A MASSIVE shake-up occurred in CBS Sports‘ Top-25 quarterback rankings this week.

Following a dominant performance against Texas, in which he passed for 229 yards and four touchdowns, Georgia junior quarterback Gunner Stockton jumped 12 spots to the No. 1 ranking. In his first season as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback, Stockton has led the program to a 9-1 (7-1) record.

Along with Stockton, who is now one of the Heisman Trophy frontrunners, familiar names such as Texas A&M‘s Marcel Reed, Ohio State‘s Julian Sayin, Georgia Tech‘s Haynes King and Indiana‘s Fernando Mendoza, round out the top-five. Arizona‘s Noah Fifita and North Texas‘ Drew Mestemaker also jumped into the top-10.

Although his first season as Georgia‘s starting quarterback started a bit rocky, Stockton has really come into his own as the regular season winds down. After losing to Alabama in its second SEC game, Stockton has led the Bulldogs to six consecutive wins as they seek yet another College Football Playoff appearance.

In 10 games this year, Stockton has passed for 2,269 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He struggled mightily in Georgia’s College Football Playoff Game last season in relief of an injured Carson Beck, but it appears as if he will get a chance at a do-over this season.

Nov 15, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) reacdts after a play during the second quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Texas A&M is off to a sizzling 10-0 start led by superstar quarterback Marcel Reed, who’s passed for 2,632 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. Reed has also rushed for 391 yards and six more touchdowns. The Aggies have stacked quality wins against Notre Dame, Missouri and LSU and look to be on their way to their first ever appearance in the College Football Playoff.

In their comeback victory against South Carolina on Saturday, Reed passed for a season-high 439 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. They trailed the Gamecocks 30-3 at halftime but outscored them 28-0 in the second half, stealing a 31-30 win. It marked the biggest comeback victory in program history, led by Reed’s stellar second half.

Sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin has been perfect for the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes this season. Through eight games, Sayin has passed for 2,675 yards, 25 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He has dominated Big Ten competition, as he’s tossed 17 touchdowns and just one interceptions in games against Washington, Minnesota, No. 17 Illinois, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, and UCLA.

He has found a strong connection with superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Sayin and Smith have connected for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, with their longest hook-up coming via an 87-yard touchdown in the Buckeyes’ 70-0 drumming of Grambling State on Sept. 6. Ohio State has all but wrapped up a second straight College Football Playoff appearance, meaning Sayin has very likely led the Buckeyes back to the CFP in his first season as the starter.

Veteran quarterback Haynes King led Georgia Tech to an 8-0 start before it suffered its first loss of the season two weeks ago against NC State. Although they now sit at 9-1 (6-1), the Jackets are more than still alive in their quest to make the College Football Playoff for the first time ever. In nine games this season, King has passed for 2,259 yards, 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He’s been even better on the ground, rushing for 807 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“It means a lot,” King said earlier this season. “Many legends have come through here and just getting mentioned in that category (of best Georgia Tech quarterbacks of all time), in just the same sentence as them, it means a lot to me. But the job’s not done, and if we don’t finish it the right way then you’re going to be forgotten about. That’s not necessarily what I’m thinking about, but as long as we handle our business, everything will be just fine.”

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (15) runs during the Indiana versus Wisconsin football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. | © RIch Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Many thought Indiana would be one-and-done following its appearance in last season’s College Football Playoff. This could not have been farther from the truth however, as the Hoosiers are 11-0, ranked second in the country, and look to be en route to a second consecutive appearance in the CFP. Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been instrumental in their phenomenal season, as he’s passed for 2,641 yards, 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions this year.

“I want to be consistently the best Fernando Mendoza that I can become,” Mendoza told CBS Sports’ Jenny Dell on the Oct. 29 edition of ‘Inside College Football‘. “It really starts with the coaching points of keeping every play to itself. Once a play happens, good, bad, or indifferent, put it behind you.”

Things started off rough for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson this season, but he has been one of the best quarterbacks in the conference since the Tide’s season-opening loss to Florida State. Since that loss, Alabama has won eight of its last nine games (including four against ranked opponents). Through 10 games this season, Simpson has thrown for 2,787 yards, 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions. In their five games against ranked opponents, Simpson has thrown 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions.

“There’s things he can keep getting better at, just staying within himself,” head coach Kalen DeBoer said about Simpson earlier this season. “That’s really the key with him, just stay within himself and not try to do too much. When he does that, he stacks plays, he stacks first downs. Sooner or later, we’re in the end zone. I think there’s still a lot of room for improvement, and the sky’s the limit for him.”

Arizona junior quarterback Noah Fifita jumped 16 spots into the top-10 for the first time this season. This comes after a 294 passing yard and one touchdown performance against No. 25 Cincinnati last Saturday. The Wildcats now sit at 7-3 and are on their way to their first bowl game appearance under head coach Brent Brennan.

Through 10 games this season, Fifita boasts 2,494 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He has been on a roll to close out the regular season, passing for nine touchdowns and no interceptions over Arizona’s past four games (Houston, Colorado, Kansas, and Cincinnati).

© Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia rose one spot in this week’s rankings following a bye-week. Pavia has been one of the key factors in one of the best Vanderbilt seasons in program history. The polarizing arm has passed for 2,440 yards, 21 touchdowns, and five interceptions, along with rushing for 613 yards and seven more scores.

“Hell yeah I believe it,” Pavia responded following the Commodores’ win over Missouri on Oct. 25 when asked if he could be a Heisman Trophy contender. “We’ve just got to keep winning football games and I feel like with the schedule we’ve got, obviously it’s a difficult schedule playing in the SEC. You play a lot of ranked games.”

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has been one of the best stories in all of college football this season. Chambliss, who transferred in from Ferris State, assumed starting duties from Austin Simmons on Sept. 13 and never looked back. Chambliss, who has played in all 11 of Ole Miss‘ games this season, has passed for 2,657 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He’s also rushed for 444 yards and six more scores.

Chambliss has the Rebels sitting at 10-1 ahead of their Egg Bowl matchup against Mississippi State. If they can win that game, Lane Kiffin‘s program will all but wrap up their first appearance in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

There has been no better freshman quarterback in all of college football this season than North Texas‘ Drew Mestemaker. Mestemaker has the Mean Green ranked for the first time since 1959 and well in contention for the College Football Playoff’s G5 bid. The Austin, TX native has passed for 3,000 yards, 23 touchdowns, and four interceptions this season.

Mestemaker has been on a heater to end the regular season, passing for 10 touchdowns and just one interception over the final four games. If he can get North Texas to the Playoff, he will be remembered as one of the best quarterbacks in program history.

No. 11-25

Nov 15, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) celebrates with wide receiver Mudia Reuben (6) after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy Midshipmen defeated South Florida Bulls 41-28. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

11. Byrum Brown (South Florida) -4
12. Joe Fagnano (UConn) -11
13. Alonza Barnett III (James Madison) -1
14. Jayden Maiava (USC) +3
15. Dante Moore (Oregon) +6
16. Bear Bachmeier (BYU) +3
17. CJ Carr (Notre Dame) -1
18. Luke Altmyer (Illinois) -4
19. Jeff Sims (Arizona State)
20. Demond Williams Jr. (Washington) +17
21. Jake Retzlaff (Tulane) -15
22. Behren Morton (Texas Tech) +3
23. Chandler Morris (Virginia)
24. Darian Mensah (Duke) -1
25. John Mateer (Oklahoma) +10