Passer Rating vs EPA: Which Tells You More?
Why we rank quarterbacks by EPA per dropback, and what passer rating still gets right.
Read Article →Ranked by EPA per Dropback. Qualified: 15 pass attempts per team game (the NCAA's minimum for passing efficiency). 2015 regular season. Counting stats are the official NCAA lines.
EPA per Dropback Success Rate Total Passing EPA Total QB EPA (Passing + Rushing) First-Down Rate per Dropback Explosive Pass Rate Negative-Play Rate EPA per Dropback, Excluding Garbage Time NFL Passer Rating Completion % Yards per Attempt Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt Adjusted Yards per Attempt Net Yards per Attempt Yards per Completion Touchdown % Interception % TD:INT Ratio Sack % Passing Yards per Game Pass Attempts per Game Passing Yards Passing Touchdowns Completions Pass Attempts Interceptions Thrown Sacks Taken Passing First Downs 20+ Yard Completions 40+ Yard Completions Longest Completion 300-Yard Passing Games 4-Touchdown Games Wins as Starter 3rd-Down Conversion Rate Red Zone Touchdown Rate Clutch EPA per Dropback Clutch Passer Rating Two-Minute Drill EPA per Dropback Game-Winning Drives 4th-Quarter Comebacks Quarterback Rushing Yards Quarterback Rushing EPA Quarterback Rushing Yards Excluding Sacks NCAA Passing Efficiency QB Sneak Conversion Rate Touchdowns Responsible For Total Yards (Passing + Rushing)
ACE needs to know how hard each throw was. College play-by-play records the depth and direction of passes only from 2025, so college ACE starts in 2025.
| Rk | Player | Team | GS | Cmp-Att | Yds | TD | INT | Eff | Rate | ANY/A | EPA/DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon Doughty | WKU | 12 | 356-496 | 4,594 | 45 | 7 | 176.7 | 124.8 | 10.08 | +0.47 |
| 2 | Brandon Allen | ARK | 12 | 224-344 | 3,125 | 29 | 7 | 165.2 | 113.8 | 9.34 | +0.44 |
| 3 | Seth Russell | BAY | 7 | 119-200 | 2,104 | 29 | 6 | 189.7 | 122.6 | 11.83 | +0.43 |
| 4 | Paxton Lynch | MEM | 12 | 280-406 | 3,670 | 28 | 3 | 166.2 | 117.1 | 9.51 | +0.42 |
| 5 | Nate Sudfeld | IU | 11 | 219-361 | 3,184 | 24 | 5 | 153.9 | 105.8 | 9.18 | +0.41 |
| 6 | Nick Arbuckle | GAST | 12 | 293-457 | 4,160 | 26 | 11 | 154.5 | 102.4 | 8.34 | +0.40 |
| 7 | Kevin Hogan | STAN | 13 | 194-283 | 2,644 | 24 | 7 | 170.1 | 116.1 | 9.03 | +0.40 |
| 8 | Vernon Adams Jr. | ORE | 9 | 155-240 | 2,446 | 25 | 6 | 179.6 | 122.7 | 9.87 | +0.38 |
