Report Card Grades for Top 20 College Football QBs After Week 14
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 14 grades.
20. Anthony Colandrea, UNLV
1 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 15-of-22, 270 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 2 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★ (Nevada)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (42-17)
After two forgettable seasons at Virginia, Anthony Colandrea transferred to UNLV last offseason and enjoyed a breakout campaign while leading the Rebels to a 10-2 record and a spot in the Mountain West championship game.
His 3,050 passing yards are the fourth-highest single-season total in UNLV history, to go along with 22 touchdown passes and a 157.8 passer rating. He also added 555 yards and eight scores on the ground, showing far more dual-threat ability than he had in the past.
Week 14 Grade: C
19. Arch Manning, Texas
2 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 14-of-29, 179 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 7 carries, 53 yards, 1 TD
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★★ (Texas A&M)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (27-17)
It was another up-and-down performance, but Arch Manning stepped up during the second half to help hand Texas A&M its first loss of the season and at least give the selection committee something to think about with regard to the Longhorns' case for a playoff spot.
For all the scrutiny, Manning ended up throwing for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first year as the team's starting quarterback, and he also led the Longhorns with eight rushing touchdowns.
Week 14 Grade: B
18. Kevin Jennings, SMU
3 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 24-of-36, 250 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 6 carries, 23 yards, 1 TD
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (California)
Week 14 Outcome: Loss (35-38)
A year after tallying 3,245 passing yards and 23 touchdowns while leading SMU to a spot in the College Football Playoff field, Kevin Jennings upped those marks to 3,363 yards and 26 touchdowns through two fewer games in 2025.
However, the Mustangs were upset by Cal on Saturday night, knocking them out of the ACC championship game in the process to slam the door on any hope of a return trip to the playoffs.
Week 14 Grade: C
17. Carson Beck, Miami
4 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 23-of-29, 267 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 5 carries, -17 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Pitt)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (38-7)
When Carson Beck has been good, the Hurricanes have looked like a legitimate national title contender, like they did on Saturday in a lopsided road win against a very good Pitt team.
He finished with 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdowns for the third year in a row, and his 74.7 percent completion rate paced the ACC and ranked second in the nation.
Since they are not playing in the ACC championship game, the Hurricanes' playoff fate is now in the committee's hands after they closed out the regular season with four straight victories.
Week 14 Grade: A
16. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
5 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 23-of-33, 282 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 10 carries, 59 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (TCU)
Week 14 Outcome: Loss (23-45)
After a 7-1 start, the Bearcats ended the regular season on a four-game losing streak, falling to Utah, Arizona, BYU and TCU to go 5-4 in Big 12 play and tumble out of the national picture.
Despite some inconsistency, Brendan Sorsby still enjoyed a solid all-around season, throwing for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns while tallying nine more touchdowns with his legs. Those 36 total touchdowns trailed only Byrum Brown (42) and Fernando Mendoza (38) for tops among all FBS players.
Week 14 Grade: B
15. Noah Fifita, Arizona
6 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 28-of-45, 286 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 10 carries, 18 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Arizona State)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (23-7)
The Wildcats won five straight to close out the regular season, earning their first AP poll nod in the process, jumping into the rankings in the No. 22 spot following Saturday's road win against Arizona State.
During that winning streak, Noah Fifita has 1,134 passing yards with nine touchdowns and one interception, and in his third year as starter he set career-high marks in passing yards (2,963) and passing touchdowns (26).
Week 14 Grade: B
14. Darian Mensah, Duke
7 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 24-of-35, 268 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 3 carries, -12 yards, 1 TD
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Wake Forest)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (49-32)
A win over Wake Forest and a surprise SMU loss have earned Duke a spot in the ACC championship game, despite finishing with a 7-5 record overall, as they went 6-2 in conference play and held the tiebreaker over Miami, Georgia Tech, Pitt and SMU who all finished with the same record.
