.jpg?w=1280)
Report Card Grades for Top 20 College Football QBs After Week 11
Every Tuesday morning during the 2025 college football season, we will be grading the performance of the top 20 quarterbacks in the nation.
The rankings will then be shuffled to provide a fresh top-20 list to grade the following week, providing an updated view of the top-tier quarterback landscape across college football.
Included is each player's production through the air and on the ground, the outcome of their game and the quality of their opponent. A 1-5 star system was used to highlight quality of opponent, using the most recent version of The Athletic's ranking of all 136 FBS teams, with stars awarded as follows:
5 stars: No. 1-10 in the rankings
4 stars: No. 11-40 in the rankings
3 stars: No. 41-70 in the rankings
2 stars: No. 71-100 in the rankings
1 star: No. 101-136 in the rankings or an FCS opponent
Finally, each quarterback's performance was given a grade of A, B, C, D or F, and those grades were factored into the shuffling of the rankings for the following week.
Let's dive into the Week 11 grades.
20. Bear Bachmeier, BYU
1 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 23-of-38, 188 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 11 carries, 12 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★★ (Texas Tech)
Week 11 Outcome: Loss (7-29)
The BYU offense was limited to a season-low 255 total yards against a terrific Texas Tech defense, suffering their first loss of the season in the process in a head-to-head clash with the Big 12's other top contender.
Bachmeier has put together a solid true freshman season after a whirlwind offseason. He transferred from Stanford following a coaching change, then landed at BYU where he quickly earned the starting job after Jake Retzlaff transferred to Tulane in July.
Week 11 Grade: D
19. Brendon Lewis, Memphis
2 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 29-of-34, 317 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 10 carries, -41 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Tulane)
Week 11 Outcome: Loss (32-38)
Memphis was dealt a crushing blow in the hunt for the Group of Five playoff spot, suffering its second loss of the season Friday night against another AAC contender in Tulane.
Lewis has been a dynamic dual-threat option all season, but he was sacked six times by the Green Wave defense, rendering him a non-factor on the ground as the Tigers offense was held to 67 rushing yards on 29 carries.
Week 11 Grade: C
18. Jalon Daniels, Kansas
3 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 15-of-29, 199 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 14 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Arizona)
Week 11 Outcome: Loss (20-24)
In his sixth collegiate season, Jalon Daniels has thrown a career-high 21 touchdown passes while ranking third in the Big 12 with a 157.0 passer rating, though the Jayhawks fell to 5-5 with Saturday's loss.
Along with his 21st touchdown pass, he also racked up a season-high 74 rushing yards and his third rushing score of the season. The 23-year-old has had an up and down collegiate career, but he is having a strong all-around 2025 campaign.
Week 11 Grade: C
17. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
4 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 13-of-23, 221 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 5 carries, 29 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Missouri)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (38-17)
Marcel Reed is a big reason Texas A&M is off to a 9-0 start and currently slotted No. 3 in the latest AP poll, as he has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in the SEC and a consistent presence under center.
His completion percentage (61.3 to 62.3 percent), yards per attempt (7.8 to 8.7) and passer rating (142.1 to 155.5) have all improved this season, and the Aggies welcome South Carolina to town next weekend.
Week 11 Grade: B
16. Noah Fifita, Arizona
5 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 16-of-31, 158 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 13 carries, 25 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Kansas)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (24-20)
Over his last five games, Noah Fifita has 1,235 passing yards and 15 touchdowns against just two interceptions, and the Wildcats officially became bowl-eligible on Saturday with their victory over Kansas.
A road game against Cincinnati next weekend will give Arizona a chance to add a victory over a ranked opponent to its resume, while Fifita will look to make it seven straight games with multiple passing touchdowns.
Week 11 Grade: B
15. Behren Morton, Texas Tech
6 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 17-of-32, 219 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 5 carries, -47 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★★ (BYU)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (29-7)
Backed by one of the best defenses in the country and a running game anchored by Big 12 leading rusher Cameron Dickey (867 rushing yards, 11 TD), Behren Morton has done an excellent job steering the Texas Tech offense.
The Red Raiders are 8-0 with Morton under center, as their lone loss came against Arizona State with Will Hammond filling in while Morton was sidelined with an injury, but he is healthy for the playoff push.
