2021 College Quarterback Rankings

College play-by-play before 2025 does not record where passes went, so depth, direction, ACE and throw maps start in 2025. Counting stats are the official NCAA season lines.

Ranked by EPA per Dropback. Qualified: 15 pass attempts per team game (the NCAA's minimum for passing efficiency). 2021 regular season. Counting stats are the official NCAA lines.

2021 Leaders

EPA per Dropback

1Grayson McCall Coastal Carolina+0.68
2C.J. Stroud Ohio State+0.48
3Bailey Zappe Western Kentucky+0.45
4Tyler Van Dyke Miami+0.44
5Daniel Richardson Central Michigan+0.44

Full page

NFL Passer Rating

1Grayson McCall Coastal Carolina143.8
2Hendon Hooker Tennessee129.0
3C.J. Stroud Ohio State128.7
4Bryce Young Alabama125.1
5Stetson Bennett Georgia119.4

Full page

Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt

1Grayson McCall Coastal Carolina12.53
2C.J. Stroud Ohio State10.58
3Stetson Bennett Georgia10.12
4Hendon Hooker Tennessee9.66
5Bryce Young Alabama9.64

Full page

Completion %

1Will Rogers Mississippi State75.1%
2Spencer Rattler Oklahoma74.9%
3Aidan O'Connell Purdue73.5%
4Brock Purdy Iowa State73.1%
5Grayson McCall Coastal Carolina73.0%

Full page

Passing Yards

1Bailey Zappe Western Kentucky5,545
2Will Rogers Mississippi State4,449
3Brennan Armstrong Virginia4,444
4Bryce Young Alabama4,322
5Kenny Pickett Pittsburgh4,319

Full page

Passing Touchdowns

1Bailey Zappe Western Kentucky56
2Bryce Young Alabama43
3Kenny Pickett Pittsburgh42
4Tanner Mordecai SMU39
5C.J. Stroud Ohio State38

Full page

Success Rate

1Grayson McCall Coastal Carolina63.1%
2C.J. Stroud Ohio State58.5%
3Jake Bentley South Alabama56.9%
4Bailey Zappe Western Kentucky56.2%
5Brock Purdy Iowa State55.5%

Full page

Game-Winning Drives

1Anthony Brown Oregon2
2Daniel Richardson Central Michigan2
3Dylan Morris Washington2
4Holton Ahlers East Carolina2
5Jack Coan Notre Dame2

Full page

All 2021 College Quarterback Leaderboards

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 Ranking

"Accuracy Compared to Expectation"

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.

