College QB Rating Calculator
NCAA passing efficiency from attempts, yards, TD, and picks.
What it does
College passing efficiency packs four stats into one number so seasons and careers compare across systems. Yards carry the most weight, touchdowns add a bonus, completions reward accuracy, and interceptions subtract hard.
The tool above takes attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions. It returns the NCAA rating with yards per attempt and completion rate beside it, which shows whether the number came from explosiveness or safe short throws.
The defaults (300 attempts, 200 completions, 2800 yards, 25 TD, 8 picks) rate 167.23 with 9.33 yards per attempt and 66.7% completions. A perfect small sample of 20 for 20 with 300 yards and 4 TD rates 292, which shows why minimum attempt rules exist.
The formula matches the NCAA statisticians manual as printed in the FBS records book: yards per attempt times 8.4, plus completion percentage, plus touchdown percentage times 3.3, minus interception percentage times 2.
How to use
- Enter pass attempts (never zero).
- Enter completions within attempts.
- Enter net passing yards.
- Enter touchdown passes within completions.
- Enter interceptions.
- Read rating, then yards per attempt for context.
Formula
- 8.4
- Weight on total passing yards.
- 330 / 100
- Touchdown and completion bonuses.
- 200
- Interception penalty weight.
- Attempts
- Divisor; zero attempts is undefined.
NCAA wording uses rates: yards per attempt times 8.4, plus completion percent, plus TD percent times 3.3, minus INT percent times 2. The two forms match exactly. Small samples swing wildly, so titles require minimum attempts per game across most of the team schedule.
Worked example
Example: 300 attempts, 2800 yards, 25 TD, 8 INT
Defaults: 300 attempts, 200 completions, 2800 yards, 25 TD, 8 interceptions.
- Yards: 8.4 x 2800 = 23,520.
- Touchdowns: 330 x 25 = 8,250.
- Completions: 100 x 200 = 20,000.
- Sum: 23,520 + 8,250 + 20,000 = 51,770.
- Minus picks: 51,770 - 200 x 8 = 50,170.
- Rating: 50,170 / 300 = 167.23. Tool shows 167.23, 9.33 yards per attempt, 66.7% completions.
Reference table
| Stat | Weight | Default share |
|---|---|---|
| 2800 yards | x 8.4 | 23,520 |
| 25 TD | x 330 | 8,250 |
| 200 completions | x 100 | 20,000 |
| 8 INT | minus x 200 | -1,600 |
| 300 attempts | divide | 167.23 |
Limits
- Zero attempts has no rating at all.
- Small samples mislead; minimums exist for titles.
- Sacks and rushing sit outside passing lines.
- Era and schedule strength never enter the number.
Common mistakes
- Using NFL passer math for college stats.
- Counting sacks as pass attempts.
- Comparing tiny samples with full seasons.
- Ignoring yards per attempt beside the rating.
- Treating touchdowns above completions as valid.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
40 for 30, 350 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT?
168.25 with 8.75 yards per attempt.
Perfect 20 for 20, 300 yds, 4 TD?
292 with 15 yards per attempt.
Why no 158.3 cap?
The college formula is open ended; huge games pass 250.
Questions
What is a good college QB rating?
Mid 140s is strong; 160 plus marks an elite season with qualifying attempts.
How is NCAA rating figured?
Yards times 8.4 plus completions times 100 plus TD times 330 minus picks times 200, all over attempts.
Why is it not capped?
The college line has no clamps, so perfect games score near 300 while the NFL scale stops at 158.3.
Do sacks count?
In college they count as rushing, which protects pass efficiency from line failures.
Can rating go negative?
Yes, with awful yardage and picks; the formula has no floor.
Postseason included?
Yes, bowls count in official NCAA season totals since 2002.