2023 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). 2023 regular season. Counting stats are the official NCAA lines.

2023 Leaders

EPA per Dropback

1Kaidon Salter Liberty+0.59
2Jayden Daniels LSU+0.58
3Dillon Gabriel Oklahoma+0.53
4Bo Nix Oregon+0.52
5J.J. McCarthy Michigan+0.48

Full page

NFL Passer Rating

1Jayden Daniels LSU145.3
2Bo Nix Oregon133.9
3Kaidon Salter Liberty126.9
4Jalen Milroe Alabama119.9
5Dillon Gabriel Oklahoma119.1

Full page

Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt

1Jayden Daniels LSU12.48
2Kaidon Salter Liberty11.35
3Bo Nix Oregon10.86
4Dillon Gabriel Oklahoma9.86
5Preston Stone SMU9.62

Full page

Completion %

1Bo Nix Oregon77.2%
2J.J. McCarthy Michigan74.2%
3Jacob Zeno UAB73.6%
4Noah Fifita Arizona73.6%
5Graham Mertz Florida72.8%

Full page

Passing Yards

1Michael Penix Jr. Washington4,218
2Bo Nix Oregon4,145
3Jayden Daniels LSU3,812
4Carson Beck Georgia3,738
5Cam Ward Washington State3,732

Full page

Passing Touchdowns

1Bo Nix Oregon40
2Jayden Daniels LSU40
3Michael Penix Jr. Washington33
4Joey Aguilar App State33
5Jordan McCloud James Madison32

Full page

Success Rate

1Bo Nix Oregon61.4%
2Jayden Daniels LSU60.5%
3Carson Beck Georgia60.4%
4J.J. McCarthy Michigan57.6%
5Dillon Gabriel Oklahoma57.2%

Full page

Game-Winning Drives

1Jaxson Dart Ole Miss3
2Jayden Daniels LSU3
3Rocky Lombardi Northern Illinois3
4Shedeur Sanders Colorado3
5Alan Bowman Oklahoma State2