| 9 | Everett Golson | FSU | 8 | 147-219 | 1,778 | 11 | 3 | 149.2 | 102.9 | 7.31 | +0.37 |
| 10 | Greg Ward Jr. | HOU | 12 | 207-304 | 2,590 | 16 | 5 | 153.7 | 105.0 | 7.88 | +0.36 |
| 11 | Trevone Boykin | TCU | 10 | 257-396 | 3,575 | 31 | 10 | 161.5 | 109.4 | 9.06 | +0.35 |
| 12 | Connor Cook | MSU | 11 | 210-369 | 2,921 | 24 | 5 | 142.2 | 98.5 | 8.06 | +0.34 |
| 13 | Brad Kaaya | MIA | 11 | 221-358 | 3,019 | 15 | 4 | 144.2 | 98.0 | 8.32 | +0.34 |
| 14 | Matt Johnson | BGSU | 13 | 348-508 | 4,349 | 36 | 8 | 160.7 | 111.9 | 8.44 | +0.33 |
| 15 | Nick Mullens | USM | 13 | 306-483 | 4,145 | 36 | 12 | 155.1 | 105.1 | 8.42 | +0.33 |
| 16 | Deshaun Watson | CLEM | 13 | 287-413 | 3,512 | 30 | 11 | 159.6 | 108.5 | 8.41 | +0.33 |
| 17 | Chad Kelly | MISS | 12 | 277-425 | 3,740 | 27 | 12 | 154.4 | 102.5 | 8.29 | +0.32 |
| 18 | Brent Stockstill | MTSU | 12 | 301-451 | 3,678 | 27 | 8 | 151.5 | 104.2 | 8.08 | +0.32 |
| 19 | Mason Rudolph | OKST | 11 | 246-393 | 3,591 | 21 | 9 | 152.4 | 100.6 | 8.39 | +0.32 |
| 20 | Taylor Lamb | APP | 12 | 157-257 | 2,263 | 29 | 8 | 166.1 | 114.3 | 9.24 | +0.31 |
| 21 | Baker Mayfield | OU | 11 | 243-354 | 3,389 | 35 | 5 | 178.9 | 126.2 | 9.61 | +0.31 |
| 22 | Greyson Lambert | UGA | 11 | 152-236 | 1,844 | 11 | 2 | 143.7 | 100.3 | 7.84 | +0.31 |
| 23 | Zach Terrell | WMU | 11 | 244-365 | 3,225 | 27 | 8 | 161.1 | 110.1 | 8.34 | +0.29 |
| 24 | Cooper Rush | CMU | 11 | 309-460 | 3,703 | 25 | 10 | 148.4 | 100.7 | 7.45 | +0.28 |
| 25 | Gunner Kiel | CIN | 10 | 206-316 | 2,777 | 19 | 11 | 151.9 | 98.6 | 8.12 | +0.28 |
| 26 | Jared Goff | CAL | 12 | 316-492 | 4,252 | 37 | 13 | 156.4 | 105.7 | 8.27 | +0.28 |
| 27 | Marquise Williams | UNC | 12 | 197-321 | 2,829 | 21 | 9 | 151.4 | 100.1 | 8.17 | +0.27 |
| 28 | C.J. Beathard | IOWA | 13 | 202-329 | 2,570 | 15 | 4 | 139.6 | 95.9 | 7.32 | +0.27 |
| 29 | Jeff Driskel | LT | 12 | 255-412 | 3,575 | 24 | 8 | 150.1 | 101.1 | 8.42 | +0.26 |
| 30 | Josh Rosen | UCLA | 12 | 266-447 | 3,351 | 20 | 9 | 133.2 | 89.4 | 7.14 | +0.26 |
| 31 | Cody Kessler | USC | 13 | 280-414 | 3,315 | 28 | 6 | 154.3 | 108.3 | 7.56 | +0.25 |
| 32 | Dane Evans | TLSA | 12 | 278-441 | 3,958 | 22 | 8 | 151.3 | 101.1 | 8.03 | +0.25 |
| 33 | Dak Prescott | MSST | 12 | 291-435 | 3,413 | 25 | 4 | 149.9 | 105.8 | 7.63 | +0.25 |
| 34 | Anu Solomon | ARIZ | 10 | 192-306 | 2,338 | 18 | 4 | 143.7 | 100.4 | 7.60 | +0.25 |
| 35 | Brett Rypien | BOIS | 9 | 244-390 | 2,976 | 17 | 7 | 137.5 | 93.1 | 7.14 | +0.24 |
