Rattler and Underwood sit at opposite ends. Rattler was 6-0 with a 155.5 rating when he was pulled. Underwood was at 58% with more turnovers than touchdowns.
Back to the trend of the day: Michigan replaces starting quarterback Bryce Underwood with freshman Tommy Carr
Poly Rating · from the trend of the day
Bryce Underwood benched: 10 biggest QB benchings 2026
Michigan pulled Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, at halftime after a 5-of-11, 43-yard, two-interception half, and freshman Tommy Carr led the 21-18 comeback over Penn State.
- No. 1: Spencer Rattler benched (Oklahoma, 2021)
- 10 places
01Final list
The leading AIs built their own top-ten lists independently. Above is one combined result that is easy to check: every place has a reason, the AIs that included it and, where the AIs gave one, a source.
Order: from most to least AI agreement.
A bright badge means this AI put the entry on its list. A dim badge means it did not.
- 1
Spencer Rattler benched (Oklahoma, 2021)
Hardest benching here to justify on the numbers: 6-0, 74.9% and a 155.5 rating, then a turnover-filled half vs Texas. Caleb Williams rallied OU to win 55-48.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nemotron, DeepSeek.In their lists: Claude: 2 · ChatGPT: 2 · Meta: 2 · Gemini: 2 · Nemotron: 7 · DeepSeek: 2
What each AI noted 6
- Claudeplace 2
A 6-0 starter completing 74.9% was benched in the Texas game, and Caleb Williams turned a 28-17 deficit into a 55-48 win.
Source ↗ - ChatGPTplace 2
A six-game starter with Heisman-favorite expectations lost the Red River job after two turnovers; Caleb Williams produced two passing touchdowns and a comeback win.
- Metaplace 2
Preseason Heisman favorite 8/15 111 yds 1 INT vs Texas, replaced by Caleb Williams for 55-48 largest comeback in Red River history
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 2
Entered 2021 as the preseason Heisman frontrunner (+300) before being yanked down 28-7 to Texas for true freshman Caleb Williams, who rallied a 55-48 win.
Source ↗ - Nemotronplace 7
Five-star, #1 PRO-QB 2020; started 14 games, benched at 4-0 in 2021 vs. Texas (halftime) — Williams led comeback, OU EPA/play rose +0.22 over next 4 games
- DeepSeekplace 2
A five-star No. 1 quarterback with a 92.5 PFF grade the year before lost his job mid-game to a freshman who scored five touchdowns in his first start.
Source ↗
6 AIs put it here - 2
DJ Uiagalelei benched (Clemson, 2022)
Benched twice in one season: after three turnovers vs Syracuse, then two series into the ACC title game. Cade Klubnik went 20 of 24 for 279 yards in a 39-10 win.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nemotron, DeepSeek.In their lists: Claude: 3 · ChatGPT: 6 · Meta: 4 · Gemini: 3 · Nemotron: 8 · DeepSeek: 3
What each AI noted 6
- Claudeplace 3
Benched twice in one season, once in a comeback win over Syracuse and once two series into the ACC title game, which Clemson lost 39-10 to North Carolina.
Source ↗ - ChatGPTplace 6
A former five-star was replaced by freshman Cade Klubnik in the ACC Championship Game, a high-visibility single-game call rather than a season-long comparison.
Source ↗ - Metaplace 4
Nation's No.1 pocket passer 2020 → 2/5 10 yds in ACC title, benched for Cade Klubnik 20/24 279 yds 1 TD
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 3
Touted as Trevor Lawrence's 5-star heir, he was pulled after just two series in the 2022 ACC Championship Game as freshman Cade Klubnik generated 39 points.
Source ↗ - Nemotronplace 8
Five-star, #1 PRO-QB 2020; started 24 games, benched mid-season 2022 (4-4) for Klubnik — Clemson EPA/play improved +0.15, Klubnik 4-1 as starter
- DeepSeekplace 3
A five-star quarterback with a 68.9 career PFF grade was pulled after two empty possessions, and his replacement won the ACC championship.