Darian Mensah closed out the regular season as the ACC leader in passing yards (3,450) and passing touchdowns (28), putting together one of the best individual seasons under center in Blue Devils history after transferring from Tulane during the offseason.
Week 14 Grade: A
13. Demond Williams Jr., Washington
8 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 15-of-30, 129 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 10 carries, 27 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★★ (Oregon)
Week 14 Outcome: Loss (14-26)
It was a tale of two seasons for Demond Williams Jr. and a Washington Huskies team that started the season 5-1 before finishing with an 8-4 record overall and a 5-4 showing in Big Ten play.
Games 1-6: 74.1 cmp%, 1,628 yds, 10 TD, 1 INT; 382 rush yds, 4 TD
Games 7-12: 66.3 cmp%, 1,222 yards, 11 TD, 7 INT; 213 rush yds, 2 TD
Despite the inconsistent second half, the sophomore has still flashed the potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country in 2026.
Week 14 Grade: C
12. Drew Mestemaker, North Texas
9 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 20-of-24, 366 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 0 carries, 0 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (Temple)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (52-25)
Drew Mestemaker has a solid case for being the best Group of Five quarterback in the nation this year, and his North Texas squad could punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff with a win over Tulane in the AAC championship game.
An unranked recruit out of high school who was a walk-on with zero D-I offers, Mestemaker now leads the nation in passing yards (3,835) and yards per attempt (10.0) while also pacing the AAC in completion percentage (70.9), passing touchdowns (29) and passer rating (178.2).
Week 14 Grade: A
11. Jayden Maiava, USC
10 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 21-of-29, 257 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 4 carries, 10 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (UCLA)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (29-10)
Jayden Maiava was an early Heisman Trophy candidate when he threw for 1,223 yards and nine touchdowns during a 4-0 start, and while his play eventually leveled off, it was still a successful first full season in the starting role for the former UNLV transfer.
He led the Big Ten in passing yards (3,431) and developed a fantastic connection with Makai Lemon (79 receptions, 1,156 yards, 11 TD) while leading the Trojans to a 9-3 record and a chance at double-digit wins for just the second time in the last eight years if they win their bowl game.
Week 14 Grade: B
10. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
11 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 17-of-27, 205 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 4 carries, 15 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Stanford)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (49-20)
A 4-star recruit and the No. 6 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class, CJ Carr entered the season as Notre Dame's starter, despite zero career pass attempts after sitting behind Riley Leonard and Steve Angeli a year ago.
While Jeremiyah Love was the focal point of the Fighting Irish offense through the season, Carr kept defenses honest by throwing for 2,741 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. His two touchdowns on Saturday marked the ninth time this season he has thrown multiple touchdown passes.
Week 14 Grade: B
9. Ty Simpson, Alabama
12 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 19-of-35, 122 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 10 carries, 31 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Auburn)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (27-20)
The efficiency and yardage output didn't jump off the page for Ty Simpson on Saturday night, but it's hard to argue with three touchdown passes and a win over bitter rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
With Texas A&M losing, the Crimson Tide have also earned a spot in the SEC championship game against Georgia, as they look to beat the Bulldogs for the second time this year. In the first matchup back in Week 5, Simpson completed 24-of-38 pass attempts for 276 yards and two touchdowns, also adding a rushing score.
Week 14 Grade: B
8. Dante Moore, Oregon
13 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 20-of-29, 286 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 7 carries, 11 yards, 1 TD
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Washington)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (26-14)
The Ducks won out following a Week 7 loss to Indiana, and while they won't be playing in the Big Ten championship game, their spot in the College Football Playoff field should already be secured.
In his first season as Oregon's starter after sitting behind Dillon Gabriel last year following his transfer from UCLA, Dante Moore completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 2,733 yards and 24 touchdowns. His 167.3 passer rating is sixth in the nation, and he recorded multiple touchdowns eight times during the team's 11-1 regular season.