Week 11 Grade: B
14. Gunner Stockton, Georgia
7 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 18-of-29, 264 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 6 carries, 31 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Mississippi State)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (41-21)
It's been a tale of two seasons for Gunner Stockton, who has gone from game manager to impact quarterback over the last few weeks to raise the team's offensive profile.
Games 1-6: 68.0 cmp%, 6 TD, 1 INT, 210.7 pass ypg
Games 7-9: 71.9 cmp%, 9 TD, 1 INT, 258.7 pass ypg
The only blemish on the Bulldogs resume is a three-point loss to Alabama, but that currently puts them on the outside looking in for a spot in the SEC championship game with Texas A&M and Alabama ahead of them in the standings.
Week 11 Grade: A
13. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
8 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 29-of-33, 333 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 2 carries, -1 yard
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★ (The Citadel)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (49-0)
The Rebels steamrolled The Citadel as expected, entering the game as a 51.5-point favorite against the FCS opponent, and Trinidad Chambliss was nearly perfect under center with an 87.9 percent completion rate and three touchdown passes.
In his eight games in the starting role, he has 2,297 passing yards, 413 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns, more than holding his own against SEC competition a year after he was playing at D-II Ferris State.
Week 11 Grade: A
12. Josh Hoover, TCU
9 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 34-of-50, 319 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 1 carry, 11 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Iowa State)
Week 11 Outcome: Loss (17-20)
The Horned Frogs are 6-3 on the year, and their three losses also happen to be the three games where Josh Hoover has thrown multiple interceptions, including Saturday's contest against Iowa State.
The third-year starter ranks second in the Big 12 in passing touchdowns (23) and passing yards (2,690), trailing Baylor's Sawyer Robertson in both categories.
With 153 more passing yards, Hoover will become just the fourth quarterback in TCU history with 9,000 career yards through the air.
Week 11 Grade: D
11. Joe Fagnano, UConn
10 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 27-of-39, 311 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 6 carries, 51 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Duke)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (37-34)
Another week, another terrific performance from Joe Fagnano, who has a strong claim to the title of most underrated quarterback in the nation.
He has 343 pass attempts without an interception this year, piling up 2,840 yards and 25 touchdowns along the way.
Fagnano should eclipse 3,000 passing yards next week, at which point he will join Dan Orlovsky as the only quarterbacks in UConn history to reach that milestone in a single season.
Week 11 Grade: A
10. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
11 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 13-of-16, 218 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 0 carries, 0 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Navy)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (49-10)
The Fighting Irish went 0-2 to start the year, but they have rattled off seven straight wins to climb back into the College Football Playoff picture, while CJ Carr has emerged as one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the nation.
During their winning streak, he has 1,761 passing yards and 16 touchdowns with only two interceptions, and with such a potent rushing attack and stout defense he has added another element to a title contender.
Week 11 Grade: A
9. Demond Williams Jr., Washington
12 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 20-of-32, 134 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 19 carries, 60 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (Wisconsin)
Week 11 Outcome: Loss (10-13)
The Huskies were 10.5-point favorites against a Wisconsin team that entered their matchup with an 0-5 record in Big Ten play, but the Badgers pulled off the upset.
Demond Williams Jr. has been a dynamic, dual-threat quarterback at times this year, but he has also disappeared in a few games. He turned in a dud against Michigan (209 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT) in Week 8, bounced back against Illinois (280 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) in Week 9, but stumbled again on Saturday coming out of a bye week.
Week 11 Grade: D
8. Byrum Brown, South Florida
13 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 14-of-15, 239 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 9 carries, 109 yards, 1 TD
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (UTSA)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (55-23)
Over his last five games, Byrum Brown has stuffed the box score with 1,220 passing yards, 585 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns, and the South Florida offense has averaged 50.2 points per game during that stretch.
Despite having two losses, the Bulls are still in the running for the Group of Five playoff spot, though they will likely need to win out, earn a spot in the AAC Championship Game and win.
Week 11 Grade: A
7. Jayden Maiava, USC
14 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 24-of-33, 299 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 4 carries, 10 yards, 1 TD
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Northwestern)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (38-17)
Jayden Maiava leads the Big Ten with 290.4 passing yards per game, and USC moved up to No. 17 in the latest AP poll after improving to 7-2 with Saturday's victory over Northwestern.
It was a nice bounce-back performance for Maiava, who had an ugly game in Week 10 against Nebraska when he completed just 9-of-23 pass attempts for 135 yards and an interception.
