Report Card Grades for College Football's Top QBs after Week 1
Every Tuesday morning throughout the 2026 college football season, we will be grading the performance of the top 20 quarterbacks in the nation, then re-ranking a new top 20 for next week's report card assignment.
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 138 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. 101-138 in the rankings or an FCS opponent
Each quarterback's performance was given a grade of A, B, C, D or F, and those grades were factored into the reordering of the rankings for the following week.
Who's ready for a whole bunch of "A" grades against overmatched opponents?
20. Kevin Jennings, SMU
1 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 26-of-36, 430 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 5 carries, 33 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Florida State)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (27-24)
A year after throwing 13 interceptions to lead the ACC and rank third in the nation, Kevin Jennings had a tough time taking care of the football once again with a pair of picks in an ugly win against Florida State.
Still, 430 passing yards is 430 passing yards, and a win is a win. It's also worth mentioning that Jennings looked far more mobile after being slowed by a foot injury for much of the 2025 season, so expect more dual-threat production.
Week 1 Grade: C
19. Conner Weigman, Houston
2 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 20-of-30, 305 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 9 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★ (Oregon State)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (33-20)
Conner Weigman kicked off the season with a 305-yard passing performance, but it was his one-yard touchdown run with 5:01 remaining in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory for Houston after Oregon State had made it a one-possession game.
He had 700 rushing yards and 11 scores on the ground a year ago, and his dual-threat ability is a big reason the Cougars were No. 23 in the preseason AP poll.
Week 1 Grade: B
18. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, California
3 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 24-of-41, 271 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 4 carries, -16 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (UCLA)
Week 1 Outcome: Loss (24-45)
UCLA hung 21 unanswered points on California to turn a tie game heading into the fourth quarter into a blowout loss, and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw a pair of interceptions in that decisive final stretch that both led to Bruins touchdowns.
The first giveaway snapped a program-record streak of 212 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, and to his credit, he played through an apparent leg injury and a collapsing pocket for much of the game.
Week 1 Grade: D
17. Demond Williams Jr., Washington
4 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 24-of-35, 268 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 7 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (Washington State)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (24-10)
While many of the nation's top quarterbacks started the season with a cupcake, Demond Williams Jr. was thrown straight into the Apple Cup, albeit with the Huskies installed as 23.5-point favorites.
He completed all six of his pass attempts for 110 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter to help put a close game out of reach, and he did a good job picking his spots to run without putting himself in harm's way.
Week 1 Grade: B
16. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
5 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 21-of-30, 233 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 7 carries, 20 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★ (Missouri State)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (50-0)
Marcel Reed played just over three quarters in the blowout win against Missouri State, but that was enough time for him to build a 40-0 lead before heading to the sidelines.
He looked in control of the offense throughout the game, and showed some nice early chemistry with high-profile transfer Isaiah Horton (4 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD), who spent last season at Alabama after three years at Miami.
Week 1 Grade: A
15. John Mateer, Oklahoma
6 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 11-of-17, 225 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 3 carries, 7 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★ (UTEP)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (51-0)
A healthy John Mateer has a chance to do some special things for the Oklahoma Sooners this season if his start to last season was any indication before he suffered a hand injury and never quite returned to form.
Lighting up UTEP for three quarters doesn't prove much, but seeing his three touchdown passes go for 40, 34 and 48 yards did provide a glimpse into the offense's big-play potential.
Week 1 Grade: A
14. Sam Leavitt, LSU
7 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 16-of-28, 230 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 12 carries, 113 yards, 2 TD
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Clemson)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (51-10)
Sam Leavitt had almost two hours of extra time to sit and think about his LSU debut after a lightning delay pushed kickoff back, then he promptly threw an incompletion and an interception on his first two pass attempts in a Tigers uniform.
With that out of his system, he then went to work showcasing his dynamic dual-threat talents, racking up 343 total yards and three touchdowns in a shocking blowout victory where he looked like the best player on the field.
