Grading the trust factor among the top 12 Playoff contending quarterbacks

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that quarterback is the most essential position on the football field. The literal director of the offense, the quarterback has to not only know his job, but where all 10 of his teammates are supposed to go in perfect synchronicity – both for if the next play goes off without a hitch, or if the defense throws a monkey wrench in and improvisation is necessary.

Not every college program has a stellar quarterback, but how much can their team truly trust them down the stretch?

That’s where we come in. Behold: Here is the Trust Factor grade for each of the current CFP Top 12 teams!

1. Oregon Ducks

Quarterback: Dillon Gabriel

Trust level: A+

Why: Gabriel has been a stellar college QB from the jump, excelling at UCF for 3 seasons before moving to Oklahoma for 2022 and 2023 before a final go-round this season in Eugene. He has completed over 60% of his throws all but his freshman season in Orlando and is at an astounding 73.8% this season for the undefeated Ducks. Gabriel makes Oregon go, and coach Dan Lanning trusts him implicitly in crunch situations.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Quarterback: Will Howard

Trust level: A

Why: Howard was a second late and a stride too long in the Buckeyes’ lone blemish this season, a 32-31 road setback to now-No. 1 Oregon on Oct. 13. But that’s about the only mistake of importance he has made all season. He has thrown for 2,484 yards this season with 24 touchdowns against just 5 interceptions, and his 74.6% completion rate is even better than Gabriel’s at Oregon. Howard did uncork 10 interceptions last year at Kansas State, though …

3. Texas Longhorns

Quarterback: Quinn Ewers

Trust level: A-

Why: Ewers was considered a Heisman contender before the season, but an oblique injury kept him out of a couple games and showed the Longhorns what the future looks like in the form of understudy Arch Manning. Ewers also was below average against Arkansas in Week 12, throwing for just 176 yards in a 20-10 victory that had no right to be that close. If Ewers struggles mightily down the stretch, coach Steve Sarkisian just might get an itchy trigger finger and turn to Manning.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions

Quarterback: Drew Allar

Trust level: B+

Why: Behold, a top-5 program that doesn’t light up scoreboards like a Times Square billboard. Allar is a system guy for a coach in James Franklin who very much seems over his depth at times. Allar has been solid, throwing for 2,253 yard and 16 touchdowns against 5 interceptions, but Penn State ranks a pedestrian 41st in the nation in passing yards. Allar also was a non-factor in Penn State’s midseason failed test against Ohio State, throwing for just 148 yards.

5. Indiana Hoosiers

Quarterback: Kurtis Rourke

Trust level: B

Why: Who? Much like the Hoosiers themselves, Rourke has been a revelation this season – throwing for 2,410 yards and 21 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions while completing 70.6% of his throws (72.6 % on the road, to boot …). But the bottom line is that, for all of Indiana’s transcendent success in 2024, the Hoosiers quite simply haven’t played anyone – just like their former Ohio signal-caller getting his first taste of the truly big time.

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Quarterback: Riley Leonard

Trust level: C+

Why: Leonard isn’t likely to win any games for the Fighting Irish, but he also hasn’t lost Notre Dame any either this season. The Irish score with a potent ground game ranked 12th in the country, while the air attack is 98th. Leonard, who was a 2-year starter at Duke before transferring to South Bend, is actually more likely to make a difference with his legs (13 rushing TDs in 2024) than his arm (12 passing TDs). He did uncork 2 interceptions in Notre Dame’s inexplicable loss to Northern Illinois on Sept. 7, which is why this grade isn’t higher.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide

Quarterback: Jalen Milroe

Trust level: B+

Why: Milroe is kind of like the turbocharged version of Notre Dame’s Leonard, in that he might be even more dangerous with his legs than his arm. He is the Tide’s leading rusher this season with 608 yards and 17 TDs to go with his 2,232 passing yards and 15 TDs. Milroe is also prone to the interception, with 6 so far – including 2 that almost cost the Tide against South Carolina. Still, Milroe’s 185-yard, 4-touchdown rushing performance against then-No. 15 LSU in Death Valley was transcendent, proving that new coach Kalen DeBoer has finally figured out how to best use him.

8. Miami Hurricanes

Quarterback: Cam Ward

Trust level: A+

Why: Miami wouldn’t be in this spot if it wasn’t for their graduate transfer from Washington State by way of Incarnate Word. The Hurricanes lead the nation in passing yards (368.2 per game) and scoring (48.6 points per game) because Ward is the machine that makes it all work. Ward has torched opponents for 3,494 yards and a program-record 32 touchdowns against 6 interceptions, completed 66.8% of his passes, averaged 9.7 yards per completion, and had added 3 rushing scores. In any other non-Travis Hunter year, Ward would be earning the Heisman Trophy.

9. Ole Miss Rebels

Quarterback: Jaxson Dart

Trust level: A+

Why: Dart has also been an absolute beast in his final season, throwing for 3,409 yards and 22 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions. His completion percentage has gone up every year and is now at a stellar 70.8% – with each completion netting 11.4 yards. He has been a modest threat to scramble (304 rushing yards and 3 TDs), though an ankle injury against Georgia limited his mobility. Dart also figures to get back leading receiver Tre Harris III in time for the stretch run.

10. Georgia Bulldogs

Quarterback: Carson Beck

Trust level: A

Why: Anyone who wants to argue that Beck isn’t a bona fide future NFL standout needs to have their head examined – and he is the main reason the Dawgs are still in the Playoff picture. Beck had a night when it mattered the most last week against Tennessee, throwing for 347 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding another on the ground. That rebound performance from his sub-standard outing at Ole Miss showed the world the kind of gamer he is. Well, that and 2 430-plus passing efforts against SEC teams this season (459 against Mississippi State and 439 against Alabama).

11. Tennessee Volunteers

Quarterback: Nico Iamaleava

Trust level: B-

Why: For starters, he is just a redshirt freshman, so grading him against the curve in this piece is a challenge. Iamaleava has been good at times (22-of-28 for 314 and 3 TDs in against Chattanooga) and mediocre at times (17-of-29 for 158 yards in a 19-14 loss to Arkansas), but at no point has ever looked like The Man in Knoxville. The Vols trust running back Dylan Sampson way more than Iamaleava at this point, and that’s OK, simply because Sampson is the 2nd-best running back in the country.

12. Boise State Broncos

Quarterback: Maddux Madsen

Trust level: B-

Why: Who Part 2? Madsen not only is invisible on the national stage, but likely can wander Boise freely without causing a commotion. Boise State goes as Heisman candidate Ashton Jeanty goes, an electrifying running back who is leading the nation with 1,893 rushing yards and 26 TDs. Madsen isn’t bad by any stretch, throwing for 2,194 yards and 19 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions for an offense ranked No. 3 in the nation in scoring. But in Boise State’s lone game of significance, a 37-34 loss to Oregon on Sept. 7, Madsen was a non-factor (17-of-40, 148 yards, 1 TD). Good thing he can hand off to Jeanty, who torched the Ducks like no other team has this season.