We are only two weeks into the college football season, so it may seem premature to suggest replacing a team's starting quarterback so soon. However, this is not the NFL. A team cannot lose a couple of early games and still compete for a championship. In fact, losing a couple of games early could cost a program making a bowl game altogether.
In order to be one of the top three college quarterbacks who should be replaced after two weeks, you would have to meet a couple pieces of criteria. First off, the performance has to be really bad -- I think that goes without saying. Secondly, there has to be a worthy successor behind that player on the depth chart.
It also makes sense that, in order to make this list, you should be playing at a major football program. Nobody really cares if UTEP benches their starting quarterback (sorry Miners). So with that, let's take a look at three college football quarterbacks a Power 5 programs that need to be benched -- and who should take their QB1 job from them.
Sawyer Robinson, Baylor
This is the easiest decision in Division I football. Obviously, this comes with the caveat of of "while Blake Shapen is out" as the Baylor starter suffered an MCL injury in Week 1 that could sideline him through the start of October.
In Shapen's stead, however, Robinson has been absolutely atrocious in back-to-back losses against Texas State and Utah. He is completing only 45% of his passes on the season for just 165 yards per game, has thrown three interceptions, and has not thrown a single touchdown.
He has not only broken but shattered the two golden rules that apply to quarterbacks at any level. First, don't turn the ball over. And number two, hit the open receiver. The Bears are seeing neither of those things from Robinson through 1.5 games of action.
His replacement needs to be the quarterback who should've replaced Shapen in the first place, junior RJ Martinez. Last season for the Bears, when Shapen was also out with injured for most of the year, Martinez completed 66% of his passes for nearly 3,000 yards. He had a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio. He had a 129.3 passer rating. How he ended up No. 3 on the depth chart escapes me, but the situation needs to be fixed for Baylor to climb out of an 0-2 start.
Jeff Sims, Nebraska
Nebraska may be one of the biggest college football programs of all time, but it's safe to say the Cornhuskers are nowhere near its heyday of Tommy Frazier and Lawrence Phillips.
For this reason, it's no surprise that many people did not see Jeff Sims struggle against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Week 1. He completed less than 60% of his passes for 114 yards and with three interceptions. It was ugly.
The Colorado Buffaloes are the definition of must-see TV, so the entire nation then got to see Sims struggle against Coach Prime and his defense in Week 2. He did not throw for a single touchdown and had another interception along with a pair of fumbles in a 36- 14 loss.
Heinrich Haarberg makes a lot of sense here. He's a big kid, and he's already relieved Sims in the Colorado game, throwing for a touchdown. He's not the only option, however. Nebraska will not be competing for the national championship this year, so why not take a page out of Deion Sanders' playbook, and go for ratings?
Chubba Purdy is behind Haarberg on the depth chart, but the Florida State transfer has a great name. The 49ers starting quarterback and longtime Iowa State starter, Brock Purdy, is Chubba's older brother. Folks are guaranteed to tune in to see the brother of last year's football feel-good story play quarterback for the Cornhuskers.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Alabama has gotten off to a rocky start this season, and it has some folks calling for a new coach in Tuscaloosa.
Milroe played great against Middle Tennessee State, but the varsity team is supposed to beat up on the JV team. When faced with a true test, he completed barely 50% of his throws and threw as many interceptions as touchdowns (2:2). Alabama is competing for the national championship every season, so they don't have time for a quarterback to learn the position.
Tyler Buchner transferred to Bama from Notre Dame, and not only does he have bowl game experience, he was the MVP of the Gator Bowl last year. With Alabama's full arsenal of weapons at his disposal, Buchner could help the Tide rebound from their loss to Texas, and land in the College Football Playoff.
At the very least, Milroe's performance against Texas should have him on a much shorter leash moving forward.
