As the NCAA football season continues to roll along, fans and sports bettors alike were treated to another exhilarating slate of games in Week 3. With tailgate parties in full swing and stadium stands echoing with roaring cheers, the stage was set for some of the most thrilling quarterback performances of the year.
In a season that’s already had its fair share of surprises, Week 3 did not disappoint. There were a number of quarterbacks, ranging from sophomores to seniors, who stepped up and delivered performances that had fans on the edge of their seats. From coast to coast, college football fans were treated to an offensive showing that left us craving more.
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In this weekly article from Bovada Sportsbook, we’ll recap the 10 best college quarterback performances from Week 3. Heisman Trophy favorite Caleb Williams and the USC Trojans may have sat out last week, but there were plenty of other quarterbacks making waves in the college football landscape. Follow along and keep track of these prolific passers to gain an edge when betting on all of the NCAA football games in the weeks to come!
#10. Bo Nix – Oregon Ducks
Oregon continued its hot start to the 2023 college football season, as senior quarterback Bo Nix led the Ducks to a 55-10 blowout win over Hawai’i. Nix was flawless in this Week 3 game, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns on 21 of 27 passing. The win elevated Oregon to 3-0 in the Pac-12 standings, with Nix accounting for eight touchdowns and 0 interceptions over that span.
#9. Kyle McCord – Ohio State Buckeyes
With former Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud now playing in the NFL, junior QB Kyle McCord has filled in admirably in his first season starting for the Buckeyes. McCord had his best game of the campaign in Week 3, going 19 of 23 for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air (including a 35-point second quarter) in a 63-10 romp over Western Kentucky.
#8. Garrett Shrader – Syracuse Orange
Even in the realm of college football, Garrett Shrader is far from a household name. Syracuse is ranked well outside the AP Top 25 rankings and his passing performance from the team’s Week 3 win over Purdue (14 of 28 for 184 yards and 1 interception) did little to impress. What did impress, however, was what Shrader did on the ground – the junior quarterback ran for 195 yards and 4 touchdowns, best in all of college football in Week 3.
#7. Sam Hartman – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Having made his way to South Bend this offseason by way of the NCAA transfer portal, senior quarterback Sam Hartman has quickly endeared himself to Notre Dame fans with his excellent play on the field. This was particularly evident during his team’s recent victory over Central Michigan, where Hartman went 16 of 26 for 330 yards and three touchdowns, with another score on the ground for good measure.
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#6. Jayden Daniels – LSU Tigers
Daniels finds himself back on this list once again, with the LSU quarterback turning in another impressive performance in the Tiger’s 41-14 road win over Mississippi State. The 6’4” senior did a bit of everything for LSU in this one, throwing for 361 yards and 2 scores on an efficient 30 of 34 passing and rushing 15 times for 64 yards and two more scores with his legs. The win cemented Daniels’ standings as one of the best quarterbacks in the college game and lifted LSU to No. 12 in the rankings.
#5. Kaidon Salter – Liberty Flames
It’s not often that a quarterback from the CUSA conference puts up one of the best performances in the nation, but the numbers don’t lie when you look at Kaidon Salter’s stat line from last week’s game between Liberty and Buffalo. In leading Liberty to the 55-27 win, Salter threw for 344 yards and 5 touchdowns on just 16 of 26 passing. He also rushed for 66 yards and another touchdown, displaying some incredible athleticism for a sophomore quarterback.
#4. Dillon Gabriel – Oklahoma Sooners
Now in his second season for the Sooners, after three years at UCF, Dillon Gabriel knows what it takes to compete at college football’s top level. The NFL prospect had another strong outing in Week 3 as the Sooners demolished Tulsa 66-17. Gabriel was the offensive catalyst for Oklahoma in this one, putting up 421 yards and 5 touchdowns through the air on a near-perfect 28 of 31 passing. With this performance, Gabriel lifted his passer rating on the season to 220.4, third-best in all of college football.
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#3. Shedeur Sanders – Colorado Buffaloes
Still one of the biggest names in all of college football, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders kept rolling in Week 3 with a thrilling double-overtime win over Colorado State. The son of football legend Deion Sanders, Shedeur was 38 of 47 passing for 248 yards and 4 touchdowns in the victory, including a number of clutch throws down the stretch when it mattered most. This performance is all the more impressive when you consider that he was missing his top receiving threat (Travis Hunter) for the entire second half following a late hit by Colorado State.
#2. Darren Grainger – Georgia State Panthers
Playing in the Sun Belt conference doesn’t afford many opportunities to make national headlines, yet that’s exactly what happened in Week 3 for Georgia State quarterback, Darren Grainger. The unheralded signal caller went off in his team’s win over Charlotte. This stellar performance began with an 8-yard rushing score in the first quarter and finished with 466 yards and 3 touchdowns on 27 of 33 passing.
#1. Michael Penix Jr. – Washington Huskies
This is the third straight week that Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has made this list, with his Week 3 numbers earning him top spot on this week’s list. Facing off against Michigan State, Penix Jr. delivered an outstanding performance on the road and guided the Huskies to a 41-7 blowout win over the Spartans. By the time the final whistle had blown, the senior quarterback had thrown for an incredible 473 yards and 4 touchdowns, adding to his already gaudy totals on the year and once again boosting his Heisman Trophy odds.