Week 10 was another wild one, with the college football quarterback rankings shifting significantly after a flurry of upsets, including two top-10 teams falling to unranked opponents and a third losing to a lower-ranked team. Several newcomers cracked the QB top 10, while a few familiar faces worked their way back into the metric’s favor.
As the playoff chase intensifies, now’s the time to see which signal-callers have elevated their standing and which may be slipping into the shadows.
PFSN College’s QB Impact assigns letter grades by weighing passing, rushing, and clutch performance. It emphasizes stable factors like clean-pocket play and designed runs over less predictable ones like pressure performance and scrambling.
10. Alonza Barnett III, James Madison
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 89.4 (B+)
Alonza Barnett III put on a show for James Madison, accounting for five total touchdowns — four through the air and one on the ground — while throwing for 264 yards and rushing for 98 against Texas State. His performance was not just explosive; it was efficient, showcasing poise in the pocket and precision on the move.
Barnett’s dual-threat ability continues to trouble defenses, and his decision-making has sharpened with each outing. While it came against a struggling Bobcats squad, six straight wins and that kind of command under center make his climb back into the top 10 well-earned.
9. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 89.5 (B+)
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza bumped up a half grade while maintaining his spot in the rankings. In Week 10, he guided the Hooisers to a 55-10 rout of Maryland with a touchdown pass and another score on the ground, bouncing back smoothly from an early interception
Mendoza’s command of the offense kept Indiana balanced, leaning on a dominant run game while making smart, efficient throws. His composure and execution remain impressive, though analysts still want to see him seize full control of a game. For now, he remains a steady riser in the PFSN QB rankings, awaiting a defining breakout moment.
8. Arch Manning, Texas
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 89.5 (B+)
In Week 10, Arch Manning delivered one of his best showings of the season for the Texas Longhorns, completing 25 of 33 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 win over Vanderbilt Commodores.
After clearing concussion protocol just days earlier, Manning looked composed and efficient, connecting on a 75-yard strike to open the game while throwing no interceptions. His decision-making and timing stood out, aided by an offensive line that provided clean pockets, allowing him to complete 22 of his last 25 throws.
The game was not without pressure, as Texas needed late stops to secure the win against a surging Vanderbilt. Manning’s showing is a step forward, though work remains in closing games under stress.
7. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 90.6 (A-)
Notre Dame freshman CJ Carr stepped into the spotlight, completing 18 of 25 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns in a 25-10 victory over Boston College.
After a sluggish start, Carr adapted to the opponent’s adjustments, scanning the sideline, shifting the game plan, and finding the deep ball. He connected on a 40-yard strike to Malachi Fields and a 44-yard pass to Will Pauling. His calm under pressure and ability to adjust mid-game demonstrate an uncommon maturity for a freshman.
6. CJ Bailey, North Carolina State
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 91.3 (A-)
NC State’s CJ Bailey delivered arguably the most electric performance of his young career, throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score in a 48-36 upset of previously undefeated Georgia Tech. This marked the highest-ranked opponent N.C. State has beaten since the top-three Florida State in 2012.
Despite missing key offensive weapons, Bailey remained focused and confident, carving up a strong defense and proving his poise under pressure.
5. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 91.4 (A-)
In one of the biggest games in Week 10, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia bounced back from an early blunder, a first-series fumble, with a monstrous 27-of-38 passing day for 365 yards, three touchdown passes, and a rushing score.
But for Pavia, this wasn’t about piling up gaudy box-score stats; his candidacy for elite recognition has always hinged on the intangible pulse he brings to Vanderbilt’s offense, the team’s national narrative, and its ability to make noise in the SEC.
While his late surge demonstrated maturation under pressure, the two previous costly turnovers in ultra-big games leave him on the fringes of the top tier. If he continues this upward arc, especially with a win at Tennessee, the buzz around his name could get loud enough to warrant an invite to New York.
4. Luke Altmyer, Illinois
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 91.6 (A-)
Luke Altmyer delivered a vivid reminder of his ceiling this week, completing 19 of 31 passes for 235 yards and four touchdown passes, while also rushing for 88 yards and another score in Illinois’ dominant 35‑13 victory over Rutgers.
Altmyer looks the part of a top-tier QB — both calm in the pocket and razor-sharp in decision-making — and is a genuine threat when escaping the rush. Despite playing behind an inconsistent offensive line and throwing to a new group of receivers, Altmyer gives Illinois a chance to win every week.
If this game shows that he can both shine in a big moment and carry the football into new territory, then the question becomes whether the team can follow his lead.
3. Lunch Winfield, Louisiana
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 92.0 (A-)
Lunch Winfield threw a masterclass of efficiency in Week 10, completing 14 of 15 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, then capped it off with a one-yard rush into the end zone as Louisiana beat South Alabama 31‑22 Saturday.
What stands out beyond the numbers is how Winfield restored narrative momentum for a program that had stumbled. His 93 percent completion rate wasn’t just a statistic; it was a signal that the offense could produce reliably when the stakes were real. The rushing touchdown adds to his dual-threat appeal, showing he’s not limited to the pocket.
2. Tommy Castellanos, Florida State
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 92.0 (A-)
Tommy Castellanos delivered a polished outing that married efficiency with leadership as Florida State snapped its ACC drought in a 42-7 walloping of Wake Forest. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown, while also tucking the ball into the end zone himself for a rushing score.
The big-play connection with Duce Robinson, including a 65-yard bomb, jump-started the attack and showcased how Castellanos can flip the switch in a moment when the program needed it most. In a season that has been rocky to date, this game stands as a statement that he can anchor an offense and guide Florida State back into momentum.
1. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Week 10 PFSN College QBi Grade: 92.2 (A-)
In the No. 1 spot is a name no one in the college football world can ignore. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin has been putting in consistent work every week, and this week was no different as the Buckeyes defeated a deflated Penn State 38-14. He completed every attempt thrown at least 10 yards downfield and four of five throws of 20+ air yards, stretching the field and doing it with surgical precision.
Sayin was an efficient 20-of-23 passer for 316 yards and four touchdowns, dominating a former top defensive unit and erasing questions about pressure and deep-throw consistency, positioning himself firmly in the Heisman discussion.
Over the past month, Ohio State has finally taken the training wheels off its offense, and Sayin has thrived with the freedom. The Buckeyes sit undefeated atop the national rankings at 7-0, powered in large part by his growing command and confidence at the quarterback position.