The Aidan Chiles hype train is reaching new levels after four weeks of play.
After what can only be characterized as a forgettable start to his 2024 season (outside of the Maryland game), Chiles spent the second half of his sophomore campaign trying to improve and right his previous wrongs. He was looked at as a disappointment in 2024, but only because the expectations for the No. 1 transfer portal quarterback were sky-high.
Now, four games into his junior season, he looks like a completely different quarterback.
Before the season, you would have been hard-pressed to see Chiles ranked in the top 50 nationally in terms of quarterbacks, and he was even snubbed by some preseason award watch lists. But things have changed in a hurry. In fact, CBS Sports posted its weekly college football quarterback power rankings, and Chiles has slid into the top 20 -- at No. 19 -- for the first time.
"Chiles appears to be enjoying a junior year jump after struggling through a sophomore slump in 2024. He threw nine touchdowns with just one interception in the Spartans' first four games. Whether that continues in league play could hinge largely on the performance of an offensive line that struggled in a Week 4 loss at USC."David Cobb, CBS Sports
Everything Cobb said was true. Chiles is enjoying a junior year jump after a shaky sophomore season, and his 9-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio is probably his most impressive improvement. He also hit the nail on the head with offensive line play. Chiles and this offense are only going as far as the line allows. If improvements aren't made in the trenches, it could be a long year still.
No matter what happens with the offensive line, Chiles has proven to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country through four weeks, and I think his No. 19 ranking on the CBS Sports list is a tad low.
Chiles has 11 total touchdowns, one interception, a 69 percent completion rate, and over 1,000 total yards through four games. He's been great.