Source ↗
6 AIs put it here - 3
Bryce Underwood benched (Michigan, 2026)
No. 1 overall recruit with 19 straight starts, pulled at halftime after going 5 of 11 for 43 yards and 2 INT. Carr won it 21-18. Next four games not yet played.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, DeepSeek. Did not include: Nemotron.In their lists: Claude: 1 · ChatGPT: 9 · Meta: 1 · Gemini: 1 · DeepSeek: 1
What each AI noted 5
- Claudeplace 1
The No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 SC Next 300 was pulled at halftime of a game Michigan then won 21-18, with a freshman grandson of Lloyd Carr doing the rescue.
- ChatGPTplace 9
The halftime benching became a weekly starter question; as of Oct. 24, Carr was reported as Michigan's starter against Indiana.
Source ↗ - Metaplace 1
No.1 overall 2025 → 58.1% for 924 yards 5 TD 6 INTs in 6 games, benched at halftime trailing 3-0 vs Penn State
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 1
Arrived as the 2025 class consensus No. 1 recruit with an estimated $10.5M NIL valuation before being benched after completing just 5-of-11 passes against Penn State.
Source ↗ - DeepSeekplace 1
A $12 million No. 1 overall recruit was pulled at halftime for a three-star ranked No. 962 in the 247Sports Composite.
5 AIs put it here - 4
Max Browne benched (USC, 2016)
Former No. 1 quarterback recruit got three starts (1-2, 111.0 rating) before Sam Darnold went 9-1 and won the Rose Bowl. ESPN mostly blamed the offensive line.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta, Nemotron.In their lists: Claude: 4 · ChatGPT: 5 · Gemini: 6 · DeepSeek: 5
What each AI noted 4
- Claudeplace 4
A one-time No. 1 quarterback recruit got three starts and a 1-2 record before Sam Darnold took the job.
Source ↗ - ChatGPTplace 5
The former No. 1 high school quarterback prospect eventually gave way to Sam Darnold, who became the starter after Browne opened the season as USC's pick.
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 6
Waited three years behind Cody Kessler only to be benched after just three starts (1-2) for redshirt freshman Sam Darnold, who promptly went 9-1 and won the Rose Bowl.
Source ↗ - DeepSeekplace 5
The No. 1 quarterback recruit in the country lasted three starts before a redshirt freshman went 9-1 and won the Rose Bowl.
4 AIs put it here - 5
Blake Barnett benched (Alabama, 2016)
Fastest hook here: the five-star's first start lasted two series vs USC. Jalen Hurts took over in a 52-6 rout, and Barnett left Alabama weeks later.
Included it: ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini. Did not include: Claude, Nemotron, DeepSeek.In their lists: ChatGPT: 3 · Meta: 3 · Gemini: 5
What each AI noted 3
- ChatGPTplace 3
The five-star's first Alabama start lasted two series: Jalen Hurts took over in the opener, and Barnett left the program weeks later.
Source ↗ - Metaplace 3
5-star #2 QB overall 2015 → 100 yds 1 TD vs USC, yanked mid-1st quarter for true freshman Jalen Hurts
- Geminiplace 5
Started the 2016 opener against No. 20 USC, was benched two drives in after two three-and-outs, and watched freshman Jalen Hurts win 52-6 and the starting job permanently.
Source ↗
3 AIs put it here - 6
Mitch Mustain benched (Arkansas, 2006)
8-0 as a true freshman, yet pulled after a first-series interception at South Carolina (one answer says halftime). With Casey Dick, Arkansas won the SEC West, then lost its last three.
Included it: Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Nemotron.In their lists: Claude: 5 · Gemini: 9 · DeepSeek: 6
What each AI noted 3
- Claudeplace 5
Undefeated at 8-0 as a true freshman, including a win at No. 2 Auburn, and still pulled after one bad series.
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 9
Went 8-0 as a true freshman starter before head coach Houston Nutt benched him unceremoniously during halftime against South Carolina for junior Casey Dick.
Source ↗ - DeepSeekplace 6
An 8-0 starter and national high school player of the year was benched after one interception, and Arkansas still won the SEC West.
Source ↗
3 AIs put it here - 7
Jackson Arnold benched (Oklahoma, 2024)
Pulled in the second quarter vs Tennessee at 7 of 16, 54 yards and three turnovers, and Hawkins was named starter that week. He's widely called a five-star, but 247Sports had him four-star.
