College Football Power Rankings 2011: Top 25 Quarterbacks Heading into Week 9

Welcome back to the Quarterback Scramble, where (as always) it's all signal-callers, all the time. 

Week 8 of the 2011 college football season was a fairly prolific one for field generals, with five throwing for 400 or more yards and several more coming within striking range of that gaudy total.

Throw in a bit of a reshuffling among the top 10, and you've got a refreshingly new set of rankings for the weekend ahead.

Feel free to check out last week's list to see how things have changed.

Who's Out?

The QB Scramble once again bids farewell to a few unfortunate souls who weren't quite good enough to hold onto a spot in the rankings this week. Don't be too surprised, though, if each of these guys finds his way back into the Top 25 a week from now.

18. Darron Thomas, Oregon: did not play due to injury in a 45-2 win at Colorado but is expected to return for the Ducks on Saturday against Washington State.

1,227 yards, 17 touchdowns and three interceptions on 61.3 percent pass completions; 22 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns rushing in 2011

19. James Franklin, Missouri: 14-of-27 for 184 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, with 15 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown rushing in a 45-24 loss to Oklahoma State.

1,672 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 60.2 percent pass completions; 109 carries for 445 yards and eight touchdowns rushing in 2011

21. Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois: 11-of-26 for 150 yards, with 12 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown in a 31-30 win at Buffalo.

1,697 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions on 62.8 percent pass completions; 94 carries for 738 yards and eight touchdowns rushing in 2011

Honorable Mentions

These six quarterbacks deserve some props for putting together some strong stats in Week 8. They'll be squarely in spotlight this weekend for Top 25 consideration going forward.

Collin Klein, Kansas State: 12-of-19 for 195 yards and a touchdown, with 13 carries for 92 yards and four touchdowns rushing, in a 59-21 win over in-state rival Kansas.

934 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions on 59.4 percent pass completions; 151 carries for 670 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing in 2011

BJ Daniels, South Florida: 31-of-48 for 409 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, with 15 carries for 54 yards, in a 37-34 loss to Cincinnati.

1,867 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions on 62.1 percent pass completions; 77 carries for 376 yards and four touchdowns rushing in 2011

Sean Mannion, Oregon State: 26-of-34 for 376 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in a 44-21 win over Washington State.

1,964 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 66.4 percent pass completions in 2011

Chazz Anderson, Buffalo: 35-of-53 for 404 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, with 10 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown rushing, in a 31-30 loss to Northern Illinois.

1,712 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions on 56.7 percent pass completions; 49 carries for 262 yards and four touchdowns rushing in 2011

Ryan Radcliff, Central Michigan: 30-of-44 for 436 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in a 31-27 defeat at Ball State.

2,184 yards, 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 57.7 percent pass completions in 2011

Cody Fajardo, Nevada: 19-of-27 for 313 yards and a touchdown, with 17 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown, in a 45-38 win over Fresno State.

682 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions on 72.7 percent pass completions; 55 carries for 384 yards and six touchdowns in 2011

25. GJ Kinne, Tulsa

The QB Scramble would like to welcome GJ Kinne to the Top 25 for the first time this season. The senior quarterback for Tulsa earned his way in, completing 21-of-34 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns, while running for another 34 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, in a 38-20 win at Rice for the Golden Hurricane.

Next up, Kinne's clan will welcome Southern Methodist to Chapman Stadium in a Conference USA showdown on Saturday.

1,621 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 63.8 percent pass completions; 56 carries for 178 yards and a touchdown rushing in 2011

Last week's ranking: NR

24. Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

The QB Scramble would also like to extend a warm congratulations to Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas. After two weeks straight as an honorable mention, Thomas finally cracked the list with another stellar performance—22-of-36 for 268 yards and a touchdown, with 16 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown—in the Hokies' 30-14 win over Boston College.

He shouldn't have much trouble improving on those numbers at Duke this weekend.

1,744 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions on 60.9 percent pass completions; 77 carries for 258 yards and six touchdowns in 2011

Last week's ranking: NR

23. Tyler Tettleton, Ohio

Tyler Tettleton was solid once again for Ohio in Week 8. He connected on 21 of his 29 passing attempts for 328 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, with 23 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, in a 37-20 win for the Bobcats against Akron.

A home game against Temple two days after Halloween on ESPN should be an excellent showcase for Tettleton's skills under center.

1,983 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions on 64.1 percent pass completions; 72 carries for 258 yards and five touchdowns in 2011

Last week's ranking: 25th

22. AJ McCarron, Alabama

Like Alabama as a whole, AJ McCarron continues to get better from week to week, putting up solid numbers along the way. He posted one of his finest performances of the season in a 37-6 win over Tennessee, throwing for 284 yards and two total touchdowns on 17-of-26 passing.

He'll have an extra week to rest up before the Crimson Tide welcome LSU to Tuscaloosa for the Game of the Century on Nov. 5.

