Week 11 of the college football season was filled with no shortage of notable quarterback performances as many of the top passers in the nation continued to hold their own, while others saw a major rise with breakout performances.
Several of the prospects listed within the top 15 are expected to make their way to the 2024 NFL Draft, while others could bolster what is also expected to be a strong class for the 2025 edition.
Here's a look at where each of the best quarterbacks in the NCAA stand heading into Week 12:
** injured players who have missed their respective team's latest game are not included
MORE: College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 12 top 25 games
College football QB rankings
1. Bo Nix, Oregon
Nix has been college football's most impressive player on all cylinders for a string of weeks now and that did not change as he led the Ducks to a nine-point victory over Caleb Williams and USC.
He's been a force both as a passer and as a runner when called upon to be such, scoring three touchdowns through the air and three on the ground. His latest showing within the game plan reflected more of how effective he is as a passer.
The phrase "dual-threat" gets thrown around too casually, but in the modern era, Nix fits the bill precisely. He's thrown for four touchdowns in back-to-back games and will look to keep that rolling as Oregon faces Arizona State on Saturday.
Latest game stats: vs. USC (W, 36-27) 23-of-31 passing, 412 yards, 4 TD; 5 rushing yards
2. Jayden Daniels, LSU
LSU has areas of improvement to tackle that have shown up at certain points this season and are the unfortunate reason that Daniels has not gotten the level of attention he deserves in the Heisman Trophy race. But there is no question Daniels should be considered among the nation's best signal-callers as a true dual-threat prospect with superior athleticism and clear development on the passing front.
Daniels has racked up plenty of awards following his latest performance, including Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week, Maxwell Award National Player of the Week and SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
And if you're a QBR person, it's worth noting that Daniels leads the nation there at 94.2, ahead of J.J. McCarthy (92.6) and Bo Nix (87.3).
Latest game stats: vs. Florida (W, 52-35) 17-of-26 passing, 372 yards, 3 TD; 234 rush yards, 2 TD
3. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Penix may be the most realistic option for the Heisman Trophy in what reasonably looks like will be a tight race between he and Nix, though Daniels deserves to be just as closely in contention.
The Huskies QB has been consistent as of late, holding strong as the nation's leading passer with 3,533 yards in that category. The Penix we saw at the end of his time at Indiana is a thing of the past and a far cry from a healthy and hugely improved quarterback mechanically.
Latest game stats: vs. Utah (W, 35-28) 24-of-42 passing, 332 yards, 2 TD; -14 rushing yards, TD
4. Caleb Williams, USC
It was not long ago that Williams was seen unanimously as the best quarterback in college football, but over the past few weeks, several other names have taken the top spot across rankings by multiple different outlets.
In his defense, Williams has played soundly throughout the Trojans' four losses in their past five games on a team that struggles to play complementary football. Regardless, in this most recent matchup, Nix was the superior quarterback on the field.
Latest game stats: vs. Oregon (L, 36-27) 19-of-34 passing, 291 yards, TD; -11 rushing yards, TD
5. Drake Maye, North Carolina
Maye and the Tar Heels found themselves dangerously close to an upset with 47-45 victory over Duke in double overtime. Maye didn't play an entirely perfect game through the air, but he was arguably the biggest factor in pulling it off.
A five-yard touchdown run from Maye followed by a successful two-point conversion pass where he found tight end John Copenhaver sealed the victory for UNC.
Maye had some throws he probably wanted to have back in this one, but his absurd ability to create, step up in the face of pressure in critical moments and what makes him truly unique as a prospect in the clutch were evident in this one.
Latest game stats: vs. Duke (W, 47-45) 28-of-43 passing, 342 yards, TD, INT; 22 rushing yards, 2 TD
6. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
After Saturday's win over Penn State, one thing remains completely unchanged: McCarthy is still one of the most polarizing quarterback prospects in college football. Sure, McCarthy's stat line was lackluster. But running the ball clearly was working for Michigan's game plan -- it's why the last 32 plays of the game by the Wolverines were runs.
McCarthy simply did what was asked of him here, executing the offense well, completing all but one pass and taking care of the football. In some game plans dependent on the approach and the opponent, that's all a quarterback needs to do.
Latest game stats: vs. Penn State (W, 24-15), 7-of-8 passing, 60 yards; 34 rushing yards
7. Jordan Travis, Florida State
Travis and the Seminoles remain undefeated after Saturday's win, but the team has caught some flak for the quality of their victories. Despite this, Travis has played well in the majority of those contests.
This was one of his more unimpressive games of the year, though he held true to one thing that has been one of his most quietly important assets throughout the whole season: not putting the ball in harm's way.
Travis has thrown just two interceptions on 320 passing attempts this season. It's an improvement from the past three seasons, where he's thrown at least five interceptions. The most interceptions he had in a single season is tied between 2020 and 2021 with six total picks.
Latest game stats: vs. Miami (W, 27-20), 19-of-31 passing, 265 yards, TD; -30 rushing yards
MORE: Who are the top four teams in the third CFP rankings of 2023?
8. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
In the midst of a lost season for the Gamecocks, Rattler has been one of the brightest stars. The majority of Rattler's struggles while he was with Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma seemed to be more mental than anything else, and there's no doubt he's found the right landing spot for him from a quarterback perspective with Shane Beamer at South Carolina.
The only thing is the pieces around him -- they aren't great and pass protection has been among one of South Carolina's most concerning spots. And even with all of that, Rattler still has a completion percentage just shy of 71% that hangs with some of the most highly-touted passers in the nation.
Put Rattler on a better team, and perhaps we're talking about him a lot more similarly to the way we were ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. Expect him to be a problem for Kentucky.
Latest game stats: vs. Vanderbilt (W, 47-6), 28-of-36 passing, 351 yards, 3 TD, INT; 1 rushing yard, TD
9. Michael Pratt, Tulane
For a team touted as the best in the G5, the Green Wave have been lucky to escape some games against opponents deemed much "lowlier competition" with a win by a touchdown or far less. Though he's had some times in which he has faltered due to injury, Pratt seems to be returning more to himself. He currently ranks 10th among qualified FBS quarterbacks with a 167.1 passer rating.
Pratt is a tough runner who has shown improvement on choosing when to leave the pocket at the right time and when to make the throw, putting himself into better situations as the season has progressed. He's among the prospects the NFL could be much higher on than a lot of the media is.
The only thing to watch is how well his frame holds at the next level in regard to his gritty style of running the football as he's not built like a Josh Allen type (though he likes to try to play like one sometimes).
Latest game stats: vs. Tulsa (W, 24-22) 16-of-29, 194 yards, TD, INT; 9 rushing yards
10. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
Gabriel fell out of the spotlight temporarily after catching some hype during periods of both the 2022 and the 2021 season, but has appeared almost limited lately. That all changed as Gabriel looked like the full-capacity quarterback who used to be toward the top of the rankings with an explosive performance against West Virginia.
Trying to force things and make too much happen has also been an issue of Gabriel's since he's arrived at Oklahoma, but it all came quite naturally on a performance with some eight touchdowns to his name.
Latest game stats: vs. West Virginia (W, 59-20), 23-of-36 passing, 423 yards, 5 TD; 50 rushing yards, 3 TD
11. Carson Beck, Georgia
Perhaps the most key job for Beck this season was the classic coach-speak "getting the ball to playmakers" as a prospect who has been largely called a game manager, with some flashes that he could do a bit more than that. But he doesn't really need to with the talent Georgia has surrounded him with and the way the Bulldogs run the offense.
He had the opportunity to do just that with the return of star tight end Brock Bowers to the lineup.
Latest game stats: vs. Ole Miss (W, 52-17), 18-of-25 passing, 306 yards, 2 TD, INT; 30 rushing yards
12. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Four games have come and passed since Colorado found itself on the right side of the win column, but Sanders hasn't had any glaringly bad games throughout the process. Colorado has other problems to fix outside of the signal-caller, many of which reside on the defensive side of the ball.
At the same time, Sanders hasn't been as explosive through the air as he was toward the front half of the season. Part of that may have to do with all of the sacks and hits he's taken this year, having to play through pain -- something that should be taken into consideration.
Latest game stats: vs. Arizona (L, 34-31), 22-of-35 passing, 262 yards, 2 TD; 29 rushing yards, TD
13. Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Milroe took plenty of heat when he first assumed the reins for one of the shakiest Alabama teams we've seen across recent history. Several Crimson Tide quarterbacks who took the field for what was deemed college football's dynasty team in its prime had plenty of gifts within the their offensive line and supporting cast to the point it almost hid their shortcomings.
But Milroe has not had the same level of luxury, particularly where the former is concerned. He's suffered some growing pains throughout the season but seems to have finally turned the corner as his passing ability is starting to catch up with how much of an asset he is on the ground.
Alabama's victory over Kentucky was something of a breakout game for him.
Latest game stats: vs. Kentucky (W, 49-21), 15-of-22 passing, 234 yards, 3 TD, INT; 36 rushing yards, 3 TD
14. Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
Like some other quarterbacks on this list, Reed is also a player who could have more NFL intrigue than media buzz surrounding him. It comes down to the false, but persistent, "level of competition" narrative and the unsubstantiated one that surrounds Air Raid quarterbacks. That all has a lot to do with why Reed has not been talked about as much as some of the other prospects around the country.
Within WKU's version of the Air Raid, which is more complicated and intensive than the traditional Air Raid, Reed has passed for 2,668 yards so far this season.
Latest game stats: vs. New Mexico State (W, 38-29), 20-of-36 passing, 270 yards, 3 TD, INT; 17 rushing yards, TD
15. Kaidon Salter, Liberty
There have been some who take issue with Tulane being referred to as the best G5 team in the country and much of that has to do with what Salter and the Flames are accomplishing at 10-0 after Saturday's victory over Old Dominion.
Salter has performance well as an athletic quarterback who performs well within the read-option game, though his completion percentage could stand to improve at 59.3% on the season. He's scored at least three touchdowns over his past three games.
Latest game stats: vs. Old Dominion (W, 38-10), 13-of-22 passing, 225 yards, 3 TD, INT; 41 rushing yards, 2 TD
