10 Quarterbacks Who Have the Most to Prove in Bowl Season
On the surface, bowl games mark the end of the college football season. In other ways, though, they can be just the beginning.
The postseason is a time for teams to spotlight their best players. For some, it's an opportunity to build momentum into the next season or state their case for a starting job. For others, it's a chance to impress NFL scouts with a good game.
Here are 10 quarterbacks who, in their own ways, have a lot to prove this bowl season. The only criteria is every player on this list must have started at least one game this year.
Cardale Jones, Ohio State
1 of 10
Season Stats: 22-of-34, 375 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Alabama vs. Ohio State, Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1
The quarterback transition Ohio State has made from Braxton Miller to J.T. Barrett to Cardale Jones has been nothing short of amazing. With the exception of one loss to Virginia Tech, there's been virtually no drop-off.
Jones was brilliant in his first start against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, going 12-of-17 for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Of course, it helped that running back Ezekiel Elliott averaged 11 yards per carry and scored a pair of touchdowns.
This whole Buckeyes offense is humming right now.
Can Ohio State repeat that success against Alabama? Statistically, this will be the best defense the Buckeyes have faced this year; the closest comparison would be Penn State.
The pressure on Jones will be to keep the chains moving. As head coach Urban Meyer has already shown, he has no plans of staying conservative. This isn't going to be a game where Jones hands off the ball 60 times—unless that happens to work, that is.
Ohio State has the offensive firepower to go toe-to-toe with Alabama.
The Sugar Bowl—and the national championship, should the Buckeyes advance—won't be a large enough body of work to ensure Jones has the starting job going into 2015.
However, Jones could make things interesting for spring storylines if he plays well.
Garrett Grayson, Colorado State
2 of 10
Season Stats: 250-of-386, 3,779 yards, 32 TDs, 6 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Colorado State vs. Utah, Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 20
Colorado State's Garrett Grayson might have had the quietest 3,779 passing yards ever.
The Rams reached 10 wins under former coach Jim McElwain, who is now with Florida, and had one of the most efficient offenses in the Mountain West. A big reason for that is Grayson, a senior who has averaged 9.8 yards per pass attempt—second only to Oregon's Marcus Mariota.
The Las Vegas Bowl should be a chance for Grayson to introduce himself to those who haven't seen him this year, though.
Utah had one of the better defenses in the Pac-12, if not the country, for most of the season. However, the Utes trailed off in November, getting moved around by Oregon, Arizona and even Colorado. Utah gave up 32.6 points per game in November, though it has still been fairly consistent against the pass (7.6 yards per attempt, 217 yards per game).
NFL scouts won't be tuning in to Colorado State's bowl game to watch Grayson for the first time, though. Gil Brandt of NFL.com has Grayson as one of the top-rated seniors heading into this year's NFL draft. However, Grayson is listed behind the usual suspects—Mariota, Brett Hundley, Jameis Winston, etc.—by outlets like CBSSports.com.
With one of the best receivers in the country (Rashard Higgins) to throw to, Grayson will have a chance to build some buzz heading into the offseason.
Jameis Winston, Florida State
3 of 10
Season Stats: 276-of-422, 3,559 yards, 24 TDs, 17 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Oregon vs. Florida State, Rose Bowl, Jan. 1
It's been an up-and-down season for Florida State's Jameis Winston, not unlike the team itself.
At times, the reigning Heisman winner has made some downright terrible decisions throwing the ball. He was particularly bad against Florida, tossing four interceptions.
Still, there are times when Winston looks like the best player in college football. He can make difficult throws look easy, even under pressure and off balance. There's something to be said for his ball placement and anticipation—as well as his chemistry with receiver Rashad Greene and tight end Nick O'Leary.
Florida State barely held on to beat Georgia Tech in the ACC championship, but that was probably Winston's best complete game all year.
Winston completed a university code of conduct hearing into an alleged rape last week, and a decision should be made within the next few weeks, according to Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel.
Should Winston be available to play in the Rose Bowl, he'll be facing off against Marcus Mariota, the likely Heisman winner.
How Winston looks in comparison to Mariota will be perhaps the biggest storyline of the game.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Anthony Jennings, LSU
4 of 10
Season Stats: 104-of-213, 1,460 yards, 10 TDs, 7 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Notre Dame vs. LSU, Music City Bowl, Dec. 30
Anthony Jennings has been the textbook definition of average for LSU. He's played well enough stave off freshman Brandon Harris, who has had his own struggles, but never been quite good enough to erase the conversation about the quarterback battle.
As Ross Dellenger of The Advocate notes, head coach Les Miles is using the extra practices to re-evaluate the position:
"Harris and Jennings have split first-string snaps in practice 50-50 for much of this season. Why? Because LSU hasn’t determined its quarterback for the future, Miles said earlier this season.
Two more weeks of practice could help in that regard. Coaches seem to be waiting for Harris to “get it.” He has displayed flashes of his lofty ranking out of high school, but he’s had some blips along the way — mostly play-calling and play-running confusion.
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When will the light bulb finally turn on for Harris? Who know. Maybe during bowl practices, maybe in the spring, maybe never.
In the meantime, Jennings has to show coaches he's still the right man for the job.
Though LSU's offense revolves around the running game, the sophomore has had one 200-yard passing game this season: against Wisconsin. And that was an odd 9-of-21 performance.
Christian Hackenberg, Penn State
5 of 10
Season Stats: 236-of-434, 2,606 yards, 8 TDs, 15 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Boston College vs. Penn State, Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 27
It's been a frustrating year for Christian Hackenberg and the Penn State offense. Stats don't always tell the whole story, but you get a pretty good idea of the Nittany Lions' problems by looking at the numbers.