Week 1 Grade: A
13. Noah Fifita, Arizona
8 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 22-of-29, 262 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 5 carries, 24 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★ (Northern Arizona)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (35-7)
Noah Fifita displayed the accuracy, efficiency and command of the offense that has made him a standout during his time at Arizona in a comfortable victory over Northern Arizona.
The running game was the focal point against an overmatched defense, as the Wildcats tallied 206 yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries, leaving him with slightly less gaudy numbers than some of his counterparts.
Week 1 Grade: A
12. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
9 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 29-of-49, 241 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 5 carries, 3 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★ (Tulsa)
Week 1 Outcome: Loss (10-24)
One of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal, Drew Mestemaker followed head coach Eric Morris from North Texas to Oklahoma State following a 2025 season where he had an FBS-leading 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns.
His Cowboys debut was an unmitigated disaster. He threw two picks and never looked comfortable in the pocket as Oklahoma State, a 13.5-point favorite, suffered a Week 1 loss.
Week 1 Grade: F
11. Josh Hoover, Indiana
10 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 13-of-16, 231 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 0 carries, 0 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (North Texas)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (52-16)
On the first pass attempt of his Indiana career, Josh Hoover found fellow high-profile transfer Nick Marsh in the end zone, and he hauled in the touchdown reception with a highlight-reel, one-handed grab.
Just like that, the page was turned from the Fernando Mendoza era, and facing off against a solid North Texas team, this certainly looked like a Hoosiers offense capable of putting up some gaudy numbers once again.
Week 1 Grade: A
10. Byrum Brown, Auburn
11 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 26-of-35, 259 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 21 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Baylor)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (17-16)
The Auburn Tigers escaped with a Week 1 victory thanks to a goal-line stand on a two-point conversion attempt by Baylor in the final seconds, but Byrum Brown's debut was a mess.
After throwing a career-high three interceptions and being rendered a non-factor in the running game, he did step up in the clutch. Brown led a 10-play, 75-yard drive late in the fourth quarter, and capped it off with an 11-yard touchdown run to give Auburn a 17-10 lead with 3:21 remaining.
Week 1 Grade: D
9. Gunner Stockton, Georgia
12 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 15-of-16, 202 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 0 carries, 0 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★ (Tennessee State)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (63-3)
To say that Georgia was not tested by Tennessee State would be an understatement, and Gunner Stockton faced little resistance picking apart the Tigers secondary.
He led five straight touchdown drives to start the game before heading to the sidelines midway through the second quarter on an extremely hot day where it was 101 degrees at kickoff.
Week 1 Grade: A
8. Devon Dampier, Utah
13 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 13-of-18, 176 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 6 carries, 31 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★ (Idaho)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (66-14)
Expectations are high for Devon Dampier this season following an injury-plagued but still highly productive first season at Utah a year ago, and he was on cruise control against Idaho in the season opener on Thursday night.
He had double-digit rushing attempts in 10 of his 12 games a year ago, and being more selective with when he tucks the ball and puts his body in jeopardy will go a long way in keeping him closer to 100 percent for a full season.
Week 1 Grade: A
7. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
14 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 19-of-29, 239 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 2 carries, -6 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Wisconsin)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (41-13)
Notre Dame had a tougher time than the final score suggests facing off against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, as it was a 27-13 game heading into the fourth quarter.
CJ Carr led an eight-play, 75-yard drive and a 12-play, 88-yard drive in the fourth quarter that both found the end zone to put the game out of reach. His 29 passes against 32 rushing attempts are a good indication he will be shouldering more of the offensive load this year after leaning heavily on Jeremiyah Love in 2025.
Week 1 Grade: A
6. Jayden Maiava, USC
15 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 23-of-25, 349 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 3 carries, -2 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★★ (Fresno State)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (39-0)
Jayden Maiava already has two games under his belt this season, as USC picked up a 42-26 victory over San Jose State as part of the abbreviated Week 0 slate, and he has been prolific thus far to put it mildly.
