CJ Bailey, NC State QB: the 2026 season story
CJ Bailey is a junior quarterback for NC State (ACC). He ranks 64th of 365 quarterbacks in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every quarterback on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. CJ Bailey's strongest measure is pass yards per game at 221, 48th of 181 (the average is 179). His weakest is completion % at 63%, 87th of 181 (the average is 62%).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His pass yards per game, 221, ranks 48th among 181 ranked quarterbacks.
Against every quarterback
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of quarterback he is. Among ranked quarterbacks he sits, on average, in the 65th percentile for volume, 62nd for efficiency and 63rd for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 9 games, CJ Bailey's best came in week 2 against Richmond and his quietest in week 1 at Virginia.
When it matters
Why it matters. Plenty of players produce in easy situations; the ones who keep it up on third down and against good teams are the ones coaches trust.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. CJ Bailey is 58th of 181 FBS quarterbacks and 9th of 19 in the ACC. Next up nationally is Baylor Hayes of Tulsa, 0.02 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. His best season by the Player Index was 2025 at NC State, 42nd of 389 quarterbacks.
Quarterbacks like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Rocco Becht of Penn State.