1,664 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions on 67.0 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: 24th

21. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Ryan Tannehill has done a wonderful job of helping Texas A&M to rebound from back-to-back losses to Oklahoma State and Arkansas. The senior slung for 263 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-43 passing in the Aggies' 33-17 win at Iowa State last weekend.

He'll spend Saturday terrorizing Missouri's defense in what may well be a matchup of future SEC rivals.

2,005 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions on 65.2 percent pass completions; 34 carries for 215 yards and three touchdowns rushing in 2011

Last week's ranking: 23rd

20. Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

Brock Osweiler returns at No. 20 after spending the week off with the rest of his Arizona State teammates. Don't be surprised if he puts up some ridiculous numbers against lowly Colorado this weekend.

1,968 yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 66 percent pass completions; 50 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns rushing in 2011

Last week's ranking: 20th

19. Taylor Martinez, Nebraska

Taylor Martinez had an easy week, to say the least. He led Nebraska to a smooth 41-14 win over Big Ten bottom-feeder Minnesota while throwing for 162 yards and a touchdown and scampering for another 52 yards.

He'll get much more of a challenge when the Cornhuskers welcome Michigan State to Lincoln on Saturday.

1,176 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions on 55 percent pass completions; 110 carries for 636 yards and nine touchdowns rushing in 2011

Last week's ranking: 17th

18. Dominique Davis, East Carolina

Dominique Davis returns to the QB Scramble for the first time since the early portion of the 2011 season, and for good reason. While logging spectacular numbers in a 38-35 victory for ECU over Navy (40-of-45 for 372 yards and two touchdowns), Davis broke the NCAA record for most consecutive pass completions in a single game (26) and the most over a two-game span (36).

He'll look to shine on (you crazy diamond) when the Pirates host Tulane on Saturday.

2,013 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 71.6 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: NR

17. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

If it weren't for the fact that Arkansas won its game at Ole Miss, Tyler Wilson would've likely dropped a bit further down than he did. Wilson worked up 232 yards on 13-of-28 passing, with his two touchdowns of the day coming by foot.

Wilson will have a shot at redemption in the rankings when the Razorbacks storm into Vanderbilt this weekend.

2,011 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions on 62.7 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: 16th

16. Keith Price, Washington

Lost in the shuffle of Washington's embarrassing 65-21 loss at Stanford was a surprisingly solid performance by Keith Price. The Huskies' quarterback clocked in with 247 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 23-of-36 passing.

He and U-Dub should find a bit more success when they play host to Arizona this weekend.

1,713 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions on 68.4 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: 15th

15. Zach Collaros, Cincinnati

Few quarterbacks were more prolific in Week 8 than Zach Collaros. The senior snuck in 389 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 26-of-41 passing, along with 21 yards and two touchdowns on 10 rushing attempts, in Cincinnati's 37-34 triumph at South Florida.

He can rest easy this week with the rest of his Bearcats teammates until their Nov. 5 trip to Heinz Field to play Pittsburgh.

1,576 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions on 64 percent pass completions; 61 carries for 225 yards and six touchdowns in 2011

Last week's ranking: 22nd

14. Denard Robinson, Michigan

Surprisingly enough, Week 8 was arguably the most exciting of the season, even without Denard Robinson doing his thing for Michigan. Shoelace will be back in action on Saturday when the Wolverines welcome Purdue to the Big House.

1,155 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 52.3 percent pass completions; 11 carries for 716 yards and nine touchdowns in 2011

Last week's ranking: 14th

13. Geno Smith, West Virginia

It was a tough week for West Virginia indeed, though Geno Smith's numbers didn't suffer too much. Smith connected on 24 of his 41 attempts for 338 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the Mountaineers' mammoth 49-23 disappointment at Syracuse.

He'll look to help his team recover from that surprising loss when they travel to Rutgers this weekend.

2,497 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions on 63.2 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: 11th

12. Nick Foles, Arizona

As expected, Nick Foles and Arizona came to life in a big way against UCLA last Thursday. Foles fanned the flames of a 48-12 win over the Bruins with 291 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on 26-of-39 passing.

With a little bit of "Luck," he'll be able to keep his roll going at Washington this weekend.

2,546 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions on 70.9 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: 13th

11. Matt Barkley, USC

Matt Barkley didn't do himself any favors by ripping on Notre Dame after USC's 31-17 win, though, as far as his play was concerned, he had some leeway. Barkley was his usual, efficient self, hitting on 24-of-35 for 224 yards and three touchdowns under the lights in South Bend.

He'll face his biggest test of the season when Andrew Luck and Pac-12 favorite Stanford come down to Los Angeles on Saturday.

2,006 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions on 68.2 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: 10th

10. Seth Doege, Texas Tech

All things considered, Seth Doege may well have had the Performance of the Week. His numbers (33-of-52 for 441 yards and five total touchdowns) are impressive enough themselves.