In two lopsided victories, he has completed 48-of-54 pass attempts for 635 yards and five touchdowns, averaging a staggering 11.8 yards per attempt.
Maiava has developed some early chemistry with 4-star freshman Trent Mosley (11 catches, 222 yards, 3 TD), who is tasked with replacing All-American Makai Lemon.
Week 1 Grade: A
5. Dante Moore, Oregon
16 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 28-of-37, 378 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 2 carries, -5 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Boise State)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (34-27)
It took Dante Moore and the Oregon offense some time to settle in against a good Boise State defense, and they went scoreless on four of their first five drives in a game that was close right down to the final horn.
A 62-yard touchdown pass to Dakorien Moore with 7:51 remaining in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winning strike, though it came with a lot of yards after catch. Those were the few minor holes to be poked in what was, at the end of the day, a 378-yard, three-touchdown performance against a team many expect to make the College Football Playoff.
Week 1 Grade: A
4. Darian Mensah, Miami
17 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 27-of-30, 401 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 1 carry, 5 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (Stanford)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (45-6)
Darian Mensah entered the season as one of the early Heisman Trophy favorites, and he did nothing to shift that perception with a 401-yard, five-touchdown clinic against Stanford.
If there was a blow to his candidacy, it's the fact that teammate Malachi Toney (12 catches, 234 yards, 3 TD) now looks like an even more viable threat to potentially challenge him for the award. That is a great problem to have if you're a Hurricanes fan.
Week 1 Grade: A
3. Arch Manning, Texas
18 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 20-of-27, 305 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 3 carries, 6 yards
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★ (Texas State)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (59-7)
A year ago, Arch Manning started his ballyhooed first season as a starter by completing 17-of-30 attempts for 151 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a loss to Ohio State.
He had some time to warm up this year, albeit against a Texas State squad that has a chance to be one of the better Group of Six teams in the country. Will that lead to a better outcome in his rematch with the Buckeyes this Saturday?
Week 1 Grade: A
2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
19 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 21-of-25, 320 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 3 carries, -9 yards, 1 TD
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★ (Ball State)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (56-3)
The Julian Sayin-to-Jeremiah Smith connection showed zero signs of rust on Saturday, as they connected for eight catches, 151 yards and three touchdowns against an overmatched Ball State secondary.
A year after completing 77 percent of his passes and finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting, Sayin might be the safest bet in the country to have a seat in New York at the end of the year. Whether he can win it will be the bigger debate.
Week 1 Grade: A
1. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
20 of 21
Week 1 Passing Stats: 21-of-36, 336 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Week 1 Rushing Stats: 9 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD
Week 1 Quality of Opponent: ★★★★ (Louisville)
Week 1 Outcome: Win (41-38)
With 15 incompletions and an interception, it was far from a flawless performance from Trinidad Chambliss in his 2026 debut, but the smile on his face and nod of confidence when he realized he had 1:28 of game time to orchestrate a game-winning drive spoke volumes.
He connected on passes of 15 and 18 yards to help drive the Rebels into field-goal range for what would be the game-winning kick, and Ole Miss gained an early boon to its resume with a victory over a very good Louisville team.
Week 1 Grade: A
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 each week on this final slide. That will then reset the field for next week's report cards.
With only one game in the books for most of these players, preseason expectations still serve as the backbone of these rankings, though a few new names did creep into the picture at the bottom of the list with a chance to climb with continued success.
1. Darian Mensah, Miami
2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
3. Jayden Maiava, USC
4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
5. Dante Moore, Oregon
6. Sam Leavitt, LSU
7. Arch Manning, Texas
8. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
9. Devon Dampier, Utah
10. Gunner Stockton, Georgia
11. Josh Hoover, Indiana
12. John Mateer, Oklahoma
13. Noah Fifita, Arizona
14. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
15. Demond Williams Jr., Washington
16. Conner Weigman, Houston
17. Rocco Becht, Penn State
18. Austin Simmons, Missouri
19. Mason Heintschel, Pitt
20. Kevin Jennings, SMU
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