Just like in the NFL, the quarterback position is extremely important in the college ranks. So, who are the best of the best as we head into Saturday's matchups? We aim to answer that for you with our all-new top 20 college football QB rankings heading into Week 9 of the 2025 season.
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Former Minnesota recruit Athan Kaliakmanis is having a career year in his second season at Rutgers. The senior is top 15 in the nation for throwing yards and is, arguably, the lone bright spot for a 3-4 Scarlet Knights team this season. Unfortunately, in the biggest game of the season for Rutgers, he was completely shut down by Oregon's defense in Week 8.
Athan Kaliakmanis stats:7 games, 1,864 passing yards, 13 total TDs, 3 rushing yards, 140.5 rating
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Miami 's Carson Beck is the most accomplished QB in all of college football. He left the Bulldogs to seek out one more huge payday with the Hurricanes and, hopefully, boost his value for the NFL Draft next spring. Over the first few weeks, he impressed scouts with some outstanding play that led Miami to the No. 2 ranking in the nation. However, a nightmare game in Week 8 with four INTs is why he falls to the back of our top 20.
Carson Beck stats:6 games, 1,484 passing yards, 12 total TDs, 26 rushing yards, 157.4 rating
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After losing two of their first three, Connecticut has gotten on a roll and won four straight due to the strong play of senior QB Joe Fagnano. The Maine Black Bears transfer is having a career year in his third season with the Huskies. He is 12th in the nation for passing yards and has 15 passing TDs and no INTs after seven games. UConn is a team to watch in the final weeks of the season because of the Pennsylvania native.
Joe Fagnano stats:7 games, 1,918 passing yards, 15 total TDs, 94 rushing yards, 161.3 rating
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Texas A&M is 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 against their toughest opponent when he dropped 360 passing yards and 2 TDs on Notre Dame.
Marcel Reed stats:7 games, 1,770 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 241 rushing yards, 156.0 rating
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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 and has helped get his team to a 6-1 record and a top 10 rating heading into Week 9. The stud QB has a chance to lead his team to a playoff spot this year with some big games ahead, including a matchup this week versus Missouri.
Diego Pavia stats:7 games, 1,569 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 438 rushing yards, 165.2 rating
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The Oklahoma Sooners added former Washington State QB John Mateer via the portal, and he has been one of the best moves this year in the portal for any team. The junior was playing fantastically over his first four games before a hand injury sidelined him for several games, and likely cost him a chance at the Heisman Trophy. Nevertheless, if the Sooners make the playoffs this year, it will be because of their star QB.
John Mateer stats:6 games, 1,567 passing yards, 12 total TDs, 209 rushing yards, 134.5 rating
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SMU has developed junior Kevin Jennings over the last four years, and he has turned into a pretty darn good QB for the Mustangs. After a breakout season in 2024, Jennings is off to an even better start in 2025 with 1,948 passing yards after seven games and has 16 total touchdowns. While he needs to cut down on his turnovers a bit, SMU is competitive every week because of the talented fourth-year player.
Kevin Jennings stats: 7 games, 1,948 passing yards, 16 total TDs, 5 rushing yards, 164.3 rating
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Illinois has quietly had another good season — aside from some tough losses to Indiana and Ohio State. A major reason why is the performance of senior Luke Altmyer. After a growth season in 2024, he has been even better this year and has 15 total TDs and an impressive 173.4 passer rating, which is 10th best in the nation heading into Week 9.
Luke Altmyer stats:7 games, 1,821 passing yards, 15 total TDs, -28 rushing yards, 173.4 rating
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Despite a pair of losses to start the season, Notre Dame has gotten back into the playoff picture due to the better-than-expected play of freshman CJ Carr. He has gotten better as the season has played out and thrown for around 350 yards in two of their last four games. His strong showing in recent weeks has him at 15 in the country for passing percentage, and the Fighting Irish in striking distance of returning to the top 10.
CJ Carr stats:7 games, 1,758 passing yards, 16 total TDs, 29 rushing yards, 166.8 rating
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Washington 's Demond Williams is having a breakout season in year two with the Huskies. He is top 20 in the nation for passing percentage and yards, and has also racked up 363 yards on the ground. The Arizona native is a major reason why Washington has a rock-solid 5-2 record heading into Week 9.
