Ranking Big Ten quarterbacks by Total QBR through Week 8
The Big Ten football season is about half the way over, 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 8 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.
Spencer Petras, Iowa
Oct. 22, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Zach Harrison (9) attempts to sack Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Spencer Petras (7) during their NCAA Division I football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brooke LaValley/Columbus Dispatch
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 20.7
Total Before Last Week | 23.1
Ranking Last Week | 14 (⇔ no change)
Evan Simon, Rutgers
Sep 24, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Evan Simon (3) throws against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at SHI Stadium. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 40.1
Total Before Last Week | 38.1
Ranking Last Week | 13 (⇔ no change)
Connor Bazelak, Indiana
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 48.3
Total Before Last Week | 42.5
Ranking Last Week | 11 (⇓ one spot)
Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern
Oct 30, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Ryan Hilinski (12) passes the football in the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ryan Field. Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 48.8
Total Before Last Week | 47.4
Ranking Last Week | 12 (⇑ one spot)
Casey Thompson, Nebraska
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 54.3
Total Before Last Week | 53.3
Ranking Last Week | 10 (⇔ one spot)
Payton Thorne, Michigan State
Oct. 8, 2022; East Lansing; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) scrambles and tries to evade Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (10) at Spartan Stadium. Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 61.7
Total Before Last Week | 61.7
Ranking Last Week | 8 (⇓ one spot)
Tanner Morgan, Minnesota
Oct 2, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers linebacker Jalen Graham (6) attempts to sack Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan (2) during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Minnesota wins 20 to 13. Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 62.4
Total Before Last Week | 62.8
Ranking Last Week | 8 (⇓ one spot)
Graham Mertz, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) scores a touchdown in the second quarter against Army, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Samantha Madar/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 63.0
Total Before Last Week | 59.1
Ranking Last Week | 9 (⇑ two spots)
Sean Clifford, Penn State
Oct 23, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) runs with the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini during overtime at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 73.2
Total Before Last Week | 65.4
Ranking Last Week | 6 (⇔ no change)
Aidan O'Connell, Purdue
Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell signals to his receivers prior to taking the snap in the third quarter against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 74.9
Total Before Last Week | 77.3
Ranking Last Week | 3 (⇓ two spots)
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
Nov 20, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; *Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) throws from the pocket against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 75.2
Total Before Last Week | 77.3
Ranking Last Week | 5 (⇑ one spot)
Tommy DeVito, Illinois
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 75.3
Total Before Last Week | 74.8
Ranking Last Week | 4 (⇑ one spot)
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Oct 1, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) rolls out to pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 81.2
Total Before Last Week | 81.2
Ranking Last Week | 2 (⇔ no change)
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Oct 8, 2022; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) hikes the ball in the third quarter of the NCAA Division I football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Inside the Numbers
Total QBR | 92.6
Total Before Last Week | 94.4
Ranking Last Week | 1 (⇔ no change)
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