Then there were four. The College Football Playoff semifinals take place Jan. 8 and Jan. 9, with the Miami Hurricanes facing the Ole Miss Rebels in the Fiesta Bowl, while the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks go at it once more in the Peach Bowl. The four quarterbacks on display have carried their teams this far, but how do they stack up against each other?
4) Carson Beck, Miami
PFSN College QB Impact score: 83.3
Beck’s season has been defined by efficiency and volatility. His 74.7% completion percentage ranks second-best among the College Football Playoff semifinal quarterbacks, highlighting his ability to distribute the football quickly and accurately.
Beck finished the year 20th nationally in passing yards (3,072) and 15th in passing touchdowns (25). However, his biggest issue has been ball security. Beck leads the group with 10 interceptions, showing that when defenses disrupt his rhythm, he can spiral into stretches of poor decision-making.
Furthermore, Beck is not a dual-threat quarterback. He posted just 39 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in the regular season, allowing defensive fronts to aggressively rush the passer without worrying about contain or quarterback scrambles.
3) Dante Moore, Oregon
PFSN College QB Impact score: 85.9
Few quarterbacks in the field are as composed as Dante Moore. He’s been remarkably calm in high-pressure moments, earning a reputation as one of the most poised players in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Moore posted a 72.5% completion percentage (3rd) but ranked seventh in passing yards per game (227.8). That number isn’t entirely on him; Oregon dealt with significant injuries to top receiving options throughout the season.
Despite modest raw production, Moore’s upside is undeniable. He’s yet to make a decision on his future, but if he were to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft at the end of Oregon’s College Football Playoff run, he’d likely be in the conversation for the first overall pick — a remarkable sentiment considering he’s nowhere near reaching the top of his development arc.
2) Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
PFSN College QB Impact score: 90.3
Not bad for a Division II transfer, right?
Chambliss has been one of the season’s most impressive stories. While Lane Kiffin deserves credit for the scheme and development, Chambliss deserves the praise for executing at a high level almost immediately.
He’s been efficient and explosive, throwing just 18 passing touchdowns (fewest among the College Football Playoff semifinal quarterbacks) but also just three interceptions (fewest overall). Despite starting only 10 games, Chambliss cracked the top 25 nationally with 3016 passing yards.
His legs elevate his game to another level. Chambliss leads all playoff quarterbacks with 470 rushing yards and added six rushing touchdowns, making him a constant problem for defenses, even when he isn’t scrambling first.
1) Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
PFSN College QB Impact score: 93.3
At the top sits Mr. Heisman himself.
Mendoza has been the most consistent and dominant quarterback in the playoff field, leading Indiana to an undefeated season, a Big Ten championship, and the No. 1 seed in the CFP.
He ranks sixth nationally in completion percentage (71.5%), 24th in passing yards (2,980), despite sitting out multiple fourth quarters in blowouts, and first in passing touchdowns (33). The Indiana quarterback has averaged 9.1 yards per attempt this fall, while only throwing six interceptions.
Mendoza’s situational awareness separates him from the pack. He knows when to tuck and run, especially in the red zone, where he’s added six rushing touchdowns, tied for second-most among the eight.
He’s the centerpiece of the nation’s highest-graded offense (93.0) according to PFSN, and when Indiana gets rolling, the unit looks unstoppable, fluid, explosive, and relentless.
