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’s C.J. Stroud.
The metric we like to use more than any other is ESPN’s Total QBR rating because we find it to be a better indicator of performance because it takes into account many other things 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 5 of the college football season? Here’s a ranking of the top 15 based on quarterbacks that play an average of 20 action plays per game. That means Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is in the rankings for the first time so it’s interesting to see where he is too.
15
Spencer Petras, Iowa
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 17.8
Total Before Last Week | 11.6
Ranking Last Week | 13 (⇓ two spots)
14
Noah Vedral, Maryland
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 36.2
Total Before Last Week | NR
Ranking Last Week | NR
13
Connor Bazelak, Indiana
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 45.7
Total Before Last Week | 51.0
Ranking Last Week | 11 (⇓ two spots)
12
Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 45.7
Total Before Last Week | 49.2
Ranking Last Week | 12 (no change)
11
Evan Simon, Rutgers
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 48.2
Total Before Last Week | 54.0
Ranking Last Week | 10 (⇓ one spot)
10
Graham Mertz, Wisconsin
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 50.4
Total Before Last Week | 57.1
Ranking Last Week | 6 (⇓ four spots)
9
Casey Thompson, Nebraska
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 55.6
Total Before Last Week | 57.2
Ranking Last Week | 8 (⇓ one spot)
8
Payton Thorne, Michigan State
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 58.0
Total Before Last Week | 55.3
Ranking Last Week | 9 (⇑ one spot)
7
Tommy DeVito, Illinois
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 63.8
Total Before Last Week | 55.9
Ranking Last Week | 7 (no change)
6
Sean Clifford, Penn State
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 65.2
Total Before Last Week | 72.6
Ranking Last Week | 5 (⇓ one spot)
5
Tanner Morgan, Minnesota
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 66.2
Total Before Last Week | 88.7
Ranking Last Week | 2 (⇓ three spots)
4
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR: 77.4
Total Before Last Week: 77.2
Ranking Last Week: 4 (no change)
3
Aidan O'Connell, Purdue
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 80.8
Total Before Last Week | 83.8
Ranking Last Week | 3 (no change)
2
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 82.3
Total Before Last Week | NR
Ranking Last Week | NR
1
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 93.7
Total Before Last Week | 95.4
Ranking Last Week | 1 (no change)
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.
Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
