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Another week is down in the Big Ten, and it’s time for us to check in on which conference quarterbacks are doing the best at their position, including Ohio State football’s C.J. Stroud.
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.
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 Stroud and other Big Ten signal-callers following Week 7 of the college football season? Here’s a ranking of the top 14 based on quarterbacks that play an average of 20 action plays per game.
14
Spencer Petras, Iowa
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 23.1
Total Before Last Week | 22.1
Ranking Last Week | 14 (⇔ no change)
13
Evan Simon, Rutgers
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 38.1
Total Before Last Week | 37.3
Ranking Last Week | 11 (⇔ no change)
12
Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 47.4
Total Before Last Week | 46.1
Ranking Last Week | 11 (⇓ one spot)
11
Connor Bazelak, Indiana
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 48.3
Total Before Last Week | 42.5
Ranking Last Week | 12 (⇑ one spot)
10
Casey Thompson, Nebraska
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 53.3
Total Before Last Week | 55.6
Ranking Last Week | 11 (⇑ one spot)
9
Graham Mertz, Wisconsin
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 59.1
Total Before Last Week | 65.5
Ranking Last Week | 7 (⇓ two spots)
8
Payton Thorne, Michigan State
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 61.7
Total Before Last Week | 54.4
Ranking Last Week | 9 (⇑ one spot)
7
Tanner Morgan, Minnesota
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 62.8
Total Before Last Week | 65.6
Ranking Last Week | 6 (⇓ one spot)
6
Sean Clifford, Penn State
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 65.4
Total Before Last Week | 65.2
Ranking Last Week | 8 (⇑ two spots)
5
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR: 74.8
Total Before Last Week: 75.4
Ranking Last Week: 4 (⇓ one spot)
4
Tommy DeVito, Illinois
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 74.8
Total Before Last Week | 65.8
Ranking Last Week | 5 (⇑ one spot)
3
Aidan O'Connell, Purdue
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 77.3
Total Before Last Week | 80.2
Ranking Last Week | 3 (⇔ no change)
2
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 81.2
Total Before Last Week | 82.0
Ranking Last Week | 2 (⇔ no change)
1
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
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Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 94.4
Total Before Last Week | 94.8
Ranking Last Week | 1 (⇔ no change)
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