Who is College Football's Best QB?

Of all the great quarterbacks in college football this season- 11 of the 14 players in ESPN.com's Heisman Watch play the position- I believe the countries best quarterback can be found in this group of three: Kentucky's Andre Woodson, Boston College's Matt Ryan, and Louisville's Brian Brohm. I refuse to put Tim Tebow in the Top 3 because any quarterback that is a better runner then they are a passer just can't be considered.

When coming to my decision on which of these three was the nation's best I looked at three areas in order of importance: team schedule, numbers, team record, and the player's best performance. I awarded each player points based on these four things, with the player being rewarded 3 for the highest grade and 1 for the lowest. Remember that all of this is based on what the players have done through the weekend of October 13th. Based on those numbers, here is what I came up with:

3. Matt Ryan, Boston College

- Schedule: Of the three QB's, Ryan's Boston College Eagles edged Brohm's Cardinals for easiest schedule. Ryan's stiffest test came @Georgia Tech, who is not ranked. Aside from a decent GT team, the Eagles have played the likes of UMass, Bowling Green, Army and NC State. Points: 1

- Numbers: 192-304, 2,148 yards, 63% completion, 17 TD, 6 INT. Ryan's numbers are comparible to only Woodson's, as Brohm's numbers, as you will see, dwarfs the other two. Because Woodson's numbers have come against a much stiffer schedule, I believe Ryan has the weakest numbers of the three. Points: 1

- Record: Ryan's Eagles are 7-0 and the highest ranked of the three quarterback's teams. While the schedule has been the softest, Ryan doesn't make the schedule, thus he lands the highest mark for record. Points: 3

- Best Game: Ryan went 30-44 for 435 yards, 1 TD and no turnovers in a 38-28 road victory at Georgia Tech, which ended up being the toughest game on the Eagles schedule. Points: 1

Total points: 6

2. Brian Brohm, Louisville Cardinals

- Schedule: As stated above, Brohm's competition has been slightly more difficult then Ryan's. Both have played only two notable teams and Brohm's (@Kentucky, @CIncinnati) were unquestionably more difficult then Ryan's (Wake Forest, @GT). Points: 2

- Numbers: 230-338, 2,993 yards, 68% completion, 24 TD, 6 INT. Brohm's numbers aren't just the best between these three QB's, but they may just be the best numbers in all of America. Brohm has thrown for over 400 yards in three games, including a 555 yard effort in a loss to (gulp) Syracuse. Points: 3

- Record: Louisville is a disappointing 4-4 this season despite starting off as a BCS Championship contender. Those losses include home losses to Syracuse and Utah, and a bad road loss against UCONN. Points: 1

- Best Game: One would have to say it was his 555 yard, 4 TD performance against the Cuse, but since they lost that game to possibly the worst program in college football, I went in another direction. He had a fine performance against in-state rival Kentucky, going 28-43 for 366 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. Unfortunatly the team lost 40-34, and Brohm was outdueled by the QB who I feel is the nations best... Points: 2

Total Points: 8

1. Andre Woodson, Kentucky

- Schedule: To this point, Woodson has played one of the nation's toughest schedules, which comes with playing in SEC territory. Woodson has already played at Arkansas and South Carolina, and home against then #1 LSU and Louisville. Not to mention, he has to go to Florida tonight, which has no bearing on these rankings. Points: 3

- Numbers: 156-245, 1,786 yards, 64% completion, 21 TD, 4 INT. Woodson's numbers were similar to Ryan's, but again he was given the edge because of who the numbers came against. It's alot harder to throw for 300 yards against the likes of Arkansas and LSU then it is Army and Notre Dame. However, his numbers, like all QB's, aren't in the same area code as Brohm's. Points: 2

- Record: Kentucky is 6-1, with their lone loss coming at South Carolina. While Kentucky's 6-1 record is probably more impressive and improbable than Ryan's 7-0 record, a loss is a loss. Points: 2

- Best Game: Woodson has mostly performed admirably against the stiffest of competition. Coincidentally, his worst game came in UK's only loss of the season, which shows how much they depend on the effectiveness of their star QB. His best game came last weekend against mighty LSU as he went 21-38 for 250 yards with 4 total TD (3 passing) and 2 INT's. Woodson's efforts helped lead Kentucky back from a 13-point 4th quarter defecit to claim a 43-37 OT victory, knocking LSU from their #1 rank. Points: 3

Total Points: 10


Andre Woodson's performance against some of the nation's best teams is what makes him the nation's best quarterback. It could also be argued that Woodson has spearheaded Kentucky's improbable 6-1 start with much less talent around him then that of Brian Brohm or Matt Ryan. Brohm and Ryan may be better NFL prospects then Woodson, but I feel, through this criteria, that he is the best QB in America through the games of October 13th.

Until next time,
DTM