Demond Williams stats:7 games, 1,837 passing yards, 14 total TDs, 363 rushing yards, 166.5 passer rating
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TCU heads into Week 9 with a 5-2 record because of the strong play of junior Josh Hoover. He is second in TDs (21) and fifth in passing yards (2,124) in the nation. The four-year veteran is on pace to have his best year yet and is getting the attention of NFL scouts this fall.
Josh Hoover stats:7 games, 2,124 passing yards, 23 total TDs, 7 rushing yards, 161.3 rating
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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 No. 1 in the nation in passing yards and touchdowns heading into Week 9, and the Bears have one of the best passing attacks in the country because of Robertson. The Texas native is turning the heads of NFL scouts this season.
Sawyer Robertson stats:7 games, 2,376 passing yards, 22 total TDs, 27 rushing yards, 146.0 rating
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Duke will always be known for its basketball team, but sophomore Darian Mensah is making the football program worth watching each week. While they've lost three games this season, it isn't the fault of the player rising on many draft boards around the NFL. Heading into Week 9, the California native is second in the nation in passing yards and ninth in passing TDs. While his team fell to Georgia Tech in Week 8, the star QB threw for 373 in the loss.
Darian Mensah stats:7 games, 2,211 passing yards, 17 total TDs, -61 rushing yards, 165.8 rating
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Arkansas QB Taylen Green is the best running QB in the nation when it comes to the big conferences in college football. After just seven games, he has 589 yards on the ground. That threat opens up his passing opportunities and makes him a serious problem for opposing defenses each week. While the Razorbacks have lost five straight — four to ranked teams — Green has done the best he can to keep his team competitive against elite competition.
Taylen Green stats:7 games, 1,910 passing yards, 21 total TDs, 589 rushing yards, 155.9 rating
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Oregon has national title hopes this year, partially due to the strong play of Dante Moore. He has been a machine running their offense and heads into Week 9 with the sixth-best completion percentage in the country. The sophomore is rising on many draft boards due to his performance for the Ducks this season.
Dante Moore stats:7 games, 1,686 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 144 rushing yards, 176.8 rating
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Although Tennessee came up short against Georgia and Alabama this season, Joey Aguilar and the Volunteers' offense have been outstanding for the majority of this season. They have scored over 40 in five of their six games (72 in Week 2 and 56 in Week 4), and the starting QB is a major reason why. The senior is having his best campaign yet and is in the top 10 in the nation for passing yards heading into Week 9.
Joey Aguilar stats:7 games, 1,948 passing yards, 17 total TDs, 97 rushing yards, 153.6 rating
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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 seven games. He is third in the nation in passer rating and is the most accurate passer (78.4 completion percentage) in college football heading into Week 9 for the No. 1 team in the country. "Super Saiyan" is pushing his name into the Heisman discussion.
Julian Sayin stats:7 games, 1,872 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 17 rushing yards, 189.7 rating
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There was a ton of pressure on Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer heading into the season. However, quarterback Ty Simpson has alleviated all of it with some outstanding play this year. After a rough showing in their Week 1 loss to FSU, he and the offense have caught fire, including being a key part of victories in wins over four ranked teams. After eight weeks, he has 20 total TDs and has helped his team land a top-five spot in the rankings .
Ty Simposn stats:7 games, 1,931 passing yards, 20 total TDs, 66 rushing yards, 170.9 rating
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One-time UNLV talent Jayden Maiava has been outstanding for USC all season long. The Trojans returned to the top 25 for a time 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 has had a far more competitive year because of how good the junior has played.
Jayden Maiava stats:7 games, 2,180 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 41 rushing yards, 173.5 rating
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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 National Championship contender without the junior. He is tied for first in the nation in touchdowns and second in passer rating. Mendoza has been fantastic over the first eight weeks of the season and has played well in some of their toughest matchups of the season.
Fernando Mendoza stats:7 games, 1,755 passing yards, 23 total TDs, 151 rushing yards, 191.0 passer rating
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