Week 14 Grade: A
7. Gunner Stockton, Georgia
14 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 11-of-21, 70 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 15 carries, 42 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Georgia Tech)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (16-9)
Gunner Stockton had a fantastic four-game stretch against Ole Miss, Florida, Mississippi State and Texas where he threw for 1,005 yards and 13 touchdowns, but his play has dropped off significantly the last two weeks.
He was efficient in a lopsided win over Charlotte, but he finished with 196 yards and zero touchdowns, and he was largely a non-factor in Friday's victory over Georgia Tech, though he did toss the only touchdown of the game late in the second quarter.
Week 14 Grade: C
6. Byrum Brown, South Florida
15 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 16-of-24, 275 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 15 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (Rice)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (52-3)
With 3,158 passing yards and 1,008 rushing yards, Byrum Brown is the only quarterback this season and one of only five in the past decade to join the 3,000/1,000 club, alongside Lamar Jackson (2016, 2017), Kyler Murray (2018), Jalen Hurts (2019) and Jayden Daniels (2023).
He had four different games this season with at least five touchdowns, including Saturday's blowout victory over Rice, and his 42 total touchdowns lead all FBS players.
Week 14 Grade: A
5. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
16 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 20-of-32, 180 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 12 carries, 71 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Texas)
Week 14 Outcome: Loss (17-27)
Marcel Reed was a big reason why Texas A&M went 11-0 to start the year, but he was also a big reason why they suffered their first loss of the season on Friday night, throwing two costly fourth-quarter interceptions.
That loss knocked the Aggies out of the SEC championship game, but they should still be part of the College Football Playoff field. With 2,932 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, Reed has had a strong first full season in the starting quarterback role, but he was not at his best against the Longhorns.
Week 14 Grade: F
4. Haynes King, Georgia Tech
17 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 19-of-27, 181 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 10 carries, 39 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★★ (Georgia)
Week 14 Outcome: Loss (9-16)
Haynes King has torched defenses with his arm and his legs all season, racking up 2,697 passing yards, 922 rushing yards and 27 total touchdowns, but he was unable to do much of anything against the Georgia defense.
His 39 rushing yards were his second-lowest total of the season, and he was held under 200 passing yards for just the third time. It was also the only game all year in which he didn't account for at least one touchdown through the air or on the ground.
Week 14 Grade: D
3. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
18 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 18-of-28, 268 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 20 carries, 165 yards, 1 TD
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Tennessee)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (45-24)
With 433 total yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 45-24 victory over Tennessee, Diego Pavia helped secure the first 10-win season in Vanderbilt history while also keeping the Commodores alive in the College Football Playoff conversation.
After leading the SEC in completion percentage (71.2), passing touchdowns (27), yards per attempt (9.4) and passer rating (171.5) while piling up 3,192 passing yards and 826 rushing yards, there's a good chance he will be in New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Week 14 Grade: B
2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
19 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 19-of-26, 233 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 4 carries, 7 yards
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Michigan)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (27-9)
It will be a clash of Heisman Trophy front-runners in the Big Ten championship game next weekend, and Julian Sayin added to his resume with a three-touchdown performance against Michigan at the Big House.
Having the nation's best wide receiver tandem in Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate has helped him make a seamless transition into the starting quarterback role, but Sayin also deserves a ton of credit for his FBS-leading 78.9 percent completion rate en route to a 3,065-yard, 30-touchdown campaign.
Week 14 Grade: A
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
20 of 20
Week 14 Passing Stats: 8-of-15, 117 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 14 Rushing Stats: 2 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD
Week 14 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (Purdue)
Week 14 Outcome: Win (56-3)
It was a quiet day for Fernando Mendoza on the road against Purdue, as the Hoosiers leaned heavily on the running game in chilly conditions and the Heisman Trophy favorite headed to the bench after three quarters with a 49-3 lead.
However, he still added two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown to his impressive season stats, and he is tops in the nation with 32 passing touchdowns to go along with 2,758 yards and a 72.0 percent completion rate.
A strong performance and a victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game might clinch the Heisman for Mendoza.
Week 14 Grade: B
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