The names you know, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Graham Harrell, and Chase Daniel, have been brilliant as expected.  Each has double digit touchdown totals, have led their teams to undefeated records, and have performed like the O'Brien candidates they are.

However, the company at the position in the conference has also impressed early.  Of the twelve quarterbacks that lead their teams (which we will go with Jerrod Johnson out of A&M since he has amassed the majority of the playing time after McGee's shoulder injury early in the second game) they have astounding quarterback ratings.  Bradford, McCoy, and Daniel rank 2, 3, and 4 respectively in the category behind Tulsa's David Johnson.  In fact, they hold six of the top ten spots.  Zac Robinson of Oklahoma State is 8th with a 179.19 rating, Baylor's Robert Griffin behind him at 9 with a 171.28 rating, and Josh Freeman of Kansas State rounds out the 10th spot sporting a 170.54 rating of his own.

In all, of the twelve quarterbacks that lead their team, 3 are in the top 4 nationally, 6 in the top 10, 10 are in the top 23, and the conference's two lowest come in at 35 and 42.  Tim Tebow, last year's Heisman winner and number two in QB rating (behind Oklahoma's Sam Bradford) ranks 27 to date, meaning ten quarterbacks from the Big 12 rank ahead of superman.

Can I explain the quarterback rating in college?  Why are NFL ratings not this high?  Well first of all, NFL quarterback ratings only reach up to 158.3.  That benchmark is the perfect rating and is achieved only from rare and nearly flawless performances.  Secondly, NFL quarterbacks face tougher defenses and game plans.  Let's get back to the college talk.  A college quarterback rating is a formula that allows higher marks than in the pros because the formula is significantly different, even though they both measure efficiency.  For you to compute your quarterback's rating you simply need his numbers, and to hone your algebra skills from middle school.  The rating takes completions, attempts, touchdowns, interceptions and yards into account.   The formula looks a little something like what is posted below (well it is what is posted below.)

Rating = (Completions/attempts) *100 + 3.3*((touchdowns/attempts)*100) -2*((interceptions/attempts)*100) +8.4(yards/attempts)

Still with me?  Let's put it to the test to determine Sam Bradford's current rating.  Completions=64, Attempts=81, Yards=882, Touchdowns=12, and Interceptions=2.  Plug in these numbers and out comes an impressive 214.4295. 

The quarterbacks have also found the end zone often, with 5 players in the top 8 in the nation in passing touchdowns.  Also, 9 currently sit ahead of Tebow in passing touchdowns with Joe Ganz of Nebraska matching Tebow's 5.  Harrell (as one could only expect a Red Raider to) leads the nation in passing yards and Baylor's Robert Griffin is 3th amongst quarterbacks in rushing yards.

Does any of this reflect in their records?  To answer that, four of the top ten teams in the nation reside in the Big 12, and Todd Reesing's Kansas team currently holds down the 18 spot.  Cody Hawkins just helped his Colorado team to upset West Virginia with a 22 for 33 and two touchdown performance to keep the Buffs undefeated at 3-0.  Texas A&M is the only team with a losing record at 1-2, but are under a new head coach.  Overall the record for the quarterbacks totals 32-7 (McGee started the first two games and went 1-1, even though Johnson 'should' get credit for the win, he did not start.)

There are some who also like to use their legs to reach pay dirt.  McCoy leads his Texas team in rushing, and Josh Freeman has found the end zone often on the ground.  While it is unlikely you will see Harrell outrunning people in Lubbock, Joe Ganz, Cody Hawkins, and Austen Arnaud are threats to scramble for six.  Robert Griffin leads his team in yards and touchdowns, and even Reesing must be accounted for as his 53 total touchdowns is tops all time in Jayhawks history.

The conference of the quarterback has not disappointed.  While a few may drop as the competition stiffens, keep your eyes on these players throughout the season and continuing watching in awe.  The question may not be if one of these quarterbacks can win the Heisman, but rather which one.