![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/USATSI_21437105.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
We are three full weeks into the college football regular season, and we continue to get more data points with Big Ten quarterbacks to see who is doing the best at their position, including Ohio State football’s new starter under center, Kyle McCord.
The metric we like to use more than any other is ESPN’s Total QBR rating. We find it to be a better indicator of performance because it takes into account many aspects others don’t, including the level of competition.
Buy Buckeyes TicketsSo what is Total QBR exactly? According to ESPN, Adjusted Total Quarterback Rating “values the quarterback on all play types on a 0-100 scale adjusted for the strength of opposing defenses faced.”
OK, we’re game.
So where are McCord and Big Ten signal-callers J.J. McCarthy of Michigan, Drew Allar of Penn State and Cade McNamara of Iowa following Week 3 of the college football season? McCarthy led the way through the first two weeks, but now we have a new leader. Who could it be?
Here’s how things stack up after another week of the still new college and Big Ten football season.
14
Ben Bryant, Northwestern
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Ben-Bryant-Northwestern-quarterback.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 25.2
Total Before Last Week | 27.2
Ranking Last Week | 14 (⇔ no change)
13
Cade McNamara, Iowa
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Iowa-football-2023.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 30.4
Total Before Last Week | 35.9
Ranking Last Week | 10 (⇓ three spots)
12
Jeff Sims, Nebraska
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Jeff-Sims-Nebraska.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 33.4
Total Before Last Week | 35.9
Ranking Last Week | 13 (⇑ one spot)
11
Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Tanner-Mordecai-Wisconsin.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 39.0
Total Before Last Week | 37.3
Ranking Last Week | 12 (⇑ one spot)
10
Noah Kim, Michigan State
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Noah-Kim-Quarterback-Michigan-State.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 44.2
Total Before Last Week | 59.4
Ranking Last Week | 8 (⇓ two spots)
9
Athan Kaliakmanis, Minnesota
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Athan-Kaliakmanis-Quarterback-Minnesota.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 49.2
Total Before Last Week | 55.7
Ranking Last Week | 9 (⇔ no change)
8
Hudson Card, Purdue
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/USATSI_21329555.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 53.6
Total Before Last Week | 60.6
Ranking Last Week | 7 (⇓ one spot)
7
Tayven Jackson, Indiana
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Tayven-Jackson-Indiana-QB.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 55.5
Total Before Last Week | N/A
Ranking Last Week | N/A
6
Luke Altmyer, Illinois
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Luke-Altmyer-Quarterback-Illinois.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 56.6
Total Before Last Week | 66.2
Ranking Last Week | 5 (⇓ one spot)
5
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/USATSI_19468230.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 66.4
Total Before Last Week | 64.1
Ranking Last Week | 6 (⇑ one spot)
4
Gavin Wimsatt, Rutgers
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Gavin-Wimsatt-Quarterback-Rutgers.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 77.4
Total Before Last Week | 75.1
Ranking Last Week | 4 (⇔ no change)
3
Drew Allar, Penn State
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/Drew-Allar-Quarterback-Penn-State.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 78.1
Total Before Last Week | 83.5
Ranking Last Week | 3 (⇔ no change)
2
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/USATSI_21438490.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 85.7
Total Before Last Week | 95.3
Ranking Last Week | 1 (⇓ one spot)
1
Kyle McCord, Ohio State
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/09/USATSI_21379483.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 87.2
Total Before Last Week | 84.5
Ranking Last Week | 2 (⇑ one spot)
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