30 Best College Quarterbacks of All-Time
October 23, 2024
Not every college football phenom pans out in the NFL. In fact, some of the best college QBs of all time never found their footing in pro ball. But that doesn鈥檛 mean that we can鈥檛 assess the legacies of college football players in their own right, separate and distinct from what they may or may not have gone on to do in the NFL. I鈥檇 even go so far as to say that a pretty solid consensus has formed around the best college QBs of all time. So who are the best college quarterbacks of all time? Check out the list below.
Best College Quarterbacks of All Time
30) Robert Griffin III, Baylor (2008-2011)
RG3鈥檚 tenure as quarterback of the Baylor Bears started out well鈥攈is freshman year, he earned Big 12 Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year honors鈥攂ut he missed most of his sophomore season due to an . His junior year was a successful campaign as he led the Bears to a 7-6 record, and in 2011, he was downright dominant. Amidst low expectations, Griffin willed the Bears into the AP Top 25 for the first time in fifteen years. Overall, he finished his 2011 season with 4,293 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions鈥攁n effort that earned him the Heisman Trophy. He entered the NFL draft the next year and was selected as the second overall pick by the now-Washington Commanders.
29) Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (2012-2013)
The years of 2012 and 2013 will likely go down鈥攁t least amongst Aggies fans鈥攁s the Johnny Football era. During Manziel鈥檚 two-year tenure at Texas A&M, he totaled 7820 passing yards at a completion rate of 68.9%, 63 passing touchdowns, and 30 rushing touchdowns. His performance over his first year as an Aggie earned him the Heisman Trophy, and he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the 22nd overall pick in 2014. His NFL career never gained much steam, but he鈥檚 in the Texas A&M Hall of Fame and is undoubtedly one of the best college QBs of all time.
Best College QBs of All-Time (Continued)
28) Graham Harrell, Texas Tech (2004-2008)
27) Andrew Ware, Houston (1987-1989)
26) Charlie Ward, Florida State (1990-1994)
Florida State Seminoles quarterback Charlie Ward won the Heisman Trophy in 1993. The same year, he led FSU to its first-ever national championship as the Seminoles beat Nebraska 18-16 in the Orange Bowl. He was then drafted as the 26th overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft鈥攁nd no, that鈥檚 not a typo. After cementing his legacy as one of the best college QBs of all time, Ward went on to play eleven years of professional basketball, most of which were with the New York Knicks.
Best College Quarterbacks of All Time (Continued)
25) Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (2018-2020)
From the time he was in high school, Trevor Lawrence was considered one of the top quarterback prospects of all time; he started living up to the hype as soon as he started suiting up for Clemson. Lawrence became Clemson鈥檚 starting quarterback four games into his freshman year, and that season, he proceeded to lead the Tigers to a national championship. Along the way he totaled 3,280 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. He never won a Heisman Trophy, though he came close in 2020 when he finished second in voting to Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Nonetheless, Lawrence鈥檚 overall numbers make him one of the best college QBs of all time.
24) Colt McCoy, Texas (2005-2009)
Best College QBs of All-Time (Continued)
23) Doug Flutie, Boston College (1981-1984)
Doug Flutie鈥檚 game-winning pass against the Miami Hurricanes in 1984 shot him to national prominence and birthed a phenomenon which came to be known as the 鈥淔lutie Effect鈥濃攁pplications to Boston College increased dramatically in the wake of his hallowed Hail Mary. Flutie went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 1984.
22) Jim Plunkett, Stanford (1968-1970)
21) Michael Vick, Virginia Tech (1998-200)
Best College QBs of All-Time (Continued)
20) Steve Spurrier, Florida (1964-1966)
19) Johnny Lujack, Notre Dame (1943, 1946-1947)
Notre Dame has one of the best legacies in the history of college football, and Johnny Lujack was the team鈥檚 quarterback in their glory days. Lujack led the Fighting Irish to three national championships in 1943, and 1946, and 1947 (his college career was interrupted by WWII; he served as an officer in the Navy). Lujack won the Heisman Trophy in 1947 and is widely regarded as one of the best college QBs of all time.
Best College Quarterbacks of All Time (Continued)
18) Lamar Jackson, Louisville (2015-2017)
Lamar Jackson鈥檚 2016 with Louisville was nothing short of extraordinary. He led the Cardinals to a 9-4 season and finished the year with 3543 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 1571 rushing yards, and 21 rushing touchdowns. That year, at 19 years old, he won the Heisman Trophy over finalists Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield, in so doing becoming the youngest-ever recipient of the award.