Included it: Claude, Gemini. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Nemotron, DeepSeek.In their lists: Claude: 6 · Gemini: 4
What each AI noted 2
- Claudeplace 6
Pulled in the second quarter at 7 of 16 for 54 yards with three turnovers, a week-4 benching of a top-rated sophomore.
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 4
Lasted just 18 minutes in Oklahoma's inaugural SEC home game against Tennessee, benched before halftime following three turnovers and 54 total yards.
Source ↗
2 AIs put it here - 8
Quinn Ewers benched (Texas, 2024)
The No. 1 overall 2021 recruit was pulled vs Georgia at 6 of 12 for 17 yards, with 4:43 left in the half, behind a line that gave up 7 sacks. Single-source figures.
Included it: Meta, Nemotron. Did not include: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek.In their lists: Meta: 5 · Nemotron: 9
What each AI noted 2
- Metaplace 5
No.1 overall 2021 → 6/12 17 yds INT vs Georgia down 20-0, benched for Arch Manning before halftime
- Nemotronplace 9
Five-star, #1 overall 2021; 0 games at OSU, started 27 at Texas — never benched but lost job to Arch Manning for 2 games in 2024 (injury); Texas EPA/play with Ewers: +0.21, with Manning: +0.18
2 AIs put it hereno source given - 9
Garrett Gilbert benched (Texas, 2011)
Rivals and ESPN's second-best quarterback prospect of 2009 threw 17 interceptions as Texas went 5-7. He was pulled vs BYU two games into 2011, then had shoulder surgery and transferred.
Included it: Claude, Gemini. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Nemotron, DeepSeek.In their lists: Claude: 8 · Gemini: 7
What each AI noted 2
- Claudeplace 8
After 17 interceptions in 2010, he was pulled during the BYU game and was gone from the starting job after two games.
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 7
Threw two interceptions on his first eight passes against BYU in week 2, was benched mid-game for Case McCoy and David Ash, and underwent shoulder surgery days later.
Source ↗
2 AIs put it here - 10
Conner Weigman benched (Texas A&M, 2024)
A five-star (No. 22 overall) pulled in the third quarter vs LSU with a 45.7 PFF offense grade. Marcel Reed won 38-23 and went 3-0 without a turnover. One source.
Included it: DeepSeek. Did not include: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nemotron.In their lists: DeepSeek: 9
What each AI noted 1
- DeepSeekplace 9
A five-star quarterback with a 45.7 PFF offense grade at halftime of the LSU game lost the job to a redshirt freshman who went 3-0 without a turnover.
1 AIs put it hereno source given
02Worth knowing
What the AIs noticed while building the list.
The line-or-scheme question comes up again and again. ESPN blamed USC's line for Browne's numbers, CBS blamed Oklahoma's handling of Arnold, and Ewers was sacked 7 times vs Georgia.
Underwood's replacement is a Michigan family story: Tommy Carr is Lloyd Carr's grandson, and his brother CJ starts at Notre Dame.
03Questions people ask
Did Bryce Underwood get benched?
Yes. Michigan pulled him at halftime against Penn State on Oct. 17, 2026, after a 5-of-11, 43-yard, two-interception half, and Tommy Carr led a 21-18 win.
Source ↗Is Bryce Underwood getting benched?
It has already happened. Carr started against No. 6 Indiana on Oct. 24, 2026, and Underwood was on the sideline.
Source ↗Will Bryce Underwood get benched for good?
That's still open. He had 5 TD and 6 INT in six games when he was pulled, and Whittingham hadn't publicly named the Indiana starter as of Oct. 19.
Source ↗Why do Underwood's stats differ between sources?
They cover different spans. RotoBaller's 59.3% and 4 INT run through five games, while On3's 58.1% and 6 INT include the Penn State half.
Source ↗04How we counted
In plain words, no formulas.
1The question
Top 10 Biggest Quarterback Benchings of the Recruiting-Rankings Era: Hype Versus What the Field Showed
2Why this topic
It sets a recruiting rank, a play-by-play grade and the team's results after the switch side by side, a comparison no single published table makes.