When you consider that he put those up in Norman against Oklahoma in a 41-38 shocker for Texas Tech, his feat becomes that much more extraordinary.

With that momentum behind him, Doege should be dominant against Iowa State this weekend.

2,608 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions on 69.6 percent pass completions; 36 carries for 61 yards and two touchdowns in 2011

Last week's ranking: 12th

9. Bryant Moniz, Hawaii

Like so many quarterbacks this season, Bryant Moniz lit up New Mexico State in a 45-34 win for Hawaii. Moniz was money, connecting on 24-of-39 attempts for 264 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 62 yards and two touchdowns on 11 attempts.

Next up, Moniz and the Warriors will fly into Idaho for a WAC showdown.

2,145 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions on 63.3 percent pass completions; 58 carries for 252 yards and six touchdowns rushing in 2011

Last week's ranking: ninth

8. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

It's tough to say what differentiates a good game from a great one for Brandon Weeden. Either way, he was solid for Oklahoma State, throwing for 338 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on 33-of-49 passing in a 45-24 win at Missouri.

Look for him to log some impressive states in a shootout against Baylor on Saturday.

2,436 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 71.8 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: seventh

7. Kellen Moore, Boise State

As much as I like Kellen Moore, I expected more from him against Air Force than he contributed. Not that Moore was bad—can't argue with 281 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on 23-of-29 passing—but he's set the bar so high for himself in the past that hitting the bar, much less raising it, can be a very difficult task from week to week.

Nonetheless, he'll look to do so (and probably will) when Boise State storms into UNLV on Nov. 5.

2,010 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions on 76.3 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: fifth

6. Tajh Boyd, Clemson

Tajh Boyd kept Clemson rolling toward an improbable undefeated season as the key catalyst behind a 59-38 win against North Carolina. Boyd bolstered the Tigers' efforts with 367 yards and six total touchdowns while completing 27 of his 46 throws in the game.

A trip to Georgia Tech this weekend could very well make or break his candidacy for the Heisman Trophy as well as Clemson's place in the BCS National Championship picture.

2,379 yards, 24 touchdowns and three interceptions on 61.9 percent pass completions; 81 attempts for 165 yards and four touchdowns rushing in 2011

Last week's ranking: eighth

5. Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

As valiant as Russell Wilson's efforts were against Michigan State, they weren't quite enough to keep Wisconsin from suffering its first loss of the season last Saturday. The senior transfer totaled 223 yards, two touchdowns and interceptions on 14-of-21 passing, along with eight carries for 30 yards and a touchdown rushing, in the Badgers' shocking 37-31 loss in East Lansing.

They'll look to rebound in the Big Ten at Ohio State on Saturday.

1,780 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions on 73.2 percent pass completions; 32 carries for 212 yards and three touchdowns rushing in 2011

Last week's ranking: second

4. Case Keenum, Houston

If a prolific quarterback is what you want, then Case Keenum is your guy. The senior for Houston completed 24-of-28 passes for 376 yards and six touchdowns without a pick to lead the Cougars to a 63-28 trouncing of Marshall.

He'll try to keep Houston on its undefeated track when crosstown rival Rice comes to town on Thursday in a battle for the Bayou Bucket.

2,685 yards, 23 touchdowns and two interceptions on 72.9 percent pass completions in 2011

Last week's ranking: sixth

3. Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Like Denard Robinson in the Big Ten, Robert Griffin III wasn't missed too much in the Big 12 in Week 8 thanks to the exciting game that went down in Norman on Saturday night. He'll lead Baylor into a Wild West shootout at Oklahoma State on Saturday.

1,950 yards, 22 touchdowns and two interceptions on 78 percent pass completions; 72 carries for 295 yards and two touchdowns in 2011

Last week's ranking: third

2. Andrew Luck, Stanford

Andrew Luck's numbers in Week 8 weren't great, but I could hardly justify dropping him after Stanford whooped up on Washington. Luck logged 169 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-21 passing, along with 23 yards on three carries, in the Cardinal's 65-21 drubbing of U-Dub.

His Heisman candidacy—and Stanford's BCS National Championship hopes—will be on the line at USC on Saturday night.

1,888 yards, 20 touchdowns and three interceptions on 71.8 percent pass completions; 16 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown rushing in 2011

Last week's ranking: first

1. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

There's plenty of blame to go around for Oklahoma's disappointing 41-38 loss at home to Texas Tech. Just don't point fingers at Landry Jones.

Jones was magnificent for the Sooners, completing 30-of-55 for 412 yards, five touchdowns and an interception while nearly leading his team all the way back from a 31-7 third-quarter deficit.

Another performance like that, and OU should have no trouble beating undefeated Kansas State in Manhattan this weekend.

2,589 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 65.3 percent pass completions; 14 carries for 22 yards and two touchdowns rushing in 2011

Last week's ranking: fourth