How ACE works

Quarterback Rankings, All Qualified Quarterbacks

Rk	Player	Team	GS	Cmp-Att	Yds	TD	INT	Eff	Rate	ANY/A	EPA/DB
1	Grayson McCall	CCU	8	154-211	2,558	23	3	207.9	143.8	12.53	+0.68
2	C.J. Stroud	OSU	11	280-395	3,862	38	5	182.2	128.7	10.58	+0.48
3	Bailey Zappe	WKU	12	442-639	5,545	56	11	167.5	117.9	9.32	+0.45
4	Tyler Van Dyke	MIA	8	202-324	2,931	25	6	160.1	109.7	9.02	+0.44
5	Daniel Richardson	CMU	7	173-282	2,424	23	5	156.9	108.8	9.16	+0.44
6	Bryce Young	ALA	13	314-462	4,322	43	4	175.5	125.1	9.64	+0.43
7	Jake Bentley	USA	9	212-303	2,476	17	8	151.8	102.1	7.47	+0.41
8	KJ Jefferson	ARK	11	184-275	2,578	21	3	168.7	117.8	9.40	+0.39
9	Stetson Bennett	UGA	10	148-231	2,325	24	7	176.8	119.4	10.12	+0.39
10	Frank Harris	UTSA	13	241-362	2,906	25	5	154.0	108.3	8.43	+0.39
11	Tanner Mordecai	SMU	12	308-454	3,628	39	12	158.0	109.5	8.16	+0.39
12	Aidan O'Connell	PUR	8	289-393	3,178	23	8	156.7	108.1	7.88	+0.38
13	Hendon Hooker	TENN	10	180-261	2,567	26	3	182.2	129.0	9.66	+0.37
14	Gavin Hardison	UTEP	12	186-332	2,966	17	12	140.7	88.0	8.01	+0.37
15	Brock Purdy	ISU	11	269-368	2,984	18	7	153.5	105.2	7.62	+0.37
16	Jake Haener	FRES	12	303-449	3,810	32	9	158.3	109.1	8.37	+0.36
17	Brennan Armstrong	UVA	11	327-501	4,444	31	10	156.2	105.7	8.50	+0.36
18	Dequan Finn	TOL	6	126-211	1,855	16	1	157.6	111.8	8.87	+0.35
19	Sam Hartman	WAKE	12	276-469	3,924	36	14	148.5	99.1	7.77	+0.35
20	Jaren Hall	BYU	10	189-296	2,583	20	5	156.1	107.1	8.65	+0.34
21	Max Duggan	TCU	9	145-227	2,048	16	6	157.6	105.4	8.35	+0.34
22	Casey Thompson	TEX	9	165-261	2,113	24	9	154.7	104.8	7.70	+0.34
23	Skylar Thompson	KSU	9	141-205	1,854	9	4	155.3	103.6	8.05	+0.34
24	Kenny Pickett	PITT	13	334-497	4,319	42	7	165.3	116.6	9.00	+0.33
25	Dylan Hopkins	UAB	8	136-212	2,085	15	6	164.5	108.3	8.08	+0.33
26	Dorian Thompson-Robinson	UCLA	11	176-283	2,409	21	6	153.9	105.3	8.37	+0.33
27	Darren Grainger	GAST	9	121-209	1,512	16	4	140.1	98.0	7.40	+0.32
28	Brett Gabbert	M-OH	7	156-268	2,418	24	6	159.1	108.7	9.41	+0.32
29	Carson Strong	NEV	12	367-524	4,186	36	8	156.8	110.3	7.92	+0.32
30	Clayton Tune	HOU	13	261-381	3,263	28	9	160.0	109.5	7.77	+0.32
31	Rocky Lombardi	NIU	12	180-310	2,416	13	8	132.2	86.2	7.21	+0.32
32	Spencer Rattler	OU	6	140-187	1,483	11	5	155.5	106.0	7.02	+0.31
33	Malik Cunningham	LOU	12	196-316	2,734	18	6	149.7	100.9	8.37	+0.31
34	Payton Thorne	MSU	12	206-339	2,886	24	9	150.3	100.7	8.10	+0.30
35	Grant Wells	MRSH	11	280-419	3,433	16	12	142.5	92.7	7.31	+0.30
36	Chase Brice	APP	13	227-367	3,020	23	10	146.2	97.5	7.84	+0.30
37	Seth Henigan	MEM	11	235-393	3,322	25	8	147.7	99.9	8.22	+0.30
38	Caleb Williams	OU	6	115-184	1,670	18	4	166.7	115.5	8.28	+0.30
39	Devin Leary	NCSU	12	283-431	3,433	35	5	157.0	112.2	8.23	+0.30
40	Will Rogers	MSST	12	473-630	4,449	35	8	150.2	107.3	7.07	+0.29
41	Jack Coan	ND	12	215-317	2,641	20	6	154.8	106.5	7.49	+0.29
42	Matt Corral	MISS	12	260-380	3,339	20	4	157.5	108.9	8.67	+0.28
