Where FSU quarterback Ashton Daniels landed in ESPN’s rankings

Four games into the 2026 season, ESPN’s Bill Connelly has revisited the quarterback landscape across the Power Four and Florida State’s Ashton Daniels landed almost exactly in the middle of the pack.

Connelly ranked all 68 Power Four quarterbacks after the opening month of the season, placing Daniels at No. 34 overall. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah took the top spot, followed by Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss and Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor.

Daniels’ position represents a modest rise from where Connelly viewed him entering the spring. In ESPN’s March rankings, the Auburn transfer checked in at No. 38, meaning he has climbed four spots after winning Florida State’s starting job and playing the Seminoles’ first four games.

The results have been mixed, but Daniels has provided FSU with plenty of production.

Through four games, the veteran quarterback has completed 58 of 97 passes for 928 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 142 rushing yards and four more scores. His 9.6 yards per pass attempt illustrates the explosive element FSU has occasionally found through the air, although the turnovers remain an issue.

His most explosive performance came in Florida State’s 50-36 loss at Alabama, when Daniels threw for 377 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two more scores. However, he also threw three interceptions.

Daniels followed that with a more efficient outing in the Seminoles’ 34-7 victory over Central Arkansas, completing 12 of 18 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Daniels’ was ranked eighth among ACC quarterbacks in the ranking putting him behind Mensah, Louisville’s Lincoln Kienholz, SMU’s Kevin Jennings, Virginia’s Beau Pribula, Virginia Tech’s Ethan Grunkemeyer, Wake Forest’s Gio Lopez, and Pittsburgh’s Mason Heintschel in Connelly’s rankings.

Florida State sits at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in ACC play, leaving Daniels with plenty of opportunities to change his standing as the schedule becomes more conference-heavy. His first chance will be on Saturday, when FSU takes on the Virginia Cavaliers.

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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Where FSU quarterback Ashton Daniels landed in ESPN’s rankings