3Where it applies
U.S. college football (FBS), 2002–2026, starters who were consensus top recruits
4What we looked at
- Gap between the quarterback's recruiting rating and his efficiency at the time he was benched
- Whether the replacement improved the team's EPA per play and win rate over the next four games
- How fast it happened: games started before the benching
- How public the switch was: mid-game, at halftime, or announced during the week
- 247Sports Composite — Recruiting stars and national rank coming out of high school; older classes (pre-2010) are retroactive and differ from Rivals/Scout
- Game reports and box scores (AP, CBS Sports, ESPN, On3, SI) — When and how publicly the switch happened, the benched player's line and what the replacement did
- Sports-Reference / Wikipedia season tables — Completion rate, passer rating, TD-INT and record as a starter at the time of the benching
- PFF College — Passing and overall grades, used only where a published article quotes them (the full grades are behind a paywall)
5Who ranked
The leading AIs, each building its own list of ten independently and naming a source for every place: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nemotron, DeepSeek.
6How the places were set
The same entry written differently by different AIs was counted as one. The more AIs put an entry on their list, and the higher they put it, the higher its place. "AI agreement" shows how many of the AIs had it on their own list. Sources are only those the AIs found themselves; nothing was added by hand.
05Each AI's own list
🇺🇸 Claude10 places · 4 notes
The same question, answered by Claude alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Bryce Underwood, Michigan (2026)
The No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 SC Next 300 was pulled at halftime of a game Michigan then won 21-18, with a freshman grandson of Lloyd Carr doing the rescue.
- 2Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma (2021)
A 6-0 starter completing 74.9% was benched in the Texas game, and Caleb Williams turned a 28-17 deficit into a 55-48 win.
Source ↗ - 3DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson (2022)
Benched twice in one season, once in a comeback win over Syracuse and once two series into the ACC title game, which Clemson lost 39-10 to North Carolina.
Source ↗ - 4Max Browne, USC (2016)
A one-time No. 1 quarterback recruit got three starts and a 1-2 record before Sam Darnold took the job.
Source ↗ - 5Mitch Mustain, Arkansas (2006)
Undefeated at 8-0 as a true freshman, including a win at No. 2 Auburn, and still pulled after one bad series.
Source ↗ - 6Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma (2024)
Pulled in the second quarter at 7 of 16 for 54 yards with three turnovers, a week-4 benching of a top-rated sophomore.
Source ↗ - 7Tyler Buchner, Alabama (2023)
Benched late in the first half of his first Alabama start after going 5 of 14 for 34 yards, and Jalen Milroe had the job back by Monday.
Source ↗ - 8Garrett Gilbert, Texas (2011)
After 17 interceptions in 2010, he was pulled during the BYU game and was gone from the starting job after two games.
Source ↗ - 9Julian Lewis, Colorado (2025)
Asked to replace Shedeur Sanders, a former 5-star was pulled mid-game by Deion Sanders in a 23-13 loss to Baylor.
Source ↗ - 10Malachi Nelson, USC (2023)
The No. 1 overall recruit of his class lost the job in a camp competition rather than being pulled in a game. That is a demotion, not a benching, but it is the most extreme gap between rating and role.
What Claude noticed
Rattler is the hardest case for the benching to justify. He was 6-0, completed 74.9% and had a 155.5 rating when he was pulled. Underwood's line is the opposite: 58-59% completions and more turnovers than touchdowns.
Klubnik replaced Uiagalelei twice in 2022, and the second switch came in the ACC title game. He went 20 of 24 for 279 yards in a 39-10 win over North Carolina.
The Underwood replacement is a Michigan family story. Tommy Carr is Lloyd Carr's grandson, and his brother CJ is Notre Dame's starter.
The line-or-scheme question comes up in most of these cases. ESPN blamed USC's line for Browne's numbers, and CBS blamed Oklahoma's handling for Arnold.
🇺🇸 ChatGPT10 places · 3 notes
The same question, answered by ChatGPT alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Bryce Underwood, Michigan (2025–26)
A No. 1 overall recruit was pulled at halftime after going 5-for-11 for 43 yards and two interceptions; Carr then helped turn a 3–0 deficit into a 21–18 win.
Source ↗ - 2Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma (2021)
A six-game starter with Heisman-favorite expectations lost the Red River job after two turnovers; Caleb Williams produced two passing touchdowns and a comeback win.
- 3Blake Barnett, Alabama (2016)
The five-star's first Alabama start lasted two series: Jalen Hurts took over in the opener, and Barnett left the program weeks later.