43	Desmond Ridder	CIN	12	234-355	3,190	30	8	164.8	113.2	8.98	+0.28
44	Logan Bonner	USU	13	257-420	3,560	36	11	155.4	106.1	8.53	+0.28
45	Kaleb Eleby	WMU	12	222-348	3,115	21	5	156.0	106.7	8.73	+0.27
46	Jaxson Dart	USC	3	117-189	1,353	9	5	132.5	88.3	6.65	+0.27
47	Chance Nolan	ORST	11	183-288	2,414	19	9	149.5	98.9	8.02	+0.27
48	Ben Bryant	EMU	10	256-372	2,921	14	6	144.0	98.0	6.79	+0.27
49	Cameron Rising	UTAH	10	187-298	2,279	18	5	143.6	99.4	7.89	+0.26
50	Kedon Slovis	USC	9	193-297	2,153	11	8	132.7	87.6	6.44	+0.26
51	Spencer Sanders	OKST	11	209-340	2,468	16	12	130.9	84.5	6.18	+0.26
52	Hank Bachmeier	BOIS	12	252-401	3,079	20	8	139.8	94.8	7.35	+0.26
53	Cade McNamara	MICH	13	199-308	2,470	15	4	145.4	100.2	8.03	+0.26
54	Sean Clifford	PSU	12	247-396	2,912	20	6	137.8	95.2	7.17	+0.25
55	Todd Centeio	CSU	11	229-380	2,958	15	10	133.4	86.9	6.86	+0.24
56	Nick Starkel	SJSU	5	128-248	1,645	9	7	113.7	73.1	5.76	+0.24
57	Chris Reynolds	CLT	11	216-338	2,680	26	9	150.6	102.9	7.81	+0.24
58	Chevan Cordeiro	HAW	9	195-353	2,793	17	11	131.4	84.2	6.89	+0.24
59	Emory Jones	FLA	11	210-310	2,563	19	13	149.0	95.9	7.28	+0.24
60	Max Bortenschlager	FIU	9	178-342	2,935	19	12	135.5	85.1	7.48	+0.24
61	Adrian Martinez	NEB	11	189-306	2,863	14	10	148.9	94.2	7.97	+0.24
62	Hayden Wolff	ODU	7	140-225	1,757	10	6	137.2	90.2	7.15	+0.23
63	Gerry Bohanon	BAY	10	166-258	2,160	17	6	151.8	102.9	8.18	+0.23
64	Jake Constantine	RICE	5	126-206	1,622	8	7	133.3	84.6	6.44	+0.23
65	Jayden de Laura	WSU	10	220-342	2,751	23	9	148.8	100.7	7.77	+0.23
66	Max Johnson	LSU	12	225-373	2,815	27	6	144.4	101.2	7.36	+0.23
67	Jarret Doege	WVU	12	254-386	2,908	19	11	139.6	92.8	6.28	+0.23
68	Kyle Vantrease	BUF	9	161-262	1,861	8	6	126.6	83.5	6.34	+0.23
69	Braxton Burmeister	VT	11	142-255	1,960	14	4	135.2	92.3	7.17	+0.23
70	Layne Hatcher	ARST	6	201-341	2,423	19	13	129.4	83.5	5.91	+0.22
71	Tanner Morgan	MINN	12	141-236	1,935	10	8	135.8	86.0	6.82	+0.22
72	Bo Nix	AUB	10	197-323	2,294	11	3	130.0	90.0	6.87	+0.22
73	Taulia Tagovailoa	MD	12	308-450	3,595	24	11	148.3	100.0	7.22	+0.22
74	Taylor Powell	TROY	5	125-189	1,251	7	6	127.6	83.9	5.58	+0.22
75	Davis Brin	TLSA	12	221-376	2,969	16	16	130.6	80.4	6.32	+0.21
76	Tanner McKee	STAN	9	206-315	2,327	15	7	138.7	94.0	6.55	+0.21
77	Will Levis	UK	12	216-325	2,593	23	12	149.4	98.9	7.12	+0.21
78	Austin Kendall	LT	7	148-243	1,884	13	9	136.3	87.5	6.53	+0.19
79	James Blackman	ARST	4	109-184	1,334	8	4	130.1	87.1	6.21	+0.19
80	Dustin Crum	KENT	12	228-355	2,922	16	6	144.9	97.9	7.36	+0.19
81	N'Kosi Perry	FAU	12	210-345	2,771	20	7	143.4	97.1	7.29	+0.19
82	Connor Bazelak	MIZ	11	246-377	2,548	16	11	130.2	86.6	6.05	+0.19
83	Brady McBride	TXST	6	146-244	1,507	12	10	119.7	77.0	4.67	+0.19
84	Jordan Travis	FSU	8	122-194	1,539	15	6	148.9	100.4	6.55	+0.18
85	Dylan Morris	WASH	10	220-363	2,458	14	12	123.6	79.9	5.62	+0.18
86	Holton Ahlers	ECU	11	256-414	3,126	18	10	134.8	89.5	6.43	+0.18
