BCS Rankings Week 3: Power Ranking the Starting QBs for Each BCS Top 25 Team
Ranking the starting QBs for each BCS top 25 team should stir up an interesting debate.
Does the quarterback make the team great? Or does the team make the quarterback great?
That varies, depending on team and the quarterback.
Inside we rank the quarterbacks for the Top 25 BCS teams in terms of value to their team and how that value has translated to the BCS rankings, not in terms of pure ability or future NFL prospects.
Let the comments flow forth!
No. 25: Jordan Jefferson, LSU
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Statistics: 49.3 completion percentage, 523 yards, 2 TD, 8 INT
BCS Ranking: 10th
Team Record: 7-0
It's not fair to say that the Tigers have won in spite of Jordan Jefferson—or Jarrett Lee, who has attempted half as many passes this season as Jefferson.
Still, neither one has been an overwhelming force.
Jefferson has taken most of the snaps and contributed a lot on the ground, with five touchdowns and 281 yards. But at just 3.6 yards per carry, he's hardly dynamic.
The rest of the Tigers offense is partly to blame for having the 113th-ranked passing attack in college football. But Jefferson is the figurehead.
No. 24: Chris Relf, Mississippi State
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Statistics: 53.8 completion percentage, 926 yards, 7 TD, 3 INT; (rushing) 127 carries, 503 yards, 3 TD
BCS Ranking: 20th
Team Record: 7-2
Relf's done a find job leading the upstart Bulldogs to a tremendous record. His passing hasn't been very sharp, although that's not what Dan Mullen asks of him.
His contributions to the running game are more important. Still, because he isn't the leading rusher on the team, averages only 4.1 yards-per-carry, and has only one 100-yard game, he can't yet be considered an elite BCS team quarterback.
Maybe next season, however.
No. 23: Jordan Wynn, Utah
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Statistics: 69.1 completion percentage,1,431 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT
BCS Ranking: 5th
Team Record: 8-0
Although Wynn has only played in six games this season, his individual statistics are good.
But the Utes have only played two close games this season: the opener against Pitt and last week's game against Air Force. And neither of those times has the game's outcome rested on Wynn's shoulder.
He'll get a chance to prove he is one of the nation's most underrated passers this week when the Utes host fellow Top-Five team TCU.
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No. 22: Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin
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Statistics: 71.8 completion percentage,1,558 yards, 8 TD, 4 INT
BCS Ranking: 9th
Team Record: 7-1
Tolzien's efficiency this season is outstanding. Aside from the Badgers' lone loss this season (to Michigan State), he has completed nearly 77% of his passes.
And that accuracy was most on display his past two games, during the huge upset win over Ohio State and the follow-up victory at Iowa. In those two games, he completed 33 of 42 passes.
Still, he doesn't carry the level of responsibility that most of the other BCS quarterbacks do. He isn't a running threat like a Taylor Martinez or even a Chris Relf. And he hasn't yet attempted 30 throws in a game.
No. 21: Christian Ponder, Florida State
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Statistics: 60.5 completion percentage,1,383 yards, 13 TD, 7 INT
BCS Ranking: 24th
Team Record: 6-2
Ponder has the Seminoles back in the top 25, which is a nice achievement in the transitional year from Bobby Bowden to Jimbo Fisher. And he has been very good in a few of his starts, especially the win over Wake Forest and, aside from his three picks, his day against Boston College.
Still, this is not "your daddy's Florida State." At least not right now. The offense is ranked 72nd in passing, and they have yet to total even 300 yards passing in a single game.
No. 20: Nick Foles, Arizona
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Statistics: 75.3 completion percentage, 1,600 yards, 9 TD, 5 INT
BCS Ranking: 15th
Team Record: 7-1
Foles was having a fine season before dislocating his kneecap against Washington State back on October 16. He hasn't played since, but he is expected to return next week when the Wildcats play Stanford in Palo Alto.
Junior Matt Scott did a great job in his place, but Foles is still the main guy. He was averaging better than 300 yards per game and keeping the turnovers to a minimum.
Doing both of those should secure him the job throughout the rest of the season. And he can still become a major superstar with a visit to No. 1 Oregon just two weeks away.
No. 19: Russell Wilson, North Carolina State
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Statistics: 58.4 completion percentage, 2,302 yards, 19 TD, 10 INT
BCS Ranking: 25th
Team Record: 6-2
Wilson is having a great individual season, and if the Wolfpack were ranked higher in the BCS standings, he'd be higher on this list.