Source ↗ - 4Jalen Hurts, Alabama (2018 championship game)
A 26–2 Alabama starter was benched at halftime of the national title game; Tua Tagovailoa then led the comeback that made the change unforgettable.
Source ↗ - 5Max Browne, USC (2016)
The former No. 1 high school quarterback prospect eventually gave way to Sam Darnold, who became the starter after Browne opened the season as USC's pick.
Source ↗ - 6D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson (2022)
A former five-star was replaced by freshman Cade Klubnik in the ACC Championship Game, a high-visibility single-game call rather than a season-long comparison.
Source ↗ - 7Tate Martell, Ohio State (2018–19)
The five-star recruit never secured the Ohio State job from Dwayne Haskins or Justin Fields, making this a hyped non-starter case rather than a classic mid-game benching.
Source ↗ - 8Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame (2007–09)
The No. 1 overall recruit's three-year starting run ended without a mid-season benching, so he ranks low here despite the enormous hype-to-expectation gap.
Source ↗ - 9Bryce Underwood, Michigan (2026, next-start decision)
The halftime benching became a weekly starter question; as of Oct. 24, Carr was reported as Michigan's starter against Indiana.
Source ↗ - 10Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma (2021, later reversal)
The season's quarterback swap ran both ways: Rattler was benched for Caleb Williams, then returned in relief against Baylor.
What ChatGPT noticed
The strongest directly measured one-game contrast here is Rattler–Williams against Texas: Rattler had 111 passing yards and a turnover; Williams threw for 212 yards and two scores as Oklahoma won.
Hurts's Alabama benching came despite a 26–2 starter record; the replacement decision was about a title-game matchup and immediate comeback, not a verdict on a failed career.
Underwood's first benching was followed by Carr's first start the next week, but the available game reports do not establish whether line play, play-calling, or quarterback play drove the improvement.
🇺🇸 Meta10 places · 3 notes
The same question, answered by Meta alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Bryce Underwood benched 2026 Michigan
No.1 overall 2025 → 58.1% for 924 yards 5 TD 6 INTs in 6 games, benched at halftime trailing 3-0 vs Penn State
Source ↗ - 2Spencer Rattler benched 2021 Oklahoma
Preseason Heisman favorite 8/15 111 yds 1 INT vs Texas, replaced by Caleb Williams for 55-48 largest comeback in Red River history
Source ↗ - 3Blake Barnett benched 2016 Alabama
5-star #2 QB overall 2015 → 100 yds 1 TD vs USC, yanked mid-1st quarter for true freshman Jalen Hurts
- 4DJ Uiagalelei benched 2022 Clemson
Nation's No.1 pocket passer 2020 → 2/5 10 yds in ACC title, benched for Cade Klubnik 20/24 279 yds 1 TD
Source ↗ - 5Quinn Ewers benched 2024 Texas
No.1 overall 2021 → 6/12 17 yds INT vs Georgia down 20-0, benched for Arch Manning before halftime
- 6Dante Moore benched 2023 UCLA
No.5 overall 2023 → 53.5% 1610 yds 11 TD 9 INT, benched after 5 starts for Ethan Garbers vs Stanford
- 7Kyle Allen benched 2015 Texas A&M
Former No.1 QB 2014 → 1 TD 4 INT in 2 losses, benched after 7 starts for Kyler Murray
Source ↗ - 8JT Daniels benched 2019 USC
No.2 pro-style QB 2018 behind Trevor Lawrence → ACL Week 1, Wally Pipped as Kedon Slovis threw 3502 yds 30 TD
- 9Tate Martell benched 2018 Ohio State
Gatorade National POY 2017, consensus 5-star dual-threat → 0 FBS starts at QB, switched to WR at Miami
- 10Justin Fields benched 2018 Georgia
No.2 QB prospect 2018 behind Trevor Lawrence → 12/27 passes at Georgia, stuck behind Jake Fromm then transferred
What Meta noticed
Mid-game benchings produce the biggest EPA swings: Rattler to Williams went from -0.21 to +0.42 EPA/play in same game, largest comeback in Red River history 55-48
Michigan 2026 is the first program to bench a No.1 overall 2025 recruit for the grandson of its own 1997 national-championship coach Lloyd Carr 122-40
The 2021 Heisman preseason top 3 included Rattler and Uiagalelei - both benched midseason, a rarity that fuels the hype-vs-field debate
🇺🇸 Gemini10 places · 1 notes
The same question, answered by Gemini alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Bryce Underwood (Michigan, 2026)
Arrived as the 2025 class consensus No. 1 recruit with an estimated $10.5M NIL valuation before being benched after completing just 5-of-11 passes against Penn State.
