College Football 2011: Power Ranking Every Conference by Starting Quarterbacks

It is common knowledge in the game of football that quarterback is the most important position on the field.

The quality and talent of a team's quarterback ultimately decides its fate.

There are many talented quarterbacks who will be calling the shots for their teams this season. The best conferences in the nation possess a majority of those quarterbacks.

Follow along as we power rank each conference by starting quarterbacks.

11. Sun Belt Conference

The Sun Belt Conference is typically one of the worst in the nation and the same is true when it comes to the quality of its starting quarterbacks.

The conference is led by Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin who amassed 2,939 yards for 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season.

Aside from Aplin, the only other quality Sun Belt quarterback is Troy's Corey Robinson who passed for 3,726 yards to go along with 28 touchdowns in 2010. 

10. Western Athletic Conference

Hawaii's Bryant Moniz headlines the WAC's group of starting quarterbacks.

He takes over as the conference's top starting quarterback with the graduation of Nevada's Colin Kaepernick.

Last season in head coach Greg McMackin's wide-open offense, Bryant Moniz threw for 5,040 yards along with 39 touchdowns.

Also figuring to make noise in the WAC should be Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr.

He is unproven, having only attempted 14 passes in his career, but figures to be very much in the mix for mention as an elite WAC quarterback.

The WAC will be one of the worst in the nation in terms of starting quarterbacks as Hawaii is the only team that has a returning starter at the position.

9. Mid-American Conference

The MAC is led by highly efficient Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish.

He was the top passer in the conference last season, amassing 2,530 yards for 21 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

With eight returning starters on offense, Chandler Harnish should only improve those figures this season.

Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder is another standout returning starter.

Last season in head coach Bill Cubit's offense, he managed 3,334 yards for 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Of the 13 teams in the conference, 10 will have returning starters at quarterback in what looks like a promising season for the Mid-American Conference.

8. Conference USA

Houston's Case Keenum may be one of the best Conference USA quarterbacks of all time.

He had a nightmare season in 2010, going down with an ACL tear early in the season.

Case Keenum petitioned the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility and it was accepted, much to the dismay of opposing defenses.

Those defenses also must deal with Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne who passed 3,650 yards and 31 touchdowns last season.

However, with the departure of head coach Todd Graham to Pittsburgh, G.J. Kinne must learn a new system under new head coach Bill Blankenship.

Other than Case Keenum and G.J. Kinne, the conference is relatively weak at the quarterback position.

7. Big East Conference

While the Big East is considered to be a Power Six conference, the talent in the conference has slowly been declining ever since Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College bolted for the ACC.

The same is true with the conference's quarterbacks.

There's a bright spot in West Virginia signal-caller Geno Smith.

Last season he amassed 2,763 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air.

He'll be in the running for Big East Player of the Year honors heading into this season.

Another quarterback who may impress this season is Cincinnati senior Zach Collaros.

In the first year sans Brian Kelly, Zach Collaros still had success, completing 225 of 383 passes for 2,902 yards and 26 touchdowns.

South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels is another player who may surprise in 2011.

6. Mountain West Conference

The Mountain West Conference gained a lot of credibility in the starting quarterback department with the arrival of Boise State.

The Broncos' quarterback, Kellen Moore, will head into this season as a legitimate threat to win the Heisman Trophy.

He is coming off a record season in which he passed for 3,845 yards along with 35 touchdowns to only six interceptions.

The Mountain West Conference also features San Diego State gun-slinger Ryan Lindley who projects well at the next level.

He led his fellow Aztecs to a 9-4 record in 2010 while compiling 3,830 yards for 28 touchdowns.

Tim Jefferson of the United States Air Force Academy is a very intriguing player as he is the nation's best dual-threat quarterback.

His skills are maximized due to the fact that he is playing in head coach Troy Calhoun's potent option attack.

5. Atlantic Coast Conference

The ACC quarterbacks will be led this season by Maryland sophomore Danny O'Brien.

In his redshirt freshman season, he burst onto the scene accumulating 2,438 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air.

Danny O'Brien is a very talented player who hopes to flourish in new head coach Randy Edsall's scheme.

Next in line is Florida State's E.J. Manuel who split time with current Minnesota Viking Christian Ponder last season.

During his time on the field in 2010, he completed 65 of 93 passes for 861 yards and four touchdowns.

He's an extremely gifted athlete who should live up to his potential as the full-time starter this season in offensive coordinator James Coley's scheme.

Miami's Jacory Harris hopes to improve on a lackluster 2010 season that started with Heisman Trophy aspirations.

Another quarterback to watch is the new starter at Virginia Tech, Logan Thomas who is a monster at 6'6", 245 pounds.

4. Southeastern Conference

The SEC has a talented group of starting quarterbacks heading into this season and the best one is arguably Georgia Bulldog Aaron Murray.

He had a tremendous season as a redshirt freshman a year ago, amassing 3,049 yards and 24 touchdowns in offensive coordinator Mike Bobo's system.

Aside from Aaron Murray, another player to keep an eye on is the new starter at Arkansas, Tyler Wilson.

Tyler Wilson, a redshirt junior, possesses a large amount of untapped potential that could be unleashed on opposing defenses this season.

Florida's John Brantley should benefit this season with the tutelage of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis who molded Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen while he was the head coach at Notre Dame. 

Year Two of the Derek Dooley era at Tennessee should produce big numbers on the offensive side of the ball with talented sophomore Tyler Bray calling the shots.

3. Big Ten Conference

Even with the sudden departure of Terrelle Pryor out of Ohio State, the Big Ten remains strong at the quarterback position.

Michigan's Denard Robinson is coming off one of the best seasons by a Big Ten quarterback in conference history.

He was the team's leading passer and rusher in 2010 with 2,570 yards through the air and 1,702 on the ground.

Northwestern's Dan Persa is another great Big Ten quarterback who completed 222 of 302 pass attempts for 2,581 yards and 15 touchdowns last season before going down with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

He should produce huge numbers if he remains at full strength.

Kirk Cousins of Michigan State has been a solid starter for the Spartans the last few seasons and is a tremendous field general.

His numbers aren't mind-blowing, but he is vital to the success of Mark Dantonio's offense.

New conference member Nebraska brings dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez to the table.

2. Big 12 Conference

Baylor's Robert Griffin experienced one of the best seasons by a Big 12 quarterback in 2010.

Like Michigan's Denard Robinson, Robert Griffin was his team's leading passer and rusher.

He completed 304 of 454 pass attempts for 3,501 yards and 22 touchdowns.

On the ground, he he accumulated 635 yards on 149 carries to go along with eight touchdowns.

Oklahoma's Landry Jones is hoping for another outstanding season in Norman after he completed a ridiculous 405 of 617 attempts for 4,718 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden and Texas' Garret Gilbert should also impress in 2011.

1. Pac-12 Conference

The newly coined Pac-12 conference is absolutely loaded at quarterback.

The marquee player is Stanford's Andrew Luck who would have been the number one pick in the NFL Draft had he chosen to leave school early.

However, he decided to remain for his last season of eligibility.

Andrew Luck is the front runner for the Heisman Trophy this season despite head coach Jim Harbaugh departing for the NFL.

USC's Matt Barkley hopes to live up to his potential this season as well after passing for 2,791 yards and 26 touchdowns a year ago.

A large part of his success will be dependent upon the offensive line that must replace three starters from last season.

Oregon's Darron Thomas will be at it again in Chip Kelly's high-octane offense. His numbers will only improve with a year of starting experience under his belt.

Another quarterback to watch is Oregon State's Ryan Katz.