He had a string of five consecutive games with 300-plus passing yards—four of which were three-touchdown days—a streak that would have been a bit more impressive had he not thrown nine interceptions during that same span.
Still, in the next month he can really make a name for himself if he leads NC State to a berth in the ACC title game.
No. 18: Greg McElroy, Alabama
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Statistics: 70.6 completion percentage,1,781 yards, 11 TD, 3 INT
BCS Ranking: 6th
Team Record: 7-1
Obviously, McElroy has had a great season for the Tide. But when Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram plays behind you and a 7-yards-per-carry back (Trent Richardson) plays behind him, throwing the ball gets to be a little easier...and having Julio Jones also helps.
It's probably not fair to keep him this low on the list, but if you took McElroy off this team, how much worse off would they really be?
No. 17: Andy Dalton, TCU
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Statistics: 65.9 completion percentage,1,887 yards, 16 TD, 5 INT
BCS Ranking: 4th
Team Record: 8-0
Unlike Greg McElroy, Dalton doesn't have an amazing two-headed monster at running back. But sophomore Ed Wesley is very quietly having a great season (938 yards, 10 touchdowns), and the Horned Frogs defense has helped set Dalton up with great field position.
Still, TCU probably isn't ranked so high without his steady play. He threw 11 touchdowns and just one interception in the month of October. If he can be that efficient Saturday against Utah's sixth-ranked defense, he'll deserve to be much higher on next week's rankings.
No. 16: Stephen Garcia, South Carolina
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Statistics: 70.6 completion percentage,1,904 yards, 13 TD, 7 INT
BCS Ranking: 19th
Team Record: 6-2
Garcia was fantastic in the Gamecocks' shocking win over Alabama, completing 17 of 20 passes for three touchdowns. And he was just as sharp in a near win over Auburn a few weeks earlier.
Had it not been for a slow start to the season—in wins against Southern Miss, Furman, and Georgia he didn't reach the 200-yard passing mark—he might be ranked higher nationally in passing yardage and total touchdowns. And ranked higher on this list.
No. 15: Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
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Statistics: 67.2% completion, 2,146 yards, 15 TD, 7 INT
BCS Ranking: 14th
Team Record: 8-1
Cousins struggled mightily against the Hawkeyes defense last week: he couldn't complete anything down field and three three interceptions as the team's dream season came crashing to a half.
And while Cousins had been good throughout most of the team's great run, he wasn't lighting up defenses across the nation. He was efficient, completing passes and converting touchdowns in the redzone and having a great day in the comeback win over Northwestern.
Still, there are plenty of other quarterbacks who have a far greater impact on their team's overall success.
No. 14: Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech
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Statistics: 63.9% completion,1,601 yards, 15 TD, 3 INT; (rushing) 85 carries, 527 yards, 3 TD
BCS Ranking: 22nd
Team Record: 6-2
What the Hokies have done since the Week Two embarrassment against James Madison is pretty remarkable. They've won six straight games, four in the ACC, including a 41-30 win at ranked NC State.
And Taylor has been the key to an offense that is averaging better than 40 points per game during that stretch. The fact that he has thrown or ran the ball 251 times and only turned it over three times, is nothing short of marvelous.
No. 13: Ricky Stanzi, Iowa
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Statistics: 75.3% completion,1,600 yards, 9 TD, 5 INT
BCS Ranking: 16th
Team Record: 6-2
Considering the quality of the defenses he has faced, Stanzi has had an exceptional year. Just look at what he's done in conference play thus far in 2010: 70% completion, 10 touchdowns, one interceptions. And on the road against a touch Arizona defense, back in September, he was nearly as good.
Adam Robinson is a good back and the Hawkeyes have a few very solid receivers, but without Stanzi, this team might not be poised for a run at the Rose Bowl.
No. 12: Brandon Weeden
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Statistics: 65.2% completion, 2,547 yards, 23 TD, 9 INT
BCS Ranking: 17th
Team Record: 7-1
Weeden has been as consistent a passer as college football has seen all season. Despite four multi-interceptions games this year, he led the Cowboys to a 7-0 start, before losing the shoot-out to Nebraska.
He should a great deal of resolve, however, by bouncing back with an outstanding performance the following week at Kansas State.
