Written by
The MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO Desk
Conference Newsroom · Independent Mountain West coverage since 2026
The house desk of MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO - independent researchers tracking every Mountain West game, stat and storyline.
Mountain West Analysis
Mountain West quarterback rankings
-
Jackson Arnold, a senior, has completed 79 of 133 passes for 1068 yards, 8 TDs and 0 interceptions this season. He has added 270 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs. Skill rating 96.
-
Liam Szarka, a junior, has completed 19 of 38 passes for 296 yards, 1 TD and 4 interceptions this season. He has added 391 rushing yards and 7 rushing TDs. Skill rating 94.
-
Nathan Hayes, a senior, has completed 75 of 116 passes for 995 yards, 7 TDs and 2 interceptions this season. He has added 122 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs. Skill rating 91.
-
EJ Colson Jr., a sophomore, has completed 49 of 77 passes for 541 yards, 7 TDs and 3 interceptions this season. He has added 93 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD. Skill rating 90.
-
Taron Dickens, a junior, has completed 84 of 120 passes for 837 yards, 3 TDs and 2 interceptions this season. He has added -52 rushing yards and 0 rushing TDs. Skill rating 86.
-
Tyler Hughes, a senior, has completed 66 of 112 passes for 708 yards, 2 TDs and 6 interceptions this season. He has added 196 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD. Skill rating 86.
-
Micah Alejado, a sophomore, has completed 132 of 216 passes for 1361 yards, 4 TDs and 3 interceptions this season. He has added 30 rushing yards and 0 rushing TDs. Skill rating 83.
-
Luke Weaver, a senior, has completed 106 of 171 passes for 1278 yards, 11 TDs and 5 interceptions this season. He has added 77 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD. Skill rating 83.
-
Toa Fa'avae, a sophomore, has completed 36 of 63 passes for 636 yards, 4 TDs and 1 interception this season. He has added 143 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD. Skill rating 82.
-
Carter Jones, a sophomore, has completed 42 of 70 passes for 572 yards, 2 TDs and 2 interceptions this season. He has added 76 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD. Skill rating 77.
How these rankings work
One quarterback per program: the player with the most pass attempts in 2026. Quarterbacks are ordered by skill rating, a 0-99 grade built from passing and rushing production, completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown rate, interception avoidance and experience. Passing yards break ties. Programs whose passer has not attempted a pass yet are not listed. See how it shapes the race in the power rankings.
Each Mountain West program's leading passer, ranked by skill rating built from 2026 production and efficiency, with the season numbers behind each spot. Rebuilt from the latest stats through the season.
About the author and reviewer
Fact-checked by
MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO Coverage Review
Fact & Data Review · Primary-source verification
Every stat and historical claim on data pages is checked against official box scores and the live feed before publication.
Independence: MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO was not paid by any school, network or sportsbook for this page. Corrections are logged in our editorial policy.
The Mountain West Report
One conference, in your inbox every Tuesday.
Standings, the title race and one opinion on the Mountain West. No filler.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the top-ranked quarterback in the Mountain West?
Jackson Arnold of UNLV ranks first with a skill rating of 96, ahead of Liam Szarka of Air Force. The order is computed from 2026 passing, rushing and efficiency numbers.
Who are the Mountain West starting quarterbacks in 2026?
Each program's leading passer by attempts this season: Jackson Arnold (UNLV), Liam Szarka (Air Force), Nathan Hayes (North Dakota State), EJ Colson Jr. (UTEP), Taron Dickens (Northern Illinois), Tyler Hughes (Wyoming), Micah Alejado (Hawai'i), Luke Weaver (San José State), Toa Fa'avae (New Mexico), Carter Jones (Nevada).