Arch Manning's costly mistakes open the door for 2027 NFL Draft QB rivals

College football Week 6 brought forth some intriguing matchups and great performances that saw several prospects raise their 2027 NFL Draft stock.

The schedule of games saw Oklahoma upset No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry, No. 21 UCLA upset No. 13 Oregon, Kentucky edge No. 10 LSU in overtime, South Carolina upend No. 16 Florida and North Carolina win a close one over No. 25 Pittsburgh.

These games saw notable names making an impact, including one of the top quarterback prospects literally throwing a game away.

In this edition of NFL Draft Rapid Fire, NFL Mocks reacts to some of the key performances from an action-packed Week 6 around college football.

2027 NFL Draft QB race heats up as Arch Manning stumbles

With Darian Mensah enjoying a bye week and Dante Moore still sidelined, all eyes were on Arch Manning in the Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma.

In a 27-24 loss, Manning had the typical impressive throws that show why he is considered one of the top quarterback talents in the nation, but then he made critical mistakes that fueled the doubters. In this game, Manning went 19-of-31 for 260 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. One of those interceptions was returned for a pick-six by the Sooners, fueling their comeback victory and handing Texas its first loss of the season.

Does the performance hurt Manning's draft stock?

NFL teams will still be intrigued by the talent (and the name), but other quarterbacks are making statements and providing alternatives in the draft. I had six quarterbacks going in the first round in my latest 2027 NFL Mock Draft, and none of them were the top performers in Week 6.

USC's Jayden Maiava, Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Indiana's Josh Hoover each put together performances that served as reminders that they are first-round talents as well.

The crown of the week goes to Maiava, who led No. 17 USC to a 31-23 road win over Penn State. Maiava was simply the man, throwing for 301 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Hoover was also impressive in leading a fourth-quarter comeback against Nebraska, showcasing that clutch ability that put Fernando Mendoza on the map a season ago while he was at Indiana.

Jeremiah Smith leads wide receivers making a statement

Jeremiah Smith continues to prove he's No. 1

With the Houston Texans currently holding the No. 1 overall pick, the consensus here at NFL Mocks is that if the season ended today, Jeremiah Smith would be the top player off the board.

In Ohio State's 45-16 win over the Maryland Terrapins, Smith recorded four receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Homeboy is so good that those numbers could be considered a quiet game for the Heisman Trophy favorite. But both touchdowns came off his first two touches of the game, further cementing why he is the best player in the nation.

Looking at the landscape of the NFL as far as wide receiver play, one could argue Smith is the best wide receiver on the planet. It may not even be close.

Nick Marsh delivers big plays in Indiana's comeback

Charlie Becker has been garnering all the attention as Indiana's top playmaker, but the Hoosiers have another wide receiver capable of taking over a game, and Nick Marsh did just that in the team's come-from-behind victory over Big Ten foe Nebraska.

In the game, Marsh hauled in six receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns. The big play of the game was a 75-yard touchdown pass from Josh Hoover in the fourth quarter. At the time of the play, the Hoosiers were down 11, so the explosive connection flipped the momentum tremendously.

Marsh then completed the comeback with a 44-yard touchdown reception off play-action. Both plays signified Marsh's ability to make big plays down the field, just like Becker. With the two showcasing their playmaking ability in the 20-17 win, it will be interesting to see how both Hoover and Marsh increase their draft stock as the season moves forward.

Isaac Brown puts NFL Draft scouts on notice with explosive performance

A running back gaining NFL Draft attention is Louisville's Isaac Brown. In the team's Week 6 win over Florida State, the outstanding running back rushed for 235 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown run, which was the longest touchdown run from scrimmage in school history.

Standing at 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, Brown showcased his home-run speed on that play, but it is his elusiveness and cutback ability that make him dangerous whenever he has the ball.

Due to his size, I see him as a fourth-round prospect who will have an immediate impact at the next level, no matter which team selects him. Keep your eye on this top-10 running back prospect.

Defensive stars Dylan Stewart and KJ Bolden strengthen their draft stock

Dylan Stewart reminds scouts of his top-five potential

South Carolina turned it up against Florida in Week 6. In a 38-19 win in The Swamp, the Gamecocks made statements on both sides of the ball, particularly defensively, where Dylan Stewart made his presence felt.

Returning to the team after serving a brief suspension, Stewart was disruptive all game long. He recorded his first sack of the season and forced two fumbles in the game. In all, he finished with five tackles and consistent pressure on Florida QB Aaron Philo. His return had the defense pumped up.

"Having Stew back definitely made an impact," Gamecocks teammate Vicari Swain said following the game. "He's a young kid so he's going to make mistakes. I'm sure what he said was heartfelt to us. It played a big difference in the 'W' today."

In my latest mock draft, I have Stewart landing with the New Orleans Saints as a top-10 pick. Now that he's back on the field, perhaps that draft stock rises to a top-five pick, depending on how the QB class plays out and the NFL Draft order comes together in April.

KJ Bolden delivers when Georgia needs him most

The top safety off the board in our recent 2027 NFL Mock Draft made his presence known in Georgia's 20-17 win over No. 6 Alabama on Saturday night.

KJ Bolden, who I have going to the Detroit Lions with the No. 16 overall pick, racked up seven total tackles on the night with 0.5 sacks.

The key moments in the game came late in the fourth quarter when Bolden made a key play down the field in coverage and then, on the next play, sacked Crimson Tide QB Keelon Russell to knock Alabama out of field goal range.

The back-to-back plays showed the way Bolden can influence a game. He is a major reason why the Bulldogs' defense has been so dominant and why the team is on its way to a No. 1 overall ranking.

With Week 6 in the books, the 2027 NFL Draft picture continues to get more interesting. Arch Manning's struggles have opened the door for other quarterbacks to make their case, while Jeremiah Smith, Dylan Stewart and KJ Bolden continue to strengthen theirs. But with several key matchups still ahead, which prospects will separate themselves from the pack, and which big names could see their draft stock take a hit?

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