| 36 | Nathan Peterman | PITT | 10 | 180-293 | 2,150 | 19 | 5 | 141.1 | 98.4 | 7.03 | +0.24 |
| 37 | Phillip Ely | TOL | 10 | 206-375 | 2,680 | 21 | 10 | 128.1 | 85.2 | 6.98 | +0.24 |
| 38 | Kenny Potter | SJSU | 9 | 172-251 | 1,895 | 14 | 6 | 145.6 | 99.3 | 6.40 | +0.24 |
| 39 | DeShone Kizer | ND | 9 | 189-298 | 2,600 | 19 | 9 | 151.7 | 100.0 | 7.87 | +0.24 |
| 40 | Driphus Jackson | RICE | 11 | 185-316 | 2,348 | 18 | 7 | 135.3 | 91.6 | 6.41 | +0.23 |
| 41 | Drew Hare | NIU | 9 | 164-257 | 1,962 | 14 | 4 | 142.8 | 98.7 | 7.32 | +0.23 |
| 42 | Maxwell Smith | SDSU | 12 | 110-200 | 1,529 | 13 | 2 | 138.7 | 97.3 | 7.76 | +0.23 |
| 43 | Sefo Liufau | COLO | 10 | 214-344 | 2,420 | 9 | 6 | 126.4 | 84.7 | 6.07 | +0.23 |
| 44 | Luke Falk | WSU | 11 | 418-591 | 4,266 | 36 | 8 | 148.8 | 105.8 | 7.08 | +0.23 |
| 45 | Tanner Mangum | BYU | 11 | 242-390 | 3,062 | 21 | 7 | 142.2 | 97.0 | 7.31 | +0.23 |
| 46 | Brandon Silvers | TROY | 11 | 202-330 | 2,378 | 20 | 7 | 137.5 | 94.5 | 7.12 | +0.23 |
| 47 | Joshua Dobbs | TENN | 12 | 191-319 | 2,125 | 15 | 5 | 128.2 | 88.9 | 6.16 | +0.22 |
| 48 | Mike Bercovici | ASU | 12 | 290-480 | 3,442 | 26 | 9 | 134.8 | 92.6 | 6.54 | +0.21 |
| 49 | Blake Decker | UNLV | 9 | 120-209 | 1,713 | 12 | 8 | 137.6 | 87.3 | 7.23 | +0.20 |
| 50 | Blake Kemp | ECU | 8 | 260-375 | 2,658 | 16 | 10 | 137.6 | 92.5 | 6.32 | +0.20 |
| 51 | Jake Rudock | MICH | 12 | 229-358 | 2,739 | 17 | 9 | 138.9 | 92.6 | 6.91 | +0.20 |
| 52 | Thomas Woodson | AKR | 9 | 148-278 | 2,034 | 16 | 10 | 126.5 | 81.1 | 6.52 | +0.20 |
| 53 | Patrick Mahomes | TTU | 10 | 336-517 | 4,283 | 32 | 14 | 149.6 | 100.1 | 7.77 | +0.20 |
| 54 | P.J. Walker | TEM | 13 | 219-387 | 2,747 | 17 | 7 | 127.1 | 85.9 | 6.77 | +0.19 |
| 55 | Nick Stevens | CSU | 12 | 189-305 | 2,369 | 21 | 12 | 142.1 | 92.6 | 6.93 | +0.18 |
| 56 | Chase Litton | MRSH | 10 | 207-349 | 2,387 | 22 | 7 | 133.6 | 92.7 | 6.64 | +0.17 |
| 57 | Thomas Sirk | DUKE | 11 | 234-390 | 2,462 | 15 | 6 | 122.6 | 84.8 | 6.08 | +0.17 |
| 58 | Brogan Roback | EMU | 10 | 211-346 | 2,304 | 16 | 11 | 125.8 | 82.8 | 5.73 | +0.17 |
| 59 | Fredi Knighten | ARST | 9 | 122-223 | 1,698 | 19 | 7 | 140.5 | 94.7 | 6.95 | +0.17 |
| 60 | Jake Browning | WASH | 11 | 210-334 | 2,671 | 16 | 10 | 139.9 | 91.3 | 6.45 | +0.16 |
| 61 | Jake Coker | ALA | 12 | 222-338 | 2,489 | 17 | 8 | 139.4 | 94.4 | 6.58 | +0.16 |
| 62 | Joe Licata | BUF | 11 | 280-449 | 2,969 | 16 | 15 | 123.0 | 79.6 | 5.45 | +0.16 |
