Week 7 took a bite out of the quarterback hierarchy, and the fallout showed up fast in the latest national rankings. Injuries, shaky performances and a couple of ugly losses reshuffled the board, leaving only one familiar face untouched at the top.
Darian Mensah remains No. 1 for Miami after surviving a tight one against rival Florida State. Even in a game that nearly slipped away, he delivered a clean volume performance: 23 completions on 34 attempts for 326 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His 15% CPOE on the season still stands as the best figure in the country heading into Week 8.
The biggest mover near the top is Trinidad Chambliss, who jumps into the No. 2 spot for Ole Miss. The move comes as much by attrition as anything else, with nearly everyone above him in last week’s order either losing, getting hurt or both. Chambliss has kept his game tidy, avoiding sacks and ugly interceptions while posting a 5.7% CPOE and an ADOT a little over 9 yards.
CJ Carr slides to No. 3 after Notre Dame’s loss to BYU. Carr’s night was uneven - 261 yards on 49 attempts is a lot of work for not enough payoff - but he still had the Fighting Irish within striking distance of a game-winning touchdown late before the controversial ending.
He did push the ball downfield, with a 31% deep-throw rate, but the results on those throws weren’t there, as reflected in his -24% CPOE on deep passes. With Miami coming in a couple of weeks, Carr will need a sharper showing.
Gunner Stockton lands at No. 4 after turning it over three times in Georgia’s stunning loss to Auburn. In most weeks, that kind of game would push him even lower.
This time, the shakeup above him keeps the drop to one spot. Stockton is still running a CPOE north of 10%, and his 40% dead-end play rate keeps him in the conversation as one of the least wasteful passers in the country.
Jayden Maiava returns to the rankings at No. 5 after back-to-back USC wins. He had dropped out a few weeks ago, but the production is back in view now.
Maiava’s season line is strong: 9 yards per attempt and a 6-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The underlying numbers support it too, with a CPOE around 7% and very few negative plays.
Josh Hoover checks in at No. 6 for Indiana despite a less-than-perfect outing against Ohio State. It wasn’t a disaster, even if the -3% CPOE doesn’t sparkle.
He was close to hitting some major throws, including a possible game-winner if Nick Marsh’s footwork had been cleaner on Indiana’s final play from scrimmage. On the season, Hoover sits above 7% in CPOE with an ADOT north of 11, while also avoiding sacks and turnovers.
His 60% rushing success rate adds another layer to an interesting profile, especially if he sharpens up in big moments.
Noah Fifita breaks into the rankings at No. 7 for the first time this year. He’s been quietly excellent for Arizona, which sits at 5-1.
Fifita’s CPOE is close to 12%, and that is elite territory - Mensah is the only qualified P4 quarterback with a better mark through seven weeks. He does take too many sacks, with a 7.3% sack rate, but he also brings a strong 63% rushing success rate.
A few other quarterbacks are still on the radar, even if they’re not in the top seven right now.
Julian Sayin drops out entirely because of his injury, and reports suggest he may be out for the year. If healthy, he likely would have landed at No. 2 this week.
Keelon Russell has now strung together two rough games, and the Tennessee performance was especially troubling. His deep-ball CPOE against the Vols was -32%, a major issue considering how much he has leaned on deep accuracy so far this season. He also continued to take too many sacks, posting a 9.4% sack rate in that game.
Aidan Chiles has the statistical case to crack the rankings, with a CPOE north of 9%. Still, two things keep him out for now: a long college track record of mediocrity and an 8% sack rate that is hard to ignore.
In Other News...
Arch Manning Added One More Twist To Ole Miss Loss
Texas win over Ole Miss came with a little postgame theater, thanks to Arch Manning and a sideline conversation that added another layer to an already notable night. The game was carried by ABCs top broadcast crew, with Holly Rowe on the sideline, and Manning used the moment after the final whistle to make a lighthearted pitch that she ought to be around more often when Texas takes the field.
It was a playful line, but it also carried a bit of history behind it, since Rowe, Manning and coach Steve Sarkisian were all part of a previous dustup that had already been smoothed over. Against Ole Miss, the whole exchange served as a reminder that even after the game ends, there can still be a little extra edge and a little extra entertainment attached to Texas football. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Showed Fight At Texas But One Problem Just Got Bigger
Ole Miss left Austin with a loss, but not without evidence that the seasons bigger questions are still alive. After trailing 24-3 at halftime, the Rebels regrouped and turned a rough afternoon into a game that mattered deep into the second half, even if Texas eventually escaped with a 34-27 win. The first half was the problem area, with the offense stuck in neutral and quarterback Chambliss throwing an interception as the Rebels struggled to get anything going.
The second-half response was the encouraging part, because Ole Miss showed the kind of fight that can keep a season from slipping away after an early deficit. Still, the loss comes with real weight, especially with important games ahead that could shape the Rebels playoff position. The comeback effort bought some credibility, but it also left one lingering concern: the margin for error is getting smaller. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Herbstreit Had The Perfect Reaction To Ole Miss Wild Finish
Ole Miss made one of the most dramatic pushes of Week 8 against Texas, storming back to tie the game before the Longhorns answered with a late touchdown to finish it off. The Rebels rally included a recovered onside kick that instantly became one of the nights biggest moments, and Kirk Herbstreit was right there to capture the chaos from his seat.
Herbstreit later shared a video of his reaction, making clear he was rooting for the spectacle more than for either sideline. It was the kind of candid, live-on-the-spot moment that college football fans love from him, and it came with Herbstreit set to be back on College GameDay in Bloomington for Minnesota-Indiana in Week 9. [Read more 🡒]