College Football 2011: Predicting the 10 Best Quarterback Showdowns

The only guarantee of football we have for 2011 is on the collegiate level and we just happen to have the nation's top prospect, Andrew Luck, returning to play one more year at school.

By not going pro, Luck remains the nation's top prospect at the most important position in football—quarterback.

However, the Cardinal signal caller is not the only returning talent in the country and we are lucky enough to have a lot of good quarterbacks playing on Saturdays in 2011.

A lot of top programs still have to decide who will be under center, especially in the SEC, and you will not see Auburn, Alabama, LSU or Florida on this list.

Here is a look at the 10 best quarterback showdowns for the 2011 college football season.

10. Nick Foles (Arizona) Vs. Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State)

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TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 02: Quarterback Nick Foles #8 of the Arizona Wildcats throws a pass against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the college football game at Arizona Stadium on December 2, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Wildcat

Oklahoma State beat up on Arizona in the 2010 Alamo Bowl and the two programs ended their seasons on drastically different notes—the Wildcats closed with five straight losses while Oklahoma State captured an 11-win season.

Now, as we look forward to 2011, we see two good collegiate quarterbacks getting ready to battle early in an non-conference matchup that could set the tone for the early part of the season.

Foles and Arizona embark on a ridiculous gauntlet run starting with the trip to Oklahoma State followed by home games against Stanford and Oregon and ending with trips to USC and Oregon State before a bye week.

Weeden and the Cowboys have to travel to Tulsa and Texas A&M after Arizona visits.

The 6'5", 245-pound Wildcat has a big arm and is an experienced Pac-12 (this will take some time getting used to) quarterback of a team looking to get off on the right foot.

Weeden, at 6'4", 225 pounds, is part of a dynamic duo with wide receiver Justin Blackmon, that is one of the most productive in college football.

Both of these quarterbacks will be looking to sling the football early and often.

9. Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State) Vs. Robert Griffin (Baylor)

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LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Brandon Weeden #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in action during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on November 20, 2010 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Weeden has more than one big game against proven quarterbacks this season and this conference matchup against Baylor in late October should be fun.

Oklahoma State will come back home to host the Bears after trips to Texas and Missouri.

Baylor on the other hand travels to Oklahoma State in between home games against Texas and Missouri.

Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III has been a force since his freshman season and is a threat to explode during any game.

He is efficient with the football, makes sound decisions and can beat opponents in the air or on the ground.

The Pokes and Weeden will come out chucking the football and Griffin is always a threat to score whenever he is on the field.

This midseason Big 12 matchup will be a good battle from two quarterbacks that drive their respective teams.

8. Russell Wilson (N.C. State) Vs. E.J. Manuel (Florida State)

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ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Russell Wilson #16 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack passes the ball during the Champs Sports Bowl against the West Virginia Mountineers at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mik

The ACC is up for grabs this season and it looks like Florida State is back and relevant again.

A top recruiting class, a good crop of returning talent and a coach that seems to know what he is doing, make the Seminoles the early favorite for the crown.

Quarterback E.J. Manuel got some much needed experience in 2010 and is poised for a breakout season under center in Tallahassee.

N.C. State's quarterback Russell Wilson has been a talent since his freshman season in Raleigh.

Although he's under 6' tall, he's got a big arm and can make any play.

These two teams, playing in late October, could be battling for the top spot in the ACC and this would be a huge boost for whichever quarterback and team can get the win.

7. Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State) Vs. Denard Robinson (Michigan)

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes hands off against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

This rivalry, although down as of late, needs no explanation. 

Terrelle Pryor will miss the beginning of the season and whether or not Denard Robinson is the quarterback for Michigan's offense remains to be seen, but we should expect to see both of these players on the field.

Michigan will be in a transition phase, but they always get up for Ohio State.

Pryor and the Buckeyes will likely be closing out the season looking to solidify themselves a place in the new Big Ten championship game.