| 63 | Jacoby Brissett | NCSU | 12 | 225-367 | 2,448 | 19 | 4 | 132.2 | 93.7 | 6.23 | +0.14 |
| 64 | Mack Leftwich | UTEP | 6 | 105-192 | 1,228 | 9 | 3 | 120.8 | 83.4 | 6.45 | +0.14 |
| 65 | Hayden Moore | CIN | 2 | 114-195 | 1,683 | 9 | 8 | 138.0 | 85.1 | 7.05 | +0.14 |
| 66 | Kyle Allen | TA&M | 9 | 160-283 | 2,210 | 17 | 7 | 137.0 | 91.5 | 7.04 | +0.14 |
| 67 | Matt Johns | UVA | 12 | 247-403 | 2,810 | 20 | 17 | 127.8 | 81.2 | 5.61 | +0.13 |
| 68 | Mitch Leidner | MINN | 12 | 218-377 | 2,478 | 13 | 10 | 119.1 | 78.1 | 5.70 | +0.13 |
| 69 | Quinton Flowers | USF | 12 | 149-244 | 2,023 | 21 | 8 | 152.6 | 102.5 | 7.63 | +0.13 |
| 70 | Travis Wilson | UTAH | 11 | 186-298 | 2,024 | 13 | 10 | 127.2 | 83.0 | 5.33 | +0.12 |
| 71 | Alex McGough | FIU | 11 | 269-420 | 2,722 | 21 | 8 | 131.2 | 91.2 | 6.00 | +0.12 |
| 72 | Derrius Vick | OHIO | 10 | 158-247 | 1,809 | 10 | 6 | 134.0 | 89.3 | 6.01 | +0.12 |
| 73 | Joel Stave | WIS | 12 | 207-343 | 2,470 | 10 | 11 | 124.0 | 78.7 | 5.68 | +0.12 |
| 74 | Perry Orth | SC | 8 | 143-261 | 1,929 | 12 | 9 | 125.1 | 79.5 | 6.11 | +0.12 |
| 75 | Tyler Stewart | NEV | 12 | 180-313 | 2,065 | 15 | 7 | 124.3 | 84.2 | 5.77 | +0.11 |
| 76 | Tommy Armstrong Jr. | NEB | 11 | 210-383 | 2,856 | 21 | 16 | 127.2 | 79.7 | 6.24 | +0.10 |
| 77 | Cameron Coffman | WYO | 9 | 152-241 | 1,951 | 18 | 10 | 147.4 | 96.0 | 6.26 | +0.10 |
| 78 | Bryant Shirreffs | CONN | 11 | 158-262 | 1,992 | 9 | 7 | 130.2 | 84.3 | 5.86 | +0.10 |
| 79 | Brandon Harris | LSU | 10 | 135-254 | 1,904 | 12 | 5 | 127.8 | 85.2 | 6.87 | +0.09 |
| 80 | Brooks Haack | UL | 7 | 123-201 | 1,407 | 5 | 7 | 121.2 | 76.0 | 5.11 | +0.09 |
| 81 | Tyler Jones | TXST | 11 | 223-382 | 2,494 | 14 | 10 | 120.1 | 79.2 | 5.55 | +0.09 |
| 82 | Matt Linehan | IDHO | 10 | 248-391 | 2,989 | 16 | 11 | 135.5 | 88.7 | 6.45 | +0.09 |
| 83 | Garrett Smith | ULM | 10 | 191-333 | 2,033 | 17 | 11 | 118.9 | 78.6 | 5.10 | +0.09 |
| 84 | Riley Neal | BALL | 9 | 228-391 | 2,276 | 16 | 6 | 117.6 | 82.2 | 5.67 | +0.07 |
| 85 | Clayton Thorson | NU | 12 | 142-275 | 1,465 | 7 | 7 | 99.7 | 65.2 | 4.09 | +0.07 |
| 86 | Tanner Lee | TULN | 9 | 143-276 | 1,639 | 11 | 7 | 109.8 | 72.7 | 4.87 | +0.06 |
| 87 | Christian Hackenberg | PSU | 12 | 184-345 | 2,386 | 16 | 5 | 123.8 | 84.8 | 5.89 | +0.06 |
| 88 | Chris Laviano | RUTG | 11 | 187-307 | 2,247 | 16 | 12 | 131.8 | 84.4 | 5.60 | +0.06 |
