As the NCAA football season charges ahead, Week 5 brought another electrifying dose of gridiron action to fans across the nation. With tailgating traditions in full swing and stadiums alive with the roar of the crowd, the stage was once again primed for an epic display of talent from the best college quarterbacks in the country.
In a season already marked by thrilling moments and major upsets, Week 5 delivered a number of memorable moments. From coast to coast, college football fans were treated to an offensive extravaganza. With strong quarterback performances from several seasoned seniors, the college football landscape showcased a remarkable array of arm talent that had spectators on the edge of their seats!
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Amidst the flurry of touchdowns, remarkable plays and heart-stopping moments, it’s time to shine the spotlight on the true stars of the week. In this weekly article from Bovada Sportsbook, we present the top 10 quarterbacks from Week 5 in college football. Follow along and keep track of these impressive performances to keep track of this year’s Heisman Trophy race and stay informed for the remainder of the college football season.
10. Derek Robertson – Maine Black Bears
The CAA conference may not get a lot of attention in college football circles, but when a quarterback has a performance like this, it bears special consideration. In a rare highlight for Maine’s football program, senior quarterback Derek Robertson lit up the stat sheet as he led the Black Bears to a 56-28 win over Stony Brook. While the competition was far from elite, Robertson still balled out by throwing for 394 yards and 5 touchdowns on 25 of 30 passing.
9. Grant Sergent – San Diego Toreros
Robertson wasn’t the only quarterback from a mid-major to show out in Week 5, as San Diego’s Grant Sergent enjoyed the best performance of his NCAA football career in a losing effort to Davidson. The Pioneer Conference quarterback connected on 22 of 39 passing for 408 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. While San Diego ended up losing the game to Davidson 55-33, it was an impressive display by the senior quarterback, nonetheless.
8. Michael Penix Jr. – Washington Huskies
Currently listed at +475 to win this year’s Heisman Trophy, all eyes were on Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. last week when the Huskies traveled to Arizona to take on the Wildcats. It was a quiet game by the young quarterback’s standards, yet he still managed to throw for 363 yards on 30 of 40 passing. Even without throwing any touchdown passes in Week 5, Penix Jr. is still tied for the second most TD passes in all of college football.
7. Jayden Daniels – LSU Tigers
It’s been a tough start for LSU, already picking up two losses on the campaign, but the play of quarterback Jayden Daniels has been one of the few bright spots for this year’s Tigers. LSU may have lost their Week 5 battle with Ole Miss, but it’s tough to blame Daniels for the loss after the senior signal-caller threw for 414 yards and 4 touchdowns on 27 of 36 passing. Daniels is now third in NCAA passing yards and +2800 to win this year’s Heisman Trophy.
6. Dillon Gabriel – Oklahoma Sooners
With last week’s 50-20 win over Iowa State, Oklahoma improved to 5-0 on the season and look like the class of the Big 12 conference. Much of that success can be attributed to the play of quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who continues to dominate in his second season with the Sooners after transferring from UCF. In Week 5 versus the Cyclones, Gabriel threw for 366 yards on 26 of 39 passing and accounted for all 5 touchdowns on offense (3 passing, 2 rushing).
5. Jaxson Dart – Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart finally had the breakthrough game his coaches were looking for in Week 5, as he led Ole Miss to a thrilling win over LSU, 55-49. Trailing by 9 late in the fourth quarter, Dart rallied his team to a pair of clutch scores, including the game-winning touchdown pass with only 39 seconds left to play. Going toe-to-toe with LSU QB Jayden Daniels, Dart played up to his potential and finished the game with 389 yards through the air and 5 touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing).
4. Brady Cook – Missouri Tigers
The Missouri coaching staff let Brady cook in Week 5 to the tune of 395 yards and 4 touchdowns on 33 of 41 passing in the team’s 38-21 win over Vanderbilt. Cook has now thrown for 240+ yards and 2+ touchdowns in each of his last three games, while guiding Missouri to a perfect 5-0 record. The victory lifted the Tigers to No. 21 in the country and there could be more to come from this talented junior.
3. Bo Nix – Oregon Ducks
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix continued his excellent 2023 campaign with a blowout win over Stanford last week. The NFL prospect was immaculate once again, connecting on 27 of 32 passes for 290 yards and 4 touchdowns in the victory. Nix has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in college football this season and his stats tell the story: the senior leads the nation in completion percentage (80.4%) while throwing for 15 touchdowns and just 1 interception on the year.
2. Shedeur Sanders – Colorado Buffaloes
The hype surrounding Colorado may have cooled off following back-to-back losses, but quarterback Shedeur Sanders remains one of the most talented and exciting players in the country. Following a poor performance versus Oregon, Sanders was able to bounce back with an impressive display against an elite college football program in USC. Colorado lost the game 48-41 but it was still a strong showing for Deion Sanders’ son, who finished the game 30 of 45 for 371 yards and 5 touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing).
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1. Caleb Williams – USC Trojans
Out of all the college quarterbacks playing in Week 5, none had a better day than USC captain Caleb Williams. The likely No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft continues to dominate on the college level, this time to the tune of 403 yards and an incredible 6 touchdowns on 30 of 40 passing. The win allowed USC to maintain their perfect 5-0 record, while it also caused Williams’ Heisman Trophy odds to drop all the way down to +140.
