As the college football season charges into its second half, fans and sports bettors were once again graced with a sensational lineup of games in Week 9. Featuring a number of big wins, as well as several shocking upsets, Week 9 provided a dazzling display of college quarterback talent. With last week’s games still fresh in our minds, now is the perfect time to look back on some of the premier quarterback performances from around the country.
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From the party atmosphere at the tailgate gatherings to the electric atmosphere in the stadiums, college football fans had plenty to celebrate in Week 9. Most of the top NCAA football programs took care of business on Saturday, including a huge win by Oregon in a Pac-12 showdown versus Utah. There were also a handful of notable upsets in Week 9, including Oklahoma losing to Kansas, Oregon State falling to Arizona and North Carolina getting beat by Georgia Tech.
From coast to coast, college football fans were treated to a spectacle that left us yearning for more. As the excitement continues to build and the race for the conference championships intensifies, the stakes are higher than ever for these young athletes. In this weekly article from Bovada Sportsbook, we’ll delve into the standout quarterback performances from Week 9 and shine a spotlight on college football’s top passers.
10. Drake Maye – North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels were upset 46-42 by Georgia Tech, but that didn’t stop UNC quarterback Drake Maye from posting another solid outing in Week 9. Despite losing the game, Maye delivered for his team with 310 yards and 2 touchdowns on 17 of 25 passing. The sophomore signal caller also added 58 rushing yards and another score on the ground in the losing effort.
9. Bo Nix – Oregon Ducks
Arguably the most consistent quarterback in college football this season, Bo Nix guided the Oregon Ducks to a massive conference win over 13th ranked Utah. The senior signal-caller threw for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24 of 31 passing, with another score on the ground for good measure. The win boosted Oregon to No. 6 in the country and keeps Nix in the running for this year’s Heisman Trophy.
8. Ashton Daniels – Stanford Cardinals
Sophomore quarterback Ashton Daniels gave the 5th ranked Washington Huskies all they could handle last week, before eventually falling 42-33. Daniels was instrumental in Stanford’s stellar performance, doing it with both his arm and his legs. He impressed college football fans by throwing for 367 yards and rushing for another 81 yards, while adding 3 touchdowns (1 passing, 2 rushing) in a loss to one of the best teams in the nation.
7. Carson Beck – Georgia Bulldogs
With his sights set on this year’s College Football Playoffs, Georgia QB Carson Beck guided the Bulldogs to their eighth win of the campaign in a 43-20 win over Florida. Beck was a tidy 19 of 28 passing with 315 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air, making sure the outcome of this game was never really in doubt. The junior has stayed somewhat under the radar this season, but that will soon change as we approach the conference championships.
6. Noah Fifita – Arizona Wildcats
In one of the more surprising upsets of Week 9, freshman quarterback Noah Fifita led Arizona to a shocking win over 11th ranked Oregon State. Arguably the best freshman quarterback in the country, Fifita threw for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns on 78% passing (25 of 32). Having beaten Washington State the week prior, Fifita has now led the Wildcats to consecutive wins over Top 25 programs for the first time since 2014.
5. Jordan Travis – Florida State Seminoles
Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis continues to climb his way up to Heisman Trophy rankings, with the Senior providing Seminoles fans with yet another excellent outing. Florida State improved to 8-0 on the season with a 41-16 win over Wake Forest. Travis led the way as usual, passing for 359 yards and three scores, while picking up another touchdown on the ground. This is nothing new for the dual-threat quarterback, who’s now run for 6 scores on the year to go along with 18 touchdown passes.
4. Caleb Williams – USC Trojans
Just because some of the hype surrounding Caleb Williams has died down over the past few weeks, don’t let that fool you – the USC quarterback is an absolute game-wrecker. Williams got back on track in Week 9 with a thrilling 50-49 victory over Cal. The NFL prospect did it all on Saturday, throwing for 369 yards and 2 scores on 23 of 40 passing, while also delivering another 2 scores with his legs.
3. Chandler Rogers – North Texas Mean Green
Leading all college quarterbacks in Week 9 with 411 passing yards, Chandler Rogers had himself a day for the North Texas Mean Green. Taking on the Memphis Tigers, he was 32 of 49 throwing the football, including a season-high 5 touchdown passes. Rogers led North Texas to a 42-38 lead with under a minute remaining, but the defense was unable to shut the door on Memphis. In spite of the loss, it was certainly a game to remember for the young quarterback.
2. Michael Penix Jr. – Washington Huskies
Facing an outmatched Pac-12 opponent, Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies did what was expected of them in a 42-33 victory. As per usual this season, QB Penix Jr. was the catalyst for Washington, with the senior throwing for 369 yards and 4 touchdowns on 21 of 37 passing for the day. Still undefeated on the campaign at 8-0, Penix Jr. is the current betting favorite to win this year’s Heisman Trophy.
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1. Haynes King – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Haynes King had a big day for the Yellow Jackets and was instrumental in his team’s shocking upset over 17th ranked North Carolina. King completing 23 of 30 passes (76.7%) while throwing for 4 scores and picking up 90 rushing yards on just 8 carries. The quarterback helped Georgia Tech overcome a 14-point deficit on 3 separate occasions and threw the game-winning touchdown pass with only a few minutes left on the clock.