Source ↗ - 2Spencer Rattler (Oklahoma, 2021)
Entered 2021 as the preseason Heisman frontrunner (+300) before being yanked down 28-7 to Texas for true freshman Caleb Williams, who rallied a 55-48 win.
Source ↗ - 3DJ Uiagalelei (Clemson, 2022)
Touted as Trevor Lawrence's 5-star heir, he was pulled after just two series in the 2022 ACC Championship Game as freshman Cade Klubnik generated 39 points.
Source ↗ - 4Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma, 2024)
Lasted just 18 minutes in Oklahoma's inaugural SEC home game against Tennessee, benched before halftime following three turnovers and 54 total yards.
Source ↗ - 5Blake Barnett (Alabama, 2016)
Started the 2016 opener against No. 20 USC, was benched two drives in after two three-and-outs, and watched freshman Jalen Hurts win 52-6 and the starting job permanently.
Source ↗ - 6Max Browne (USC, 2016)
Waited three years behind Cody Kessler only to be benched after just three starts (1-2) for redshirt freshman Sam Darnold, who promptly went 9-1 and won the Rose Bowl.
Source ↗ - 7Garrett Gilbert (Texas, 2011)
Threw two interceptions on his first eight passes against BYU in week 2, was benched mid-game for Case McCoy and David Ash, and underwent shoulder surgery days later.
Source ↗ - 8Hunter Johnson (Clemson, 2018)
The nation's No. 1 dual-threat/pro-style recruit was leapfrogged in spring practice and officially demoted behind freshman Trevor Lawrence and Kelly Bryant, transferring to Northwestern by May.
Source ↗ - 9Mitch Mustain (Arkansas, 2006)
Went 8-0 as a true freshman starter before head coach Houston Nutt benched him unceremoniously during halftime against South Carolina for junior Casey Dick.
Source ↗ - 10JT Daniels (USC, 2019 / Georgia, 2021)
A reclassified 5-star prodigy who was replaced at USC after an opening-week ACL tear by 3-star Kedon Slovis, and later supplanted at Georgia by former walk-on Stetson Bennett.
Source ↗
What Gemini noticed
True freshmen replacements who took over for benched 5-star QBs between 2016 and 2026 won three national championships and two Heisman trophies within two seasons of entering the lineup.
🇺🇸 Nemotron10 places · 2 notes
The same question, answered by Nemotron alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Tate Martell — Ohio State / Miami (FL) 2018–2019
Five-star, No. 2 dual-threat QB nationally; started 0 games at OSU, 1 at Miami before being benched for Jarren Williams — EPA/play jumped +0.28 in four games after switch
- 2Justin Fields — Georgia 2018 (benched for Jake Fromm)
Five-star, No. 2 pro-style QB; played 12 games as backup/spot starter, never unseated Fromm — transferred to OSU and became Heisman finalist; Georgia EPA/play unchanged
- 3Shea Patterson — Ole Miss 2016 / Michigan 2018–2019
Five-star, No. 1 PRO-QB 2016; started 10 games at Ole Miss (injury), then 25 at Michigan — never benched but replaced by Dylan McCaffrey for 2 games in 2019; EPA/play flat
- 4Jalen Hurts — Alabama 2016–2018 (benched at halftime of 2018 CFP title game)
Four-star, #4 DT-QB; 26-2 as starter, benched at halftime vs. Georgia for Tua Tagovailoa — Tua led comeback, Hurts transferred and won Heisman runner-up at Oklahoma
- 5Kelly Bryant — Clemson 2017–2018 (benched for Trevor Lawrence in 2018)
Four-star, #3 DT-QB; 12-2 as starter, benched at 4-0 in 2018 for true freshman Lawrence — Clemson EPA/play jumped +0.19, won national title
- 6Joe Burrow — Ohio State 2015–2017 (never started, transferred to LSU)
Four-star, #8 PRO-QB; 0 starts at OSU behind J.T. Barrett, transferred and won Heisman + national title — OSU EPA/play with Barrett: +0.18; Burrow at LSU 2019: +0.52
- 7Spencer Rattler — Oklahoma 2020–2021 (benched for Caleb Williams in 2021)
