Positive Impact Factor Top 10: December 2
After becoming the PIF leader last week, Cam Newton extended his lead this week. Auburn trailed Alabama at halftime 24-7 and won 28-27. A very positive performance from Newton was a big part of the amazing comeback. The highlights above don't do justice to what we witnessed from Auburn over the weekend.
If you're new to the PIF ratings, here's a quick primer (or, check out a podcast about the PIF): 100 point scale based on passing, rushing and receiving contribution (touches) to one's team. Total TD reflects passing+rushing+receiving (or maybe even fumble recovery) TD. Negative plays are defined as incompletions, fumbles and sacks taken. Extremely negative plays are interceptions and fumbles lost. Extremely positive plays are touchdowns. The PIF rating is calculated using the following formula:
Negative plays (incompletions, fumbles, sacks) divided by total touches (pass attempts, rush attempts, catches)=negative play percentage (Neg Play). Extremely negative plays (INTs/incompletions plus fumbles lost/rush attempts) multiplied times 2=extremely negative play factor (XNeg Play). Total TD divided by total touches=extremely positive play factor (XPos Play). 100-Neg Play+XNeg Play(total negative number)+XPos Play=PIF.
The complete PIF standings can be seen here: 1-36, 37-74, 75-112, 113-125. To see previous weeks, click the date: October 1, October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28, November 4, November 11, November 18, November 25. Top Ten Overview and Miscellany are after the table.
| Rank | QB | Team | Touches | Total TD | Neg Play | XNeg Play | XPos Play | PIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. — | Cam Newton | Auburn | 448 | 43 | 20.8 | 17.1 | 9.6 | 71.7 |
| 2. — | Ricky Dobbs | Navy | 346 | 23 | 22.8 | 16.3 | 6.6 | 67.5 |
| 3. — | Dan Persa | Northwestern | 466 | 24 | 25.3 | 12.4 | 5.2 | 67.4 |
| 4. — | Trent Steelman | Army | 274 | 16 | 21.5 | 17.3 | 5.8 | 67 |
| 5. ↑1 | Ryan Tannehill | Texas A&M | 254 | 13 | 32.3 | 8.7 | 5.1 | 64.1 |
| 6. ↑2 | Chandler Harnish | Northern Illinois | 357 | 22 | 26.3 | 15.7 | 6.2 | 64.1 |
| 7. — | Colin Kaepernick | Nevada | 453 | 37 | 27.4 | 17 | 8.2 | 63.8 |
| 8. ↓3 | Austin Davis | Southern Miss | 542 | 28 | 31.4 | 11 | 5.2 | 62.8 |
| 9. ↑1 | Robert Griffin III | Baylor | 547 | 29 | 29.6 | 14.5 | 5.3 | 61.2 |
| 10.↑9 | Jeffrey Godfrey | UCF | 317 | 22 | 25.2 | 20.9 | 6.9 | 60.8 |
Top Ten Overview
Cam Newton increased his lead in the Standings with a 4 TD day against Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Newton was held to 39 yards rushing and only 1 rushing TD on 22 attempts but he also went 13/20 passing for 216 yards and 3 scores on the day. Ricky Dobbs, Dan Persa and Trent Steelman didn't play this past week and remained in 2-4 in the Standings. Ryan Tannehill had a below average day against Texas in a win but 1 total TD combined with Austin Davis' three spot fall (2 passing TDs, 1 INT, 2 fumbles lost v. Tulsa) helped the Aggie QB move up one spot. Northern Illinois blasted Eastern Michigan 71-3 (we hope that got your attention, voters) but Chandler Harnish had a short day of 15 touches and 2 TDs. He also rose two places to 6th in the Standings. Colin Kaepernick helped Nevada stun Boise State in overtime, but he didn't move in the Standings this week. Kaepernick had 2 TDs and 1 INT during the upset victory in Reno. Robert Griffin III had the week off as Baylor's regular season is done but he still moved up one spot. Jeffrey Godfrey of UCF makes his first appearance in the Top Ten this week. The freshman QB had 3 TDs in the victory over Memphis and only missed on three of his seventeen total passes.
Dropped Out: Ross Jenkins, La Tech
Miscellany
The ACC Championship features #13 Tyrod Taylor (59.1) for Virginia Tech and #64 Christian Ponder (45.2) for Florida State.
Oklahoma expects to have to face Nebraska's #24 Taylor Martinez (55.6) in the Big XII Championship. Nebraska will certainly have to deal with #26 Landry Jones (55.2).
The Conference USA Championship game will feature #10 Jeffrey Godfrey (UCF) and #43 Kyle Padron (50.3) of SMU.
The MAC Championship has a main attraction in #6 Chandler Harnish (Northern Illinois). Austin Boucher continues to start in place of injured starter Zac Dysert for Miami (OH). Boucher not had enough touches to be ranked in the Standings, but he does have a 63.6 PIF based on his 94 touches this season.
PIF leader Cam Newton is eligible for the SEC Championship. South Carolina has #55 Stephen Garcia (47.6) at QB.
Three QBs not playing in the bowl season are tied for having thrown the most INTs (17) this season in the FBS: #96 Sean Renfree (Duke), #99 Garrett Gilbert (Texas) and #109 Ryan Radcliff (Central Michigan). However, their rate of throwing those INTs is not even close to being the worst in the FBS. Renfree, Gilbert and Radcliff are beteen the range of 9.3-9.5% of incompletions as INTs. #113 Boo Jackson (Ohio) is leading the country by throwing an INT on 18% of his incompletions.