Full page

All 2023 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	Kaidon Salter	LIB	13	162-266	2,750	31	5	182.4	126.9	11.35	+0.59
2	Jayden Daniels	LSU	12	236-327	3,812	40	4	208.0	145.3	12.48	+0.58
3	Dillon Gabriel	OU	12	266-384	3,660	30	6	172.0	119.1	9.86	+0.53
4	Bo Nix	ORE	13	336-435	4,145	40	3	186.2	133.9	10.86	+0.52
5	J.J. McCarthy	MICH	13	213-287	2,630	19	4	170.3	118.4	8.79	+0.48
6	Kyle McCord	OSU	12	229-348	3,170	24	6	161.6	110.7	9.28	+0.48
7	Carson Beck	UGA	13	289-399	3,738	22	6	166.3	113.6	9.42	+0.45
8	Preston Stone	SMU	12	206-344	3,197	28	6	161.3	110.6	9.62	+0.44
9	Jordan McCloud	JMU	11	262-380	3,413	32	9	167.4	115.2	8.96	+0.43
10	Michael Penix Jr.	WASH	12	307-467	4,218	33	9	161.1	110.0	9.23	+0.41
11	Jaxson Dart	MISS	12	208-319	2,985	20	5	161.4	109.8	8.86	+0.41
12	Jordan Travis	FSU	11	207-324	2,745	20	2	154.2	108.6	8.67	+0.40
13	Joey Aguilar	APP	12	274-427	3,543	33	9	155.2	107.1	8.49	+0.39
14	Jalen Milroe	ALA	12	171-261	2,718	23	6	177.5	119.9	8.90	+0.39
15	TJ Finley	TXST	12	264-385	3,287	24	8	156.7	106.9	8.07	+0.38
16	Jayden Maiava	UNLV	9	200-318	2,794	14	8	146.2	95.3	8.15	+0.38
17	Dequan Finn	TOL	13	201-317	2,651	22	9	150.9	101.1	7.99	+0.38
18	Noah Fifita	ARIZ	8	217-295	2,515	23	5	167.5	117.8	8.64	+0.38
19	Brady Cook	MIZ	12	232-349	3,174	20	6	158.3	107.3	8.65	+0.38
20	Rocco Becht	ISU	12	209-329	2,674	20	8	147.0	99.0	7.85	+0.37
21	John Rhys Plumlee	UCF	9	145-227	2,073	13	8	152.4	97.8	8.19	+0.37
22	JT Daniels	RICE	9	181-287	2,443	21	7	153.8	104.3	8.26	+0.36
23	Haynes King	GT	12	219-354	2,755	26	15	143.0	92.9	6.96	+0.36
24	Garrett Greene	WVU	10	135-254	2,178	15	4	141.5	95.2	8.93	+0.35
25	Dylan Hopkins	UNM	10	157-282	2,074	11	9	123.9	78.8	6.23	+0.34
26	Sam Hartman	ND	12	191-301	2,689	24	8	159.5	107.7	8.65	+0.33
27	Josh Hoover	TCU	6	186-299	2,210	15	9	134.8	88.9	6.76	+0.33
28	Kurtis Rourke	OHIO	11	195-307	2,207	11	5	132.5	90.1	6.60	+0.33
29	Seth Henigan	MEM	12	294-442	3,519	28	9	150.2	103.3	7.78	+0.31
30	Graham Mertz	FLA	11	260-357	2,878	20	3	157.4	111.5	7.82	+0.31
31	Quinn Ewers	TEX	11	248-351	3,161	21	6	162.6	111.3	8.50	+0.31
32	Carter Bradley	USA	11	221-326	2,660	19	7	151.3	103.1	7.62	+0.31
33	Diego Pavia	NMSU	14	210-341	2,915	26	8	153.9	104.7	8.20	+0.31
34	Caleb Williams	USC	11	266-388	3,633	30	5	170.1	118.6	9.07	+0.30
35	Joe Milton III	TENN	12	230-355	2,814	20	5	147.1	102.0	7.84	+0.30
36	Michael Pratt	TULN	11	185-283	2,406	22	5	158.9	110.5	8.50	+0.30
37	Drew Allar	PSU	12	214-349	2,336	23	1	138.7	101.8	7.48	+0.29
38	Frank Harris	UTSA	10	218-336	2,506	18	8	140.4	95.2	6.78	+0.29
39	Brett Gabbert	M-OH	8	111-188	1,634	14	5	151.3	101.2	8.04	+0.28
40	Jack Plummer	LOU	13	235-370	3,063	21	12	145.3	94.9	6.93	+0.28
41	Garrett Shrader	SYR	8	134-214	1,691	13	6	143.4	95.8	6.67	+0.27