| 89 | Skyler Howard | WVU | 12 | 193-352 | 2,613 | 21 | 12 | 130.1 | 84.4 | 6.26 | +0.05 |
| 90 | Wes Lunt | ILL | 12 | 270-481 | 2,761 | 14 | 6 | 111.5 | 77.3 | 5.22 | +0.05 |
| 91 | Matt Davis | SMU | 11 | 183-336 | 2,263 | 16 | 7 | 122.6 | 82.7 | 5.33 | +0.05 |
| 92 | Joe Hubener | KSU | 11 | 131-274 | 1,837 | 9 | 9 | 108.4 | 67.1 | 4.96 | +0.04 |
| 93 | Patrick Towles | UK | 10 | 183-326 | 2,148 | 9 | 14 | 112.0 | 67.6 | 4.38 | +0.03 |
| 94 | Austin Appleby | PUR | 4 | 119-207 | 1,260 | 8 | 8 | 113.6 | 72.1 | 4.72 | +0.03 |
| 95 | Cody Clements | USA | 12 | 171-324 | 2,272 | 13 | 15 | 115.7 | 69.4 | 4.94 | +0.02 |
| 96 | Joel Lanning | ISU | 5 | 107-193 | 1,247 | 10 | 4 | 122.7 | 83.8 | 5.34 | +0.01 |
| 97 | John Wolford | WAKE | 10 | 142-233 | 1,791 | 9 | 11 | 128.8 | 78.1 | 5.16 | +0.01 |
| 98 | Justin Thomas | GT | 9 | 75-180 | 1,345 | 13 | 8 | 119.4 | 73.5 | 5.96 | +0.00 |
| 99 | Lamar Jackson | LOU | 7 | 123-221 | 1,613 | 10 | 8 | 124.7 | 78.9 | 5.34 | +0.00 |
| 100 | Jaquez Johnson | FAU | 10 | 129-239 | 1,592 | 9 | 7 | 116.5 | 75.2 | 5.46 | -0.01 |
| 101 | Treon Harris | FLA | 8 | 111-214 | 1,530 | 9 | 5 | 121.1 | 79.4 | 5.40 | -0.02 |
| 102 | Dalton Sturm | UTSA | 7 | 125-212 | 1,354 | 13 | 7 | 126.2 | 84.5 | 4.51 | -0.02 |
| 103 | Sam B. Richardson | ISU | 7 | 128-213 | 1,443 | 8 | 8 | 121.9 | 77.3 | 5.03 | -0.03 |
| 104 | Blake Frohnapfel | MASS | 12 | 266-472 | 2,919 | 16 | 13 | 114.0 | 74.6 | 5.09 | -0.05 |
| 105 | David Blough | PUR | 8 | 169-293 | 1,574 | 10 | 8 | 108.6 | 72.5 | 4.18 | -0.09 |
| 106 | Ryan Willis | KU | 8 | 164-315 | 1,719 | 9 | 10 | 101.0 | 64.5 | 3.74 | -0.11 |
| 107 | Justin Holman | UCF | 8 | 127-250 | 1,379 | 7 | 14 | 95.2 | 53.4 | 3.34 | -0.12 |
| 108 | DaMarcus Smith | UNT | 6 | 99-212 | 1,010 | 8 | 5 | 94.5 | 63.6 | 3.83 | -0.14 |
| 109 | Shuler Bentley | ODU | 8 | 140-269 | 1,432 | 12 | 6 | 107.0 | 73.2 | 4.47 | -0.14 |
| 110 | Drew Lock | MIZ | 8 | 129-263 | 1,332 | 4 | 8 | 90.5 | 56.5 | 3.14 | -0.15 |
| 111 | Billy Bahl | M-OH | 7 | 99-221 | 1,416 | 8 | 13 | 98.8 | 53.7 | 3.67 | -0.16 |
| 112 | Johnny McCrary | VAN | 7 | 146-267 | 1,533 | 6 | 12 | 101.3 | 60.3 | 3.49 | -0.16 |
| 113 | Max Wittek | HAW | 7 | 128-271 | 1,542 | 7 | 15 | 92.5 | 50.7 | 3.02 | -0.26 |
| 114 | Lee McNeill | CLT | 6 | 100-189 | 878 | 1 | 10 | 83.1 | 45.2 | 1.81 | -0.32 |
| 115 | Perry Hills | MD | 8 | 90-180 | 1,001 | 8 | 13 | 96.9 | 51.6 | 2.60 | -0.32 |
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