards in a huge overtime win over No. 10 Miami.

Kevin Jennings stats: 10 games, 2,810 passing yards, 23 total TDs, 54 rushing yards, 147.1 rating

11. Sawyer Robertson , Baylor

Baylor's Sawyer Robertson showed a lot of potential in his first season as a starter in 2024, and he has grown even more in 2025. The senior is fifth in the nation in passing yards, but still leads in TDs after a BYE in Week 11. He is the main reason the Bears have one of the best passing attacks in the country, and the Texas native has done a very good job of putting his name on the radar of NFL draft evaluators.

Sawyer Robertson stats:9 games, 2,780 passing yards, 28 total TDs, 39 rushing yards, 146.3 rating

10. Josh Hoover, TCU

TCU heads into Week 12 with a 6-3 record because of the strong play of Josh Hoover. The senior sits sixth in TDs and 10th in passing yards in the country. The four-year veteran is on pace to have his best year yet in college football and is getting the attention of NFL scouts this season.

Josh Hoover stats:9 games, 2,690 passing yards, 25 total TDs, 15 rushing yards, 150.7 rating

9. Joe Fagnano, Connecticut

After losing two of their first three, Connecticut got on a roll and won four straight because of some very strong play from senior QB Joe Fagnano. The Maine Black Bears transfer is having a career year in his third season with the Huskies, as he sits second in the nation for passing yards, is third in TDs, and still has no INTs after 10 games. UConn is a team to watch in the final weeks of the season because of the Pennsylvania native.

Joe Fagnano stats:10 games, 2,840 passing yards, 27 total TDs, 142 rushing yards, 162.4 rating

8. Demond Williams, Jr., Washington

college football qb — Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Washington 's Demond Williams is having a breakout season in year two with the Huskies. He is sixth in the nation for completion percentage and has also racked up 489 yards on the ground. The Arizona native is a major reason why Washington has had a better season than many expected in 2025.

Demond Williams stats:9 games, 2,251 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 489 rushing yards, 161.4 passer rating

7. Taylen Green , Arkansas

Arkansas QB Taylen Green is one of the best dual-threat signal callers in the league. After nine games, he has an impressive 649 yards on the ground, and it's a big part of what makes him a serious problem for opposing defenses each week. While the Razorbacks have had a horrible year as they've lost seven straight — four to ranked teams — Green has done the best he can to keep his team competitive against elite competition throughout the season.

Taylen Green stats:9 games, 2,372 passing yards, 25 total TDs, 649 rushing yards, 152.2 rating

6. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Texas A&M would not be ranked third in the nation if not for the strong play of sophomore Marcel Reed. He has been steady all season and avoided mistakes that could cost his team wins. In Week 3, he had his best showing of the season when he dropped 360 passing yards and 2 TDs against No. 8 Notre Dame. Although he struggled at times against No. 20 LSU in Week 10, he still posted 310 total yards and 4 total TDs in their eighth straight win.

Marcel Reed stats:9 games, 2,193 passing yards, 25 total TDs, 378 rushing yards, 155.5 rating

5. Ty Simpson , Alabama

There was a ton of pressure on Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer heading into the season, and things got worse after their Week 1 loss to FSU. However, quarterback Ty Simpson has alleviated all of it with some outstanding play this year because he and the offense have caught fire since that setback, and they've been a key part of big victories over four ranked teams this season. After 11 weeks, he has 23 total TDs and has helped his team land a top-five spot in the rankings .

Ty Simposn stats:9 games, 2,461 passing yards, 23 total TDs, 87 rushing yards, 159.5 rating

4. Joey Aguilar, Tennessee

Although Tennessee came up short against Georgia, Alabama, and Oklahoma this season, Joey Aguilar and the Volunteers' offense have been outstanding for the majority of 2025. They have scored over 40 in six of their eight games (72 in Week 2 and 56 in Weeks 4 and 9), and the starting QB is a huge part of why.

The senior is having his best campaign yet and is second in the nation for passing yards and top 10 in TDs heading into Week 12.

Joey Aguilar stats:9 games, 2,737 passing yards, 23 total TDs, 85 rushing yards, 161.0 rating

3. Jayden Maiava, USC

One-time UNLV talent Jayden Maiava has been outstanding for USC all season long. The Trojans are in the top 20 due to the exploits of the junior and big-time performances in games against ranked teams, Illinois, and Michigan. While he was unable to lead them to a pivotal Week 8 win against Notre Dame, USC remains in the conversation for a playoff spot because of its QB.

Jayden Maiava stats:9 games, 2,614 passing yards, 23 total TDs, 113 rushing yards, 164.2 rating

2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State

Ohio State 's Julian Sayin has the unenviable task of being a first-time starter for a defending champion. Yet, despite the immense pressure, he has been amazing in the Buckeyes' first nine games. He is No.1 in the nation in both passer rating and completion percentage heading into Week 12 for the No. 1 team in the country. "Super Saiyan" is becoming a very real Heisman contender.

Julian Sayin stats:9 games, 2,491 passing yards, 24 total TDs, 21 rushing yards, 192.6 rating

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza has been the biggest breakout star in college football this season. Indiana isn't close to being No. 1 in the nation or in the discussion as a serious National Championship contender without the junior. He is second in the nation for touchdowns and third in passer rating.

Mendoza has been fantastic over the first 11 weeks of the season. While he didn't have a great day against Penn State, he made up for it with an epic last-minute touchdown drive.

Fernando Mendoza stats:10 games, 2,342 passing yards, 31 total TDs, 240 rushing yards, 178.5 passer rating

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