42	Jacob Zeno	UAB	11	279-379	3,126	20	9	155.6	105.5	7.33	+0.27
43	Taulia Tagovailoa	MD	12	290-437	3,377	25	11	145.1	98.2	7.08	+0.27
44	Jaylen Raynor	ARST	9	150-255	2,293	15	6	149.1	98.4	7.96	+0.26
45	Shedeur Sanders	COLO	11	298-430	3,230	27	3	151.7	109.2	6.81	+0.26
46	Chevan Cordeiro	SJSU	12	207-333	2,558	19	4	143.1	99.9	7.52	+0.26
47	Grayson McCall	CCU	7	151-224	1,919	10	6	148.7	97.7	7.44	+0.26
48	DJ Uiagalelei	ORST	12	180-315	2,638	21	7	145.0	97.6	8.17	+0.26
49	Max Johnson	TA&M	5	118-190	1,452	9	5	136.7	90.5	6.53	+0.25
50	Cooper Legas	USU	7	138-213	1,815	19	8	158.3	105.7	7.60	+0.25
51	Gunnar Watson	TROY	13	246-402	3,327	27	5	150.4	104.8	8.26	+0.25
52	Chandler Morris	TCU	6	132-202	1,528	12	5	143.5	97.5	7.08	+0.24
53	Austin Reed	WKU	12	289-470	3,324	31	11	138.0	95.0	7.14	+0.24
54	Tyler Van Dyke	MIA	10	219-333	2,703	19	12	145.6	94.7	7.28	+0.24
55	Andrew Peasley	WYO	11	146-241	1,823	20	5	147.4	103.1	7.13	+0.23
56	Drake Maye	UNC	12	269-425	3,608	24	9	149.0	100.2	7.91	+0.23
57	Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi	CSU	11	292-470	3,460	22	16	132.6	85.9	6.47	+0.22
58	Ta'Quan Roberson	CONN	10	197-338	2,075	12	6	118.0	80.7	5.79	+0.21
59	Spencer Rattler	SC	12	275-399	3,186	19	8	147.7	100.3	6.60	+0.21
60	Cam Ward	WSU	12	324-486	3,732	25	7	145.3	100.8	7.09	+0.21
61	Taylen Green	BOIS	11	121-212	1,752	11	9	135.1	83.7	6.95	+0.20
62	KJ Jefferson	ARK	12	190-296	2,107	19	8	139.8	95.4	5.65	+0.20
63	Chandler Rogers	UNT	10	262-422	3,383	29	5	149.7	105.2	7.79	+0.19
64	Brennan Armstrong	NCSU	8	146-234	1,619	11	6	130.9	87.9	6.13	+0.19
65	Fernando Mendoza	CAL	7	131-210	1,447	13	7	134.0	89.5	6.01	+0.19
66	Will Howard	KSU	12	219-358	2,643	24	10	139.7	94.5	6.92	+0.19
67	Mikey Keene	FRES	10	251-380	2,596	21	9	136.9	94.1	6.17	+0.18
68	Darren Grainger	GAST	12	225-336	2,368	17	7	138.7	95.4	6.72	+0.18
69	Alan Bowman	OKST	12	270-452	3,058	13	12	120.7	78.6	5.98	+0.16
70	Ben Bryant	NU	8	150-243	1,585	11	6	126.5	85.5	5.18	+0.15
71	Payton Thorne	AUB	11	149-238	1,671	15	9	134.8	88.8	5.37	+0.15
72	E.J. Warner	TEM	10	256-445	3,076	23	12	127.3	84.8	6.44	+0.14
73	Will Rogers	MSST	8	142-237	1,626	12	4	130.9	90.4	6.39	+0.13
74	Hank Bachmeier	LT	8	182-269	2,058	10	5	140.5	95.0	6.71	+0.13
75	Jase Bauer	CMU	9	163-287	1,881	12	8	120.1	79.0	5.38	+0.13
76	Jalen Mayden	SDSU	12	199-314	2,031	10	9	122.5	80.5	5.15	+0.13
77	Devin Leary	UK	12	193-343	2,440	23	10	132.3	88.8	6.37	+0.13
78	Brayden Schager	HAW	13	332-525	3,542	26	14	130.9	88.3	5.68	+0.12
79	Kyron Drones	VT	10	153-264	1,993	15	3	137.8	96.0	7.30	+0.11
80	Keegan Shoemaker	SHSU	11	264-419	2,504	15	11	119.8	80.5	5.18	+0.11
81	Katin Houser	MSU	7	113-193	1,098	6	5	111.4	74.1	4.31	+0.11
82	Davis Brin	GASO	11	330-510	3,431	22	16	129.2	85.3	5.61	+0.11
