The most prolific quarterback in college football is a former zero-star prospect who spent 2025 playing for Mercer at the FCS level. Braden Atkinson has never ranked atop any high school or transfer rankings, but he might eventually rank atop the CBS Sports Quarterback Power Rankings. At this rate, anything is on the table for Atkinson, who leads the nation in touchdown passes with 21 and passing yards with an average of 373.7 per game.
The last quarterback to average more yards over the course of a full season was 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Atkinson has done it against quality opposition, too. Oregon State opened against Big 12 contenders Houston and Texas Tech, with Atkinson totaling nearly 800 yards passing across those two competitive losses.
Since then, he's elevated even higher while leading Oregon State to four straight victories. Over the past two weeks alone, Atkinson has thrown for 836 yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions in blowout victories over San Diego State and Colorado State to help the Beavers establish themselves as contenders in the revamped Pac-12. See ya ✌️@Braden_Atkinson ➡️ @jlegree24 for a 71 yard TD to open the half 🔥 📺 @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/5r8SIKaUFU Atkinson's rise in this week's QBPR contrasts with Arch Manning's fall.
The Texas quarterback is a former five-star prospect known to most college football fans by his first name. But after throwing a pair of interceptions in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns' loss to Oklahoma, Manning is taking a tumble in the QBPR. Mensah leads the nation in passing efficiency, completion percentage (84.2%) and per dropback.
He is one of just four Power Four quarterbacks who have attempted at least 100 passes without an interception. The Duke transfer also set new ACC records for consecutive completions earlier this season. He's been nearly perfect for the No. 3 Hurricanes.
Last week: 1 Atkinson was named the Pac-12's Offensive Player of the Week for a third time after becoming the fourth FBS quarterback of the 21st century to throw for 400 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in consecutive weeks. His top target, Jesse Legree, leads the nation with 12 touchdown grabs, which is one more than Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith. Legree also holds an edge on Smith in receiving yards with 932 compared to Smith's 916.
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