CBS Sports ranked the remaining quarterbacks in the College Football Playoff No. 1 through 8 among the eligible teams. It’s easy to see why Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is at the top of the list!
But other than the Heisman Trophy winner, the other quarterbacks in the CFP are high quality. The four eliminated playoff teams’ QBs are not eligible.
So without further ado, let’s dive into CBS’ list. We start at the top with a familiar face!
Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy this season, leading Indiana to a 13-0 record and Big Ten title. The Cal transfer led all of FBS in touchdown passes this season.
The Hoosiers quarterback had 2,980 yards, 33 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 71.5% completion percentage this year. Mendoza and Indiana will take on Alabama in the Rose Bowl in the CFP quarterfinals.
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Chambliss’ story going from Division II to Division I and playing out of his mind to get Ole Miss to the playoff should be studied. Originally a backup quarterback to Austin Simmons, Chambliss took over after an injury and hasn’t looked back.
Ole Miss and Chambliss took down Tulane in the first round of the CFP and will get a rematch with Georgia in the quarterfinals. This year, he has 3,293 yards, 19 touchdowns, three interceptions, a 66.6% completion percentage, 506 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Moore led Oregon back to the College Football Playoff this season and a dominant first round win over James Madison. After struggling as a freshman at UCLA and sitting the bench with the Ducks last year, he could be the first quarterback taken in next year’s NFL Draft.
In 13 games this year, Moore has 3,046 yards, 28 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 72.4% completion percentage. Oregon takes on Texas Tech in the CFP quarterfinals.
Sayin was also in the Heisman conversation, but losing the Big Ten title game to Mendoza likely cost him the award, or was the final nail in the coffin. Still, he’s been dynamite in his first year as a starting quarterback.
Ohio State grabbed the No. 2 seed and will play Miami in the quarterfinals, needing three wins to repeat. Sayin had 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns, six interceptions and a FBS leading 78.4% completion percentage in 13 games leading into the CFP quarters.
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Simpson has been up and down this year, but he certainly looks like an NFL quarterback when he’s riding on a high. He played well enough for Alabama to beat Oklahoma on the road in the first round of the CFP as well.
Simpson and the Crimson Tide will take on No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Years. The Bama quarterback has 3,500 yards, 28 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 64.1% completion percentage.
As a dual threat quarterback, Stockton was in the Heisman conversation earlier this season. While not on the big stage in New York, he certainly was very effective for the Bulldogs this season.
This season, Stockton has 2,691 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions, a 70.7% completion percentage, 442 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Texas Tech got great production from the quarterback position this year, but mostly from Morton. When he’s fully healthy, the Red Raider offense fires off on all cylinders.
Morton, in 11 games, has 2,643 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 67% completion percentage. Texas Tech takes on Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals.
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Beck, a former presumed No. 1 overall pick, is at the bottom of the CBS quarterback rankings. But, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been effective this year.
Miami didn’t go off offensively in a win over Texas A&M, but they’ll rely on him against Ohio State. This year, Beck has 2,643 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 67% completion percentage.