CBS Sports updates Top 10 Quarterback Power Rankings with new No. 1 ahead of Week 6

It’s been an absolutely terrific year for quarterback play in college football, with several quarterbacks having banner years for their teams. When it comes to quarterback power rankings, it’s tough to get a good handle on who should be where.

There are the obvious candidates, like returning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Then there are a whole host of guys nipping at his heels, including multiple guys within the Pac-12 alone.

So how do the quarterbacks stack up in this week’s college football quarterback power rankings from CBS Sports? Glad you asked, let’s dive in.

1. Caleb Williams, USC

Williams had a bye this week, but he’s coming off his biggest statistical performance in a win over Colorado. In that game, Williams went 30-of-40 passing for 403 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. He’s clearly powering the Trojans as a whole right now.

On the season Williams is pretty close to matching his output from a year ago. He’s already thrown 21 touchdowns against just one interception, racking up 1,603 yards passing. He has also run for three scores.

2. Michael Penix Jr., Washington

If there’s a clear and obvious challenger to Williams, it’s the Washington star who continues to pile up massive numbers each week. The Huskies’ offensive system sets up perfectly for Penix to torch defenses, and torch defenses is all he has done this season.

Penix has logged 1,999 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, against just two interceptions. He has thrown for more than 300 yards per game in all five games this season, while he has managed to take only three sacks so far.

3. Bo Nix, Oregon

Another Pac-12 contender to challenge Williams, Nix is doing it a little differently than he did a year ago, when he was a strong runner, accounting for 14 rushing touchdowns. So far this year Nix has amassed only 87 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

His passing has more than made up for it. Nix has thrown for 1,459 yards and 15 touchdowns, while throwing only one interception. He’s paced the Ducks to a 5-0 star with an upcoming stretch that features four ranked opponents in the next five games.

4. Quinn Ewers, Texas

Ewers just continues to go out and get the job done for Texas, though he did throw his first interception last weekend. The Texas quarterback has his team undefeated and is coming off a 325-yard day in a win over Kansas.

On the year, Ewers has gone 97-of-147 passing for 1,358 yards and 10 touchdowns, versus just one interception. He has also rushed for 74 yards and five touchdowns, showing the ability to make things happen when plays break down in the pocket.

5. Sam Hartman, Notre Dame

Hartman’s case to be higher up the quarterback power rankings took a hit with a loss to Ohio State, but the Notre Dame quarterback has still been excellent all season. Hartman wasn’t quite his normal sharp self in a late win over Duke, but he made the plays down the stretch that he needed to.

On the season Hartman has thrown for 1,458 yards and 14 touchdowns, while he has yet to throw an interception. But Hartman has found the end zone just once in the last two games, something worth monitoring as the season progresses.

6. Cameron Ward, Washington State

Yet another Pac-12 candidate to challenge Williams and company, Ward has been awesome this season for the Cougars. He’s coming off a 404-yard day against Oregon State and has now had a bye week to get completely right if there were any bumps or bruises.

Twice this season Ward has topped the 400-yard mark passing. He’s also yet to throw an interception, accounting for 1,390 yards passing and 13 touchdowns. He’s also run for 109 yards and three scores, a versatile threat for Washington State.

7. Tyler Van Dyke, Miami

Miami is coming off a bye week, so Van Dyke should be well rested going into the second half of the season. Van Dyke has been crisp, throwing 10 touchdowns without an interception in the last three games he has played.

The Hurricanes signal-caller seems to have regained the form he had in 2021, before an injury derailed his 2022 season. That’s great news for Miami, which remains unbeaten in part thanks to Van Dyke’s efforts.

8. Jordan Travis, Florida State

Following an overtime win over Clemson, Travis and the Seminoles earned a much needed week off. Florida State has won two very intense games already this year, first against LSU in the season opener and then in an overtime affair against Clemson on the road.

Travis has been a huge part of that. He’s been at his best on the big stage, sporting a 10-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season. Travis hasn’t been quite the runner he has been in the past, tallying only 94 yards and two touchdowns on the ground so far.

9. Brady Cook, Missouri

The Missouri quarterback has quietly improved, even after earlier shouts for his job by the fans this season. In the last three games, Cook has thrown for at least 340 yards and two touchdowns. He managed his best day of the year in a win over Vanderbilt, throwing for 395 yards and four touchdowns.

Cook has a little bit of elusiveness to him, too, having three touchdowns on the ground. On the season he has 1,468 passing yards and 11 touchdowns without an interception, with things only trending up the last few weeks.

10. Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State

The last spot in the CBS Sports quarterback power rankings goes to the Arkansas State freshman, who has only recently entered action. He has played in just three games, and one was almost exclusively in mop-up duty.

Still, he has impressed. A 383-yard, six-touchdown performance against UMass put him firmly on the radar. Raynor is also capable of running; he had a 17-carry, 97-yard and two-touchdown outing against Southern Miss in his second appearance of the season.

Honorable Mention

Drew Allar, Penn State
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
Drake Maye, North Carolina
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland

A handful of the quarterbacks on the honorable mention list could easily merit inclusion in the quarterback power rankings, with Maye considered a likely first-round pick and Gabriel having a terrific season with the Sooners. Could they or others in the honorable mention list push for a spot next week? Stay tuned this weekend to find out.