It probably helps to be 27-years-old and throwing the ball to Justin Blackmon.
No. 11: Landry Jones, Oklahoma
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Statistics: 67.2% completion, 2,547 yards, 21 TD, 5 INT
BCS Ranking: 8th
Team Record: 7-1
Consider it the curse of playing for Oklahoma in the 21st century: no matter how great of a year you have, it's not going to be terribly stunning. Jason White, Sam Bradford, even Josh Heupel, had numbers as good if not better than Landry will probably finish up with.
And with Taylor Martinez, Blaine Gabbert, and Brandon Weeden, he's probably not going to be a favorite for all conference honors.
Still, Jones deserves plenty of attention. For the most part, he's had huge days when the Sooners needed him most, against Florida State, Colorado, and Iowa State.
Had he avoided those two interceptions against Missouri, Oklahoma would be either first or second in the BCS, and Jones might have an outside shot at a trip to New York City for the Heisman ceremony. Probably not now, however.
No. 10: Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
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Statistics: 64% completion, 2,098 yards, 12 TD, 4 INT
BCS Ranking: 12th
Team Record: 7-1
The Big XII has three very good quarterbacks (as you can see by the previous two slides and this one). It's probably a toss up either way, considering that Oklahoma, Missouri, and Oklahoma State are each 7-1 and each have a quarterback with over 2,000 yards passing.
But Gabbert gets a slightly higher ranking then the two other conference passers because he doesn't have quite the same amount of talent at the skill positions. Brandon Weeden has Blackmon and an excellent back in Kendall Hunter; Landry Jones has DeMarco Murray and Ryan Broyles.
Gabbert's skill players are very good, but he has made more plays on his own than either of the his Big XII counterparts, Weeden and Jones.
No. 9: Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
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Statistics: 58.9% completion, 1,670 yards, 12 TD, 5 INT; (rushing) 105 carries, 771 yards, 13 touchdowns
BCS Ranking: 23rd
Team Record: 7-1
Kaepernick's statistics as a passer are very good, and although he plays for Nevada--a team who has yet to play a ranked opponent--they are excellent. But when you factor in the rushing totals, his contributions are even more laudable and worthy of a top 10 spot on this list.
He's rushed for and thrown for a touchdown in seven of the Wolfpack's eight games and has only turned the ball over five times all season.
Had Nevada been able to comeback and defeat Hawaii two weeks ago, the ensuing showdown with Boise State might have been a battle of undefeateds with a spot in the Heisman race on the line for the quarterbacks, as much as a spot in a BCS game.
No. 8: Darron Thomas, Oregon
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Statistics: 60.7% completion, 1,827 yards, 21 TD, 6 INT
BCS Ranking: 1st
Team Record: 8-0
Having a serious Heisman Trophy contender beside him opens up plenty of holes--both on the ground and through the air--for Thomas. So it's hard to overlook the contributions that LaMichael James makes.
Still, Thomas has more than taken advantage of his situation and he will probably be rewarded with an All-Pac 10 honor for it.
Thomas is a threat to run, but because he has been so sharp with his downfield throws, the Ducks don't need him to. His performance last week against USC (19-for-32, 288 yards, four touchdowns) set the rest of the nation on notice: James isn't the only scary part of the Oregon offense.
No. 7: Robert Griffin III, Baylor
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Statistics: 66.7% completion, 2,592 yards, 20 TD, 5 INT; (rushing) 92 carries, 401 yards, 7 touchdowns
BCS Ranking: 21st
Team Record: 7-2
Griffin really needs to be getting more attention than he has received. Putting up these type of numbers in the WAC or Mountain West is very impressive. But to do it in the Big XII--and not be talked about the way that "regulars" like Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State and the others are--is borderline criminal.
And he really didn't pad his numbers with early-season wins over non-conference cupcakes. In fact, his best games have come against Big XII teams like Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Colorado.
But the main reason why he is so high on this list is simple: each one of those victories over Big XII schools came in a very close game, one decided by one score. To win each of those nail-biters, your quarterback has to be tremendous in the clutch.
No. 6: Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
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Statistics: 67.6 completion, 1997 yards, 20 TD, 7 INT; (rushing) 84 carries, 463 yards, 7 TD
BCS Ranking: 11th
Team Record: 8-1
When Pryor plays well, Ohio State destroys whoever they play. When Pryor struggles, the Buckeyes are in major trouble. That's how it's been all season.
