![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/USATSI_19416104.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
The Big Ten football season is headed down the home stretch, and it’s time to check in once again 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.
So 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 Stroud and other Big Ten signal-callers like J.J. McCarthy of Michigan, Sean Clifford of Penn State, and Payton Thorne of Michigan State following Week 11 of the college football season?
Here’s how things stack up after another week of action in the heartland.
13
Spencer Petras, Iowa
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/Spencer-Petras-Iowa-quarterback.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 29.5
Total Before Last Week | 20.3
Ranking Last Week | 14 (⇔ no change)
12
Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/01/Ryan-Hilinksi-Northwestern.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 45.2
Total Before Last Week | 47.1
Ranking Last Week | 11 (⇓ one spot)
11
Connor Bazelak, Indiana
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/09/Indiana-Hoosiers-football.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 46.9
Total Before Last Week | 46.2
Ranking Last Week | 12 (⇑ up one spot)
10
Graham Mertz, Wisconsin
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/Graham-Mertz-All-red-uniform.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 53.9
Total Before Last Week | 67.9
Ranking Last Week | 9 (⇓ one spot)
9
Casey Thompson, Nebraska
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/Casey-Thompson-Nebraska-pass.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 55.1
Total Before Last Week | 55.8
Ranking Last Week | 10 (⇑ one spot)
8
Tanner Morgan, Minnesota
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/Tanner-Morgan-Pass.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 60.4
Total Before Last Week | 60.2
Ranking Last Week | 8 (⇔ no change)
7
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/09/USATSI_17200919.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 65.8
Total Before Last Week | 69.8
Ranking Last Week | 6 (⇓ one spot)
6
Payton Thorne, Michigan State
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/USATSI_19200471.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 66.2
Total Before Last Week | 66.0
Ranking Last Week | 7 (⇑ one spot)
5
Sean Clifford, Penn State
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/USATSI_19320951.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 69.7
Total Before Last Week | 70.2
Ranking Last Week | 4 (⇓ one spot)
4
Tommy DeVito, Illinois
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/Tommy-DeVito-Illinois.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 72.2
Total Before Last Week | 75.5
Ranking Last Week | 3 (⇓ one spot)
3
Aidan O'Connell, Purdue
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/Aidan-OConnell-vs.-Iowa.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 73.8
Total Before Last Week | 70.0
Ranking Last Week | 5 (⇑ two spots)
2
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/J.J.-McCarthy-vs.-Michigan-State.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 79.5
Total Before Last Week | 80.7
Ranking Last Week | 2 (⇔ no change)
1
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
![](https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/11/USATSI_19416467.jpg)
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 90.8
Total Before Last Week | 91.1
Ranking Last Week | 1 (⇔ no change)
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