It's been a team effort in the worst way possible. Penn State's offensive line has had all sorts of problems and ranks last in the Big Ten in sacks allowed per game (3.5). Not surprisingly, Hackenberg has been jumpy.
There simply isn't any rhythm or chemistry to the offense.
It's a shame. Hackenberg is physically one of the most gifted quarterbacks in college football. Some of the passes he throws show his potential.
Can Hackenberg and Penn State show signs of improvement against Boston College? The extra practices should pay dividends, but inclement weather in New York in the dead of winter may hamper that development.
In any case, it'd be nice to see Hackenberg end the year on a good note and give fans some optimism heading into 2015.
Joel Stave, Wisconsin
6 of 10
Season Stats: 96-of-179, 1,229 yards, 8 TDs, 7 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Wisconsin vs. Auburn, Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1
Now that he's officially recovered from a case of the "yips," Wisconsin's Joel Stave has to show he can rebound from a bad loss to Ohio State.
That loss isn't squarely on Stave's shoulders, but going 17-of-43 with three interceptions doesn't help.
Stave has played efficiently enough down the stretch that one game shouldn't affect his starting status. Stave and Tanner McEvoy have split time at quarterback and bring different dimensions to the offense.
But if running back Melvin Gordon isn't a factor, which was the case against the Buckeyes, can Stave carry the offense? Like Ohio State, Auburn can score quickly.
The answer to that question, for now, is no.
Wisconsin's quarterbacks haven't show any signs they can be a difference-maker. As unlikely as it is, Stave can have a say in that with a good game and build momentum as the starter heading into 2015.
Tyrone Swoopes, Texas
7 of 10
Season Stats: 211-of-359, 2,352 yards, 13 TDs, 10 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Texas vs. Arkansas, Texas Bowl, Dec. 29
The development of Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes has been of the two-steps-forward, one-step-back variety.
At times, especially in the second half of the season, Swoopes has looked competent. But for every moment when he looks to have turned a corner, there's a moment when things go south—and quickly.
The regular-season finale against TCU, a 48-10 loss, was one of those moments. Swoopes threw four interceptions, a combination of miscommunications, bad reads and poor throws.
Per Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman, head coach Charlie Strong says he has Swoopes' back heading into the bowl game.
"He’s got my full support," Strong said. "The way we’re look at it right now, we've just got to go out and recruit and just go get better and make sure we develop what we have."
Can Swoopes keep the job heading into next season?
Freshman Jerrod Heard did not play this season to preserve his redshirt, and 4-star prospect Zach Gentry has given his verbal commitment for 2015.
A strong bowl performance against the Razorbacks, however, could give Swoopes a boost heading into spring.
Everett Golson, Notre Dame
8 of 10
Season Stats: 250-of-416, 3,355 yards, 29 TDs, 14 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Notre Dame vs. LSU, Music City Bowl, Dec. 30
LSU isn't the only team in the Music City Bowl with a quarterback issue.
Per JJ Stankevitz of CSNChicago.com, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly is opening the quarterback competition between Everett Golson and Malik Zaire.
"Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly will take the next three weeks to evaluate who his starting quarterback will be in the Music City Bowl Dec. 30 vs. LSU.
"
Kelly referred to the eight-practice battle as a "true competition," with Everett Golson and Malik Zaire being given equal opportunity to prove to the fifth-year Irish coach they're the best fit for the offense.
Golson has been the starter all season, but has had major ball-security issues.
In the season-ending loss to USC, Kelly finally pulled Golson in favor of Zaire, who led the Irish to a pair of touchdown drives but only went 9-of-20.
Golson can spin it, but the turnover problems are glaring. He has also played in—and won—a lot of games. Zaire is more of an unknown.
Whoever wins the job for the bowl game has to prove he can keep it.
Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
9 of 10
Season Stats: 32-of-60, 554 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Oklahoma St. vs.Washington, Cactus Bowl, Jan. 2
It's hard to believe—you still might not even if presented with evidence—but Oklahoma State hasn't had a steady quarterback since 2011.
Clint Chelf in 2013 is the closest the Pokes have come to having a constant face behind center since the Brandon Weeden days.
In any case, freshman Mason Rudolph looks like he could be the future for Oklahoma State.
Rudolph looked like he was going to redshirt this season before a reported concussion to Daxx Garman forced the freshman into action against Baylor.
In two games, Rudolph has looked solid. There's room to grow in understanding and operating the offense, but he has great physical tools and the arm strength to give Oklahoma State the effective vertical-passing game it has lacked lately.
If Rudolph can build on those two starts and turn in a solid effort against Washington, there's little reason to think he won't be the front-runner to start in 2015.
Of course, head coach Mike Gundy is notoriously tight-lipped on these matters. Nobody will know who the starter is for sure until the first game of next season.
Treon Harris, Florida
10 of 10
Season Stats: 50-of-11, 896 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs
Bowl Matchup: Florida vs. East Carolina, Birmingham Bowl, Jan. 3
Florida's quarterback situation has been iffy all season and will undoubtedly be a point of interest for new coach Jim McElwain, who has a background in quarterback development.
Freshman Treon Harris has guided the Gators during the past five games with mixed results as a passer. However, there's no denying Harris' athleticism has been a boost for Florida on the ground.
With a winnable game against East Carolina, Harris has a chance to make a good first impression for McElwain.
“From his record, his history, everybody says he’s a great coach," Harris said of McElwain, per Luke Stampini of GatorBait.net. “He knows how to coach. He’s got a great record from his previous years at Alabama and at Colorado State he changed the whole program, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com. All recruiting information courtesy of 247sports.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