Pryor didn't play throw the ball very efficiently against Illinois and the Buckeyes nearly lost in Champagne. Two weeks later Pryor only completed half of his attempts and the Buckeyes lost to Wisconsin.
Each week it seems that as Pryor goes, so go the Buckeyes.
No. 5: Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
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Statistics: 66.4% completion, 2,449 yards, 18 TD, 7 INT
BCS Ranking: 18th
Team Record: 6-2
Forget the fact that, in Mallett's absence, Tyler Wilson had an outstanding day against Auburn. Mallet has done a great job this season and might be the best passer in college football today.
And although he had a terrible second half against Alabama a month ago, then suffered the concussion against Auburn, last week against Vanderbilt, it appeared that he is back to full strength.
With three of the Razorbacks remaining four games against ranked SEC opponents we should get a chance to see the real Ryan Mallett standup: either the dynamic Heisman candidate we saw in September, or the mistake prone one we saw against Alabama.
No. 4: Kellen Moore, Boise State
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Statistics: 69.8% completion, 1865 yards, 18 TD, 2 INT
BCS Ranking: 4rd
Team Record: 8-0
Moore is a great leader and an even better quarterback for the Broncos. But Boise State is in contention for a BCS Championship Game berth because the entire team is outstanding.
They are 17th in the nation in rushing, have scored the 2nd most points and allowed the third fewest. It's hard to argue that if you took Moore away from the Broncos, they would be mired in the cellar.
Still, moments like his 56-yard game winning drive in the opener against Virginia Tech are proof that he deserves a look at the Heisman and a spot high on this list.
No. 3: Andrew Luck, Stanford
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Statistics: 67.3% completion, 1,920 yards, 20 TD, 6 INT; (rushing) 40 carries, 345 yards, 2touchdowns
BCS Ranking: 13th
Team Record: 7-1
Luck's stats aren't overwhelming. But he has been outstanding the last three weeks, completing 59 of his 78 passes, for 7 touchdowns and two interceptions.
The yardage totals aren't as high as many others, but he doesn't have the good fortune of playing with unbelievable skill position players like Darron Thomas or Matt Barkley or Landry Jones: The Cardinal's linebacker, Owen Marecic, is actually an part of their offensive strategy.
Luck and the Cardinal have gotten by on far less talent than every one of their opponents this season. And had it not been for a poor second half against Oregon, Jim Harbaugh's team might be undefeated.
No. 2: Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
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Statistics: 60% completion, 1,161 yards, 9 TD, 3 INT
BCS Ranking: 7th
Team Record: 7-1
To have the kind of responsibility that Martinez has in Nebraska's offense, as a redshirt freshman, says a lot about his talent. His stats say even more.
Through the first six weeks of the Cornhuskers' season, Martinez could certainly be considered a one-dimensional, run-only quarterback.
But not after what he did against Oklahoma State. In addition to rushing for 119 yards, he connected on 23 of 35 passes, twice as many completions and attempts as he had tallied in any game during the season. Oh, and five of those completions were for touchdowns, as the Cornhusker knocked off previously the unbeaten Cowboys.
A week later, in another critical game, this time against sixth-ranked and undefeated Missouri, he continued to be tremendous throwing the football (6-for-9, 115 yards and a touchdown) until a sprained ankle forced him to the sidelines.
Running back Roy Helu did a fine job picking up the slack, but Nebraska built their r24-7 halftime lead with Martinez at the helm. The freshman is the key to that offense.
No. 1: Cam Newton, Auburn
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Statistics: 66.7% completion, 1,573 yards, 15 TD, 5 INT; (rushing) 168 carries, 1,122, 14 TD
BCS Ranking: 2nd
Team Record: 8-0
Do we really need to explain why?
Newton's arrival turned the Tigers into a national championship threat and is the far and away favorite for the Heisman at this point.
Everyone knows how dominant of a runner he is, going over 170 yards five different times this season. But last week, he was tremendous throwing the ball as well. The junior was 18-for-24 with 209 yards and two touchdowns in the huge road win over Ole Miss.
After a virtual week off next against Tennessee-Chattanooga, he'll have a tough home finale against Georgia, before the potentially epic Iron Bowl. Regardless of the outcome of that game, Newton is the most VALUABLE player in college football, if not the best.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
