College Football QB Power Rankings: Quinn Ewers rises to No. 1, Nico Iamaleava ticks up into top five

Has Quinn Ewers broken the Dr. Pepper Curse? Perhaps you hadn’t noticed over the past few years because you’d been charmed by Dr. Pepper’s “Fansville” ad campaigns, but the quarterbacks who have starred in it each season have seen their performance drop off somewhat.

Some will say this is because they’re chosen after incredible seasons and it’s hard to replicate immense levels of success. To those people I say: Nonsense! Clearly, it’s a curse! Just like the “Madden” curse and the “Sports Illustrated” curse of our ancestors!

DJ Uiagalelei has never been the same since appearing in the ad, while both Bryce Young and Caleb Williams saw their teams suffer, even if their individual stats were only slightly worse.

But Ewers? The newest deputy of Fansville? He don’t care about no stinkin’ curse. He’s still going on the road and beating top teams, just like he did last season before he was a commercial star. And if you can break curses, you can be ranked No. 1 in the QB Power Rankings. It’s one of the official rules! Here’s a refresher on a couple others: 

• This is not a draft board ranking, nor is it based on any kind of statistical formula. Your numbers matter, sure, but overall, I’m ranking quarterbacks based on the “juice” they have at the current moment in time. It’s a combination of how well you’re playing, what you have accomplished and what you might accomplish in the near future. If you believe a QB I haven’t listed should be listed, I only kept them off the list because I don’t like you. Or, perhaps it’s this second part.
• I don’t rank any QB the week after a loss. You could be the greatest QB of all time, but if you lose on Saturday, you won’t be here. I don’t care if you think your offensive line stinks, OK? That’s the burden the QB must carry. If you win, it’s because your teammates did their jobs. If you lose, it’s on you. Embrace it.

Now let’s try to harness all this QB power in table form.

Honorable Mention: Drew Allar, Penn State; Hudson Card, Purdue: John Mateer, Washington State; Garrett Nussmeier, LSU; Tyler Shough, Louisville