Pryor and Robinson are two of the more exciting players in the country and we will all want to watch to see if the Wolverines can turn things around.

6. Landry Jones (Oklahoma) Vs. E.J. Manuel (Florida State)

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to throw the ball against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald M

In one of the biggest non-conference matchups of the season, Oklahoma, the preseason No. 1, will travel down to Tallahassee to show whether they are truly for real in a test against the Seminoles.

Landry Jones is one of the country's very best quarterbacks and E.J. Manuel is one of the promising young stars.

There are a lot of great early season matchups, but none may be bigger than the Sooners and 'Noles.

Jones can throw the ball all over the field and has a ton of weapons at his disposal. 

Manuel will be playing at home with a likely chance at the nation's No. 1 team and the big stage to show he really belongs.

Again, this is early in the season but it will be a big-time matchup.

5. Matt Barkley (USC) Vs. Darron Thomas (Oregon)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 30: Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans passes against the Oregon Ducks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 30, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Oregon is looking to get back to the national championship and USC wants to prove it is still a power.

Darron Thomas is returning for another season in the high-octane Oregon offense while Matt Barkley is quietly returning after a stellar sophomore campaign.

The Ducks will host the Trojans in the second-to-last game of the season, potentially with the new Pac-12 championship on the line for them.

Thomas is a dynamic quarterback that does everything asked of him within his system while Barkley is a game changer for the Trojans.

USC might not have a lot to play for, but Barkley versus Thomas will be fun to watch.

4. Andrew Luck (Stanford) Vs. Darron Thomas (Oregon)

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 2: Quarterback Darron Thomas #1 of the Oregon Ducks sets to throw the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

The No. 1 prospect in the country lost only one game last season—Oregon.

The Ducks defeated the Cardinal in Autzen Stadium in early October in a game where both teams combined for 83 points, over 1,000 total yards and six turnovers.

A rematch on The Farm will certainly bring out some serious guns and Luck and Thomas will be two of the biggest.

These two will do battle all day long in mid-November.

3. Kellen Moore (Boise State) Vs. Aaron Murray (Georgia)

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos throws for yardage against the Utah Utes during the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State Won 26-3. (Photo by Eth

Kellen Moore is one of the front-runners for the Heisman Trophy in 2011 and will open the season in a huge non-conference battle with Georgia in the Georgia Dome.

Moore's numbers speak for themselves (35 touchdowns and six interceptions), but he will have to do so without his top two targets from 2010.

Aaron Murray turned in an awesome freshman campaign at Georgia and looks like the real deal.

If he can capitalize on the year he put together as a freshman, than big things are in store for this kid.

The opening game of the season, in the Georgia Dome, will be a battle of two teams and two quarterbacks that are out to prove something.

2. Landry Jones (Oklahoma) Vs. Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State)

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NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles in the first quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo

This one is simple—Big 12 shootout.

These two combined for 88 points, almost 1,000 total yards and six turnovers (all through the air) in their 2010 meeting.

Both quarterbacks have their biggest weapons back, Justin Blackmon (OKST) and Ryan Broyles (OK), and this game will be exactly what we expect—a shootout.

The game could have big-time postseason ramifications, as these two will do battle on the last weekend of the regular season.

Jones and Weeden are two of the most productive quarterbacks in the country and this game will showcase it.

1. Andrew Luck (Stanford) Vs. Matt Barkley (USC)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal throws a pass during the game with the USC Trojans on November 14, 2009 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Stanford won 55-21. (Photo by Stephen Du

Andrew Luck will travel with the rest of the Cardinal to USC at the end of October to do battle with Matt Barkley and the Trojans in one of the best quarterback matchups of the season.

Last season, both quarterbacks went wild in a 37-35 Stanford win with three touchdowns each and no interceptions.

The two teams combined for 976 yards and the game was decided on a last-second field goal.

Luck is the best quarterback in the country and Barkley is definitely in the running for one of the three best behind him.

This will be another great game.