87	Jayden Daniels	ASU	12	186-280	2,221	10	9	138.4	89.0	6.27	+0.17
88	Austin Aune	UNT	8	136-263	1,763	9	7	114.0	73.4	6.03	+0.16
89	Levi Lewis	UL	12	217-360	2,647	19	4	137.2	95.9	7.19	+0.16
90	Anthony Brown	ORE	13	223-350	2,683	15	6	138.8	94.3	7.09	+0.16
91	Gunnar Holmberg	DUKE	11	217-324	2,358	7	8	130.3	85.1	6.05	+0.16
92	Gunnar Watson	TROY	7	140-228	1,613	8	4	128.9	87.1	6.48	+0.15
93	Timmy McClain	USF	9	145-262	1,888	5	7	116.8	73.5	5.80	+0.15
94	Jeff Sims	GT	5	113-188	1,468	12	7	139.3	90.5	7.00	+0.14
95	Drew Plitt	BALL	11	221-365	2,248	17	5	124.9	88.0	5.93	+0.14
96	Sam Howell	UNC	11	205-327	2,851	23	9	153.6	102.6	7.28	+0.14
97	Cameron Friel	UNLV	7	141-226	1,608	6	11	121.2	72.3	4.51	+0.13
98	Garrett Shrader	SYR	10	123-234	1,445	9	4	113.7	77.3	5.35	+0.11
99	Graham Mertz	WIS	12	158-269	1,821	9	10	119.2	74.9	5.51	+0.11
100	Mikey Keene	UCF	9	159-250	1,586	16	6	133.2	92.8	6.23	+0.10
101	Malik Willis	LIB	12	194-315	2,626	24	12	149.1	97.7	6.44	+0.09
102	Matt McDonald	BGSU	11	236-393	2,555	12	7	121.2	82.0	5.34	+0.09
103	Chase Garbers	CAL	11	223-348	2,531	16	8	135.7	91.5	6.42	+0.08
104	Spencer Petras	IOWA	10	146-258	1,669	9	6	117.8	78.1	5.16	+0.08
105	Jonah Johnson	NMSU	11	257-438	2,705	10	8	114.4	76.7	5.05	+0.08
106	Lucas Johnson	SDSU	8	114-187	1,091	9	4	121.6	84.3	5.28	+0.07
107	Michael Pratt	TULN	11	189-328	2,381	21	8	134.8	91.5	6.61	+0.07
108	Will Plummer	ARIZ	7	155-267	1,610	6	9	109.4	69.0	4.41	+0.06
109	Jason Bean	KU	9	102-181	1,252	6	6	118.8	75.1	5.61	+0.06
110	Kurtis Rourke	OHIO	9	171-261	1,817	11	7	132.5	88.6	5.95	+0.05
111	DJ Uiagalelei	CLEM	12	187-342	2,059	9	9	108.7	70.5	4.86	+0.04
112	Zach Calzada	TA&M	10	184-328	2,185	17	9	123.7	82.4	5.86	+0.03
113	Ken Seals	VAN	7	127-224	1,181	5	8	101.2	63.9	3.72	+0.03
114	Dennis Grosel	BC	6	111-192	1,216	6	7	114.0	71.9	4.79	+0.03
115	Noah Vedral	RUTG	12	172-290	1,726	7	6	113.1	75.7	4.95	-0.01
116	Brendon Lewis	COLO	12	149-257	1,540	10	3	118.8	83.5	5.45	-0.06
117	Brady Olson	MASS	8	104-215	1,145	8	7	98.9	63.4	4.20	-0.16
118	Steven Krajewski	CONN	6	122-231	1,217	7	10	98.4	60.1	3.64	-0.18

Other seasons: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011

QBS BLOG · PASSING QUESTIONS · MINDSET

Understanding the Throw.

What the box score cannot tell you about the people behind the pass.

All Posts →

THE NUMBERS

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 →

ACCURACY

What CPOE Means, and How ACE Builds on It

Completion percentage over expected gives credit for difficult completions. Here is how ACE measures it.

Read Article →

THE POCKET

Why Sacks Belong Partly to the Quarterback

A sack is the rush, the line and the decision. Why our dropback stats count them.

Read Article →

FROM THE A-GAME PODCAST

10 Mind-Body Performance Recovery Tools Backed By Science

Learn the break down of ten mind-body recovery tools, each backed by science, including how and when to use them to perform at your peak.

Listen to the Episode ↗