Week 11 Grade: B
6. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
15 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 25-of-33, 377 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 18 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Auburn)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (45-38, OT)
Diego Pavia continues to find a way to win football games, as Saturday's victory over Auburn was the third time in the last five games the Commodores have come out on top in a one possession game.
He had a season high in both passing yards (377) and rushing yards (112) against the Tigers defense, and delivered the game-winning touchdown pass to Cole Spence in overtime.
With Vanderbilt up to No. 13 in the latest AP poll, a playoff bid is still within reach.
Week 11 Grade: A
5. Darian Mensah, Duke
16 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 22-of-31, 222 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 5 carries, 3 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (UConn)
Week 11 Outcome: Loss (34-37)
Darian Mensah doubled his season interception total with a pair of picks on Saturday in an upset loss to UConn, but he also added three more touchdowns to his ACC-leading total of 24.
The Tulane transfer has thrown multiple touchdown passes in every game this season, and he now needs two more to tie and three to overtake the 26 Maalik Murphy threw in 2024 for the single-season school record.
Week 11 Grade: C
4. Dante Moore, Oregon
17 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 13-of-21, 112 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 4 carries, 46 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Iowa)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (18-16)
There is a growing belief Dante Moore will return to Oregon next year for his senior season, according to CFB insider Todd McShay (via Ducks Wire), and that could make him the Heisman Trophy favorite in 2026.
Despite back-to-back games without a touchdown, he still has 19 touchdown passes on the year, and he is completing 70.5 percent of his throws with 1,884 passing yards and 177 rushing yards.
Week 11 Grade: C
3. Ty Simpson, Alabama
18 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 21-of-35, 277 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 4 carries, 8 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (LSU)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (20-9)
The Crimson Tide have now won eight straight since their season-opening loss to Florida State, with Ty Simpson emerging as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate while racking up 2,461 passing yards and 21 touchdowns with only one interception.
Saturday was the first time all year he failed to throw multiple touchdown passes, but no one is going to complain about a 20-9 victory in a rivalry game and another step closer to the SEC Championship Game.
Week 11 Grade: B
2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
19 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 27-of-33, 303 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 4 carries, -9 yards
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (Purdue)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (34-10)
Another week, another 300-yard passing performance for Julian Sayin, who has now reached that mark in each of his last three games, and six of nine games overall on the year.
With Carnell Tate sidelined, fellow star wideout Jeremiah Smith was the focal point in the passing game, hauling in all 10 of his targets for 137 yards and a touchdown.
Sayin has the nation's best receiving corps at his disposal, and he has taken full advantage all year.
Week 11 Grade: B
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
20 of 21
Week 11 Passing Stats: 19-of-30, 218 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 11 Rushing Stats: 6 carries, 20 yards, 1 TD
Week 11 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Penn State)
Week 11 Outcome: Win (27-24)
Fernando Mendoza did not have his best game of the season by any stretch of the imagination on Saturday, but he buckled down when it mattered most, leading a 10-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in the game-winning touchdown pass with 36 seconds remaining in a three-point victory over Penn State.
The Hoosiers are now 10-0, with a home game against Wisconsin and a road matchup with Purdue all that stands between them and a perfect regular season. That would likely set up a showdown with Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and that could be the contest that decides the Heisman Trophy.
Week 11 Grade: B
Updated Top 20 CFB Quarterbacks List
21 of 21
In an effort to keep things fresh and allow for the inclusion of breakout performers, we will be re-ranking the top 20 quarterbacks in college football each week on this final slide, setting the stage for grading the 20 QBs' performance the following week.
Players who are headed into a bye week have been temporarily removed from the list, to provide a rundown of 20 signal-callers who can all be graded on Week 11 performance in next week's article.
That notably removed Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Jalon Daniels (Kansas) and Kevin Jennings (SMU) from consideration.
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
3. Ty Simpson, Alabama
4. Haynes King, Georgia Tech
5. Darian Mensah, Duke
6. Byrum Brown, South Florida
7. Joe Fagnano, UConn
8. Jayden Maiava, USC
9. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
10. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
11. Dante Moore, Oregon
12. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
13. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
14. Gunner Stockton, Georgia
15. Joey Aguilar, Tennessee
16. Demond Williams Jr., Washington
17. Josh Hoover, TCU
18. Arch Manning, Texas
19. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
20. Drew Mestemaker, North Texas
.jpg?w=600 "Bill Clinton Crashes Cowboys Presser")