83	Rocky Lombardi	NIU	12	171-298	2,074	10	5	123.6	83.1	6.31	+0.11
84	Tommy Castellanos	BC	11	178-312	2,168	15	13	123.0	77.2	5.40	+0.11
85	Cade Klubnik	CLEM	12	260-413	2,580	19	8	126.7	87.8	5.88	+0.11
86	Brendon Lewis	NEV	9	131-236	1,313	2	6	100.0	63.8	3.66	+0.10
87	Emory Jones	CIN	11	197-322	2,219	18	10	131.3	87.5	5.80	+0.10
88	Connor Bazelak	BGSU	10	147-241	1,714	11	7	130.0	85.7	5.72	+0.10
89	Luke Altmyer	ILL	9	175-270	1,883	13	10	131.9	85.8	5.09	+0.10
90	Byrum Brown	USF	12	257-400	3,078	23	11	142.4	95.4	6.52	+0.10
91	Blake Shapen	BAY	8	184-298	2,188	13	3	135.8	94.5	6.72	+0.10
92	Mitch Griffis	WAKE	8	123-207	1,539	9	8	128.5	81.0	5.23	+0.10
93	Tanner Mordecai	WIS	9	177-274	1,687	6	4	120.6	82.8	5.55	+0.09
94	Gavin Wimsatt	RUTG	12	131-274	1,651	9	8	103.4	65.8	4.86	+0.09
95	AJ Swann	VAN	6	106-196	1,418	12	7	127.9	82.8	6.25	+0.09
96	Anthony Colandrea	UVA	6	154-246	1,958	13	9	139.6	89.8	6.38	+0.09
97	Nicholas Vattiato	MTSU	12	286-428	3,087	23	13	139.1	93.1	6.12	+0.09
98	Ashton Daniels	STAN	9	191-327	2,247	11	8	122.3	80.4	5.60	+0.09
99	Hayden Wolff	WMU	5	148-226	1,505	8	5	128.7	87.0	5.70	+0.08
100	Billy Wiles	USM	10	158-290	1,916	11	7	117.7	77.6	5.69	+0.08
101	Taisun Phommachanh	MASS	9	139-227	1,507	6	6	120.4	78.6	5.33	+0.08
102	Athan Kaliakmanis	MINN	12	156-294	1,838	14	9	115.2	75.5	5.06	+0.08
103	Hudson Card	PUR	11	215-365	2,387	15	8	123.0	83.0	5.66	+0.07
104	Brendan Sorsby	IU	7	135-236	1,582	15	5	130.2	90.0	6.21	+0.07
105	Cole Snyder	BUF	12	203-372	2,109	13	9	108.9	72.7	4.96	+0.06
106	Christian Veilleux	PITT	5	94-184	1,179	7	8	108.8	65.9	4.74	+0.05
107	Donovan Smith	HOU	12	255-396	2,800	22	13	135.6	90.0	5.88	+0.05
108	Kedon Slovis	BYU	8	153-266	1,716	12	6	122.1	82.5	5.78	+0.05
109	Cam Fancher	MRSH	10	202-308	2,162	11	11	129.2	83.0	5.17	+0.04
110	Dante Moore	UCLA	5	114-213	1,610	11	9	125.6	77.8	5.46	+0.04
111	Bryson Barnes	UTAH	7	134-229	1,517	12	9	123.6	79.5	5.47	+0.04
112	Keyone Jenkins	FIU	11	194-332	2,422	11	11	124.0	78.4	5.29	+0.02
113	Behren Morton	TTU	7	155-251	1,498	12	7	122.1	82.7	5.06	+0.00
114	Daniel Richardson	FAU	8	208-318	2,001	13	10	125.5	83.3	4.80	+0.00
115	Zion Webb	JXST	8	97-194	1,281	5	6	107.8	67.0	5.30	-0.01
116	Trenton Bourguet	ASU	8	151-248	1,486	1	4	109.3	72.4	5.17	-0.01
117	Austin Smith	EMU	11	171-298	1,775	9	7	112.7	75.0	4.55	-0.02
118	Jeff Undercuffler Jr.	AKR	5	138-224	1,378	4	9	111.1	68.3	3.78	-0.05
119	Grant Wilson	ODU	10	165-290	2,026	16	7	129.0	86.9	5.22	-0.06
120	Jiya Wright	ULM	8	107-204	1,246	10	8	112.1	71.2	4.31	-0.09
121	Deacon Hill	IOWA	8	115-233	1,096	5	6	90.8	59.2	3.18	-0.09
122	Trexler Ivey	CLT	7	112-203	1,263	4	10	104.1	60.0	3.47	-0.12
123	Alex Flinn	ECU	9	159-290	1,558	6	12	98.5	59.8	3.25	-0.16

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 ↗