The most updated Mountain West quarterback rankings are here. Following the action from Week 9, here are the top Mountain West QBs, ranked from 1 to 12.
2024 Mountain West QB Rankings
As with all of our conference rankings and our national quarterback evaluations, the Mountain West QB rankings below consider everything involved with quarterbacking at the major college football level.
While statistics are listed, they were not the lone deciding factor in ranking the athletes.
Other factors in these rankings include but are not limited to game film, injury history, play-calling, offensive system knowledge and continuity, general quarterbacking mechanics, level of competition, the elevation of supporting casts, and several other influential factors.
All Other QB Rankings
National 1-134 | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC | AAC | CUSA | MAC | Sun Belt | Independent
Tier 1: The Elite Mountain West QBs
1) Mikey Keene, Fresno State
Outside of a two-game slip, Mikey Keene has been at top form for Fresno State. That’s bad news for the Mountain West, as Keene has arguably the best quarterback mechanics and top arm in the entire conference when he’s at his best. Despite matching his interception totals from a year ago already, Keene is on pace for a career year and should continue to make noise in the race for the Mountain West.
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2) Devon Dampier, New Mexico
Doing the most with the least at his disposal, Devon Dampier is the best quarterback that no one is talking about across the nation. Dampier seamlessly ushered in the Bronco Mendenhall era at UNM with his ability to read his keys, make some dynamic downfield shots, and run all over defenses. When it comes down to it, the successes of the Lobos this year can be directly tied to Dampier, and few quarterbacks across the country can make that claim for their team.
Tier 2: Well-Above-Average Mountain West QBs
3) Hajj-Malik Williams, UNLV
It wasn’t without it’s perilous start, but the Hajj-Malik Williams era at UNLV has been nothing short of extraordinary. Save for time management against Boise State, Williams gives head coach Barry Odom and offensive coordinator Brennan Marion a top-notch, near-elite quarterback to run their go-go offense. Williams is a terrific runner and has come into his own this season under a new offensive scheme.
4) Brayden Schager, Hawaii
For the third straight year, Brayden Schager has flown largely under the radar despite some impressive play for Hawaii. He’s toned down his poor decisions that plagued the beginning of his season and started to add the rushing element that made him so successful a season ago. Good thing for Hawaii is, his rushing abilities have increased this season, and he’s truly the complete package when he’s on top of his game.
5) Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Colorado State
A gunslinger with a cannon for an arm, when Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi takes time to make the right decision, this Colorado State offense thrives. He’s taken a bit off his game this season, and the Rams are undefeated in MWC play because of it. If he takes this new-found safe style of play and adds elements of his old ways of testing defenses with great success, CSU can make a play for the Mountain West Championship.
6) Maddux Madsen, Boise State
It could be said that Maddux Madsen has one of the easiest jobs of all FBS quarterbacks, simply handing off to Ashton Jeanty and playing mistake-free football is the way to go. He’s done that, and he has shown an ability to make some plays with his arm, but unlike the majority of quarterbacks of ranked teams, Madsen has had to do little else.
Tier 3: Above-Average Mountain West QBs
7) Brendon Lewis, Nevada
Brendon Lewis played the best football of his career in 2024, and though he was missed against Hawaii, the Wolf Pack can hang their hats on the fact that Lewis gave them a chance to win, unlike we’ve seen in Reno for some time. Lewis has thrown 10 touchdowns and flashed that elite level of talent with his legs in multiple outings this season.
Tier 4: Average Mountain West QBs
8) Emmett Brown, San Jose State
His benching against Wyoming aside, Emmett Brown has played remarkably good football this season for San Jose State. Sure, it had its flaws at times — especially against Washington State — but he gives them a chance to compete and has helped to elevate the platforms of players like Nick Nash at receiver. Brown doesn’t have the strongest arm or even the best platforms to throw from, but he’s more than made due in 2024.
Tier 5: Work-To-Be-Done Mountain West QBs
9) Bryson Barnes/Spencer Petras, Utah State
This ranking is solely for Spencer Petras, and certainly not at all for the lack of play we’ve seen from Bryson Barnes in Logan this fall. However, for Petras, despite having a career year already, he’s still plagued by the fact that he has a laborsome release and struggles to push the ball downfield with much success. If he can improve on a more consistent basis on throws at least 10 yards downfield, this is the lowest we’d see them. History says that this is the ceiling, though.
10) Danny O’Neill, San Diego State
Slinging it from the confines of Sean Lewis’ offensive scheme is always going to be fun to watch, and it feels like we’ve yet to see what Danny O’Neill will be able to offer for San Diego State. When he’s able to sit in the pocket and read the defenses, he’ll launch shots with some serious arm talent.
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11) Evan Svoboda, Wyoming
We’re not quite sure what to make of the Wyoming offense this fall, and that lies as much on the massive shoulders of Evan Svoboda as it does play-calling, schematically, and anything else in Laramie. Svoboda hasn’t been able to read defenses particularly well and made far too many poor decisions to give the Cowboys even a remote chance at victories in most outings.
12) John Busha, Air Force
Josh Busha has struggled to run the Air Force offense in 2024, there is no other way to say it. Busha is inaccurate, even by option-quarterback standards, and has been plagued by inconsistencies on his key-reading ability in the ground game. This Falcon team is a far cry from the standard Troy Calhoun has set over the years, and Busha is no candidate to change things.
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