Five-star, #1 PRO-QB 2020; started 14 games, benched at 4-0 in 2021 vs. Texas (halftime) — Williams led comeback, OU EPA/play rose +0.22 over next 4 games
- 8D.J. Uiagalelei — Clemson 2020–2022 (benched for Cade Klubnik in 2022)
Five-star, #1 PRO-QB 2020; started 24 games, benched mid-season 2022 (4-4) for Klubnik — Clemson EPA/play improved +0.15, Klubnik 4-1 as starter
- 9Quinn Ewers — Ohio State 2021 (redshirt) / Texas 2022–2024
Five-star, #1 overall 2021; 0 games at OSU, started 27 at Texas — never benched but lost job to Arch Manning for 2 games in 2024 (injury); Texas EPA/play with Ewers: +0.21, with Manning: +0.18
- 10Bryce Young — Alabama 2020–2022 (never benched, but Jalen Milroe replaced him in 2023)
Five-star, #2 PRO-QB 2020; Heisman 2021, 23-3 as starter — not a benching but the succession: Milroe 2023 EPA/play +0.19 vs. Young 2022 +0.28; shows heir-apparent gap
What Nemotron noticed
Only 3 of the top 10 were true mid-season benchings of a healthy starter (Hurts halftime title game, Bryant at 4-0, Rattler halftime vs. Texas); most 'benchings' were either playoff moments or succession after injury/transfer
Recruiting rating correlates poorly with benching likelihood: three 5-stars (Martell, Rattler, Uiagalelei) were benched, but three 5-stars (Young, Burrow transferred, Ewers) never were — context (coaching stability, roster construction) matters more
🇨🇳 DeepSeek10 places · 2 notes
The same question, answered by DeepSeek alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Bryce Underwood benched (2026, Michigan)
A $12 million No. 1 overall recruit was pulled at halftime for a three-star ranked No. 962 in the 247Sports Composite.
- 2Spencer Rattler benched (2021, Oklahoma)
A five-star No. 1 quarterback with a 92.5 PFF grade the year before lost his job mid-game to a freshman who scored five touchdowns in his first start.
Source ↗ - 3D.J. Uiagalelei benched (2022, Clemson)
A five-star quarterback with a 68.9 career PFF grade was pulled after two empty possessions, and his replacement won the ACC championship.
Source ↗ - 4Jalen Hurts benched (2018, Alabama)
Benched at halftime of the national championship game with 21 passing yards; his replacement threw three second-half touchdowns and won it.
Source ↗ - 5Max Browne benched (2016, USC)
The No. 1 quarterback recruit in the country lasted three starts before a redshirt freshman went 9-1 and won the Rose Bowl.
- 6Mitch Mustain benched (2006, Arkansas)
An 8-0 starter and national high school player of the year was benched after one interception, and Arkansas still won the SEC West.
Source ↗ - 7Justin Zwick benched (2004, Ohio State)
A five-star quarterback with a 0.9843 composite rating gave way to a future Heisman winner who went 4-1 and beat Michigan.
Source ↗ - 8Kelly Bryant benched (2018, Clemson)
A 16-2 starter was benched after four games for a true freshman who went 11-0 and won the national championship.
- 9Conner Weigman benched (2024, Texas A&M)
A five-star quarterback with a 45.7 PFF offense grade at halftime of the LSU game lost the job to a redshirt freshman who went 3-0 without a turnover.
- 10Miller Moss benched (2024, USC)
A four-star who threw for 2,555 yards and 18 touchdowns in nine starts was replaced by a transfer who went 3-1.
What DeepSeek noticed
Bryce Underwood's $12 million NIL deal is the largest known gap in this ranking against his replacement's No. 962 composite ranking — and the benching happened at halftime, not after a week of practice.
Spencer Rattler's PFF grade did not collapse — it fell from 92.5 to 86.1 — yet Oklahoma still moved to Caleb Williams, who graded 90.8 and immediately scored five touchdowns in his first start.