The best quarterbacks in college football Week 8

The best quarterbacks in college football Week 8 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Week 8 of the college football season is upon us and the cream of the quarterback crop has begun to rise to the top. Surprisingly, the top conference for quarterback competition has been the Big Ten.   

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Jayden Maiava’s name has been whispered as the next one. Some of the greats have even said aloud, that Maiava is next. Taking No. 15 Michigan to the woodshed is an achievement many haven’t reached. Adding it to an already impressive list of season statistics including: leading the nation in yards gained per pass attempt 10.8, fourth in passing yards with 1,852, 18th in passing touchdowns with 13, second in passer rating at 185.7, and ninth in completion percent 71.1.

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been all coach Curt Cignetti could hope for. Fresh off a 30-20 victory over the Oregon Ducks, Mendoza, the transfer from Cal, has Indiana ranked No. 3 in the nation. The highest it’s ever been ranked in school history. He has displayed elite level game management posting the third highest pass efficiency rating in the nation (183.4). His 17 touchdowns are ranked fourth nationally and he has appeared unflappable.

Luke Altmyer is a name not a whole lot are familiar with, but the Fighting Illini have been a tough out with him at the helm. His 13 passing touchdowns match Maiava, Altmyer is a dual threat quarterback who is a technician from under center. A few bad losses to two top ten opponents dropped his pass efficiency rating to upper good (173.4) and eighth in the nation. 

The SEC wont let us breathe

Just when it looked as though the SEC might be going the way of the dinosaur the ‘ young guns came out guns blazing and have never looked back. At this point it is a real toss up to what the bigger story is. Is it Arch’s tough season, Ty Simpson and the Alabama revival tour, or the D-2 transfer taking the nation by storm. 

Ty Simpson came out of nowhere for the Crimson Tide and delivered head coach Kalen DeBoer a winner. Simpson's 16 passing touchdowns are tied for fifth most in the nation and his pass efficiency rating of (172.4) is 10th best in the nation. HIs best games have come against conference opponents and he has Alabama looking like a contender after a 5-0 start to the season. 

Trinidad Chambliss has been absolutely electric and quite possibly the best story not being told. The Ole Miss Rebels are ranked No. 5 in the nation and people are still asleep at the wheel. Chambliss received a golden opportunity when Austin Simmons hurt his ankle, and he hasn’t looked back. Chambliss has thrown for an amazing 1286 yards and seven touchdowns through the air in four games. Earning him a (164.7) pass efficiency rating He’s also run for 281 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Chambliss is quite the surprise and one we shall have to keep an eye on.

Both Joey Aguilar (Tennessee) and Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) rank 12th in the nation with 14 passing touchdowns and pass efficiency ratings of (162.3 ) and (168.7) respectively. Aguilar’s 1680 yards is more than Pavia’s 1409. And the Tennessee is ranked #11 in the country as opposed to a one-loss Commodores team that is unranked.  

Honorable mention

It’s like honorable mention but instead it’s a collection of guys who are posting big numbers on bad teams, like the nation's leader in passing yards (2,058) and passing touchdowns (19) Sawyer Robertson from Baylor rocking a pass efficiency rating of (155.5). Josh Hoover, TCU, and Jalon Daniels, Kansas, both have 18 passing touchdowns on the season but almost no recognition for the phenomenal start. Dante Moore is still in the mix, the loss to Indiana essentially came down to an untimely interception. 

Good players with bad situations are a terrible thing to see. LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina is a prime example. An elite level quarterback playing behind a very bad offensive line. Things just haven’t been able to work in his favor as he has constantly been under duress. Oklahoma’s John Mateer rushed back from injury to play in the Red River Shootout and stunk up the place throwing three interceptions and the stench of defeat in a marquee matchup.

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