17) Andrew Luck, Stanford (2008-2011)
16) Cam Newton, Auburn (2010)
Cam Newton is easily one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in college football history. After a somewhat pockmarked start to his college career at the University of Florida, Newton transferred to Auburn in 2010. Auburn had been starved for a national title, and that season, Newton led the Tigers to their first college football championship since 1957. He hoisted the Heisman Trophy that year, too, and became the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
15) Marcus Mariota, Oregon (2011-2014)
14) Ty Detmer, BYU (1987-1991)
Best College QBs of All-Time (Continued)
13) Roger Staubach, Navy (1961-1964)
12) Steve McNair, Alcorn State (1991-1994)
Best College Quarterbacks of All Time (Continued)
11) Jameis Winston, Florida State (2012-2014)
Jameis Winston accomplished pretty much all there is to accomplish as a college quarterback. In 2013, his first year as the starting QB for Florida State, he led the Seminoles to an undefeated regular season record. He was named the 2013 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, he won the AP College Football Player of the Year Award, the Manning Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and to top it all off, he was the recipient of . At the time, he was the youngest ever to win the Heisman. Winston put the finishing touches on his perfect season when he led the Seminoles to their third national title, defeating Auburn 34-31 in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game.
10) Danny Wuerffel, Florida (1993-1996)
Best College Quarterbacks of All Time (Continued)
9) Joe Burrow, LSU (2018-2019)
Joe Burrow is the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. He鈥檚 also one of the best college QBs of all time. After starting his college career at Ohio State, he transferred to LSU in 2018. That year, the Tigers, with a 10-3 record, finished 6th in the AP Top 25 poll. By no stretch of the imagination is that a lackluster start to his tenure with the Tigers. But it pales in comparison to what he did the following year. The highlights? Burrow finished the year with 5671 yards, 60 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and a 76.3% completion rate. The Tigers went undefeated in both the regular and postseason, winning the national championship game against Clemson. Burrow won the Heisman, and his 2019 campaign is on the shortlist for the best season ever by a college quarterback.
8) Deshaun Watson, Clemson (2014-2016)
7) Matt Leinart, USC (2001-2005)
Best College Quarterbacks of All Time (Continued)
6) Case Keenum, Houston (2006-2011)
5) Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (2014-2017)
Baker Mayfield is unique on this list鈥攈e鈥檚 the only Heisman Trophy winner to have started his college career as a walk-on. And after walking on at Texas Tech, he put together a series of years at Oklahoma that make him one of the best college QBs of all time. His 2017 season, which earned him his Heisman, was particularly sparkling. He finished that year with 43 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and a 70.5% completion rate. Although 2017 ended for Mayfield and the Sooners with a loss to Georgia in the Rose Bowl, the next year he was drafted as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Browns. He鈥檚 currently the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Best College QBs of All-Time (Continued)
4) Peyton Manning, Tennessee (1994-1997)
One of the greatest professional quarterbacks of all time is also one of the best college QBs of all time. Although he never won a Heisman or a national title at the college level, Peyton Manning鈥檚 stats as quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers are elite. He鈥檚 Tennessee鈥檚 all-time leading passer, having totaled 11,201 yards and 89 touchdowns. As a Vol, Manning also won 39 of the 45 games he started.
3) Vince Young, Texas (2002-2005)
Vince Young was one of the most dominant college quarterbacks of his era. In his three years at the University of Texas, Young threw for over 9000 yards and 81 touchdowns. In 2005, he led the Longhorns to an undefeated regular season and a national title, beating a USC team in the Rose Bowl that featured quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush.
Best College QBs of All-Time (Continued)
2) Tommie Frazier, Nebraska (1992-1995)
Tommie Frazier , but his college career stands as one of the best of all time. Frazier led the Cornhuskers to back-to-back national titles in 1994 and 1995. He earned MVP honors in three consecutive national championship games, the only player ever to do so. And the 1995 championship Cornhuskers team that he led is considered by many to be the best college football team ever assembled.
Best College Quarterbacks of All Time (Continued)
1) Tim Tebow, Florida (2006-2009)
The best college QB of all time is Tim Tebow, who was the starting quarterback for the Florida Gators for three absolutely dominant years. Tebow took college football by storm as a dual-threat quarterback: over the course of his three years as a starter, he totaled 83 passing touchdowns and 49 rushing touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 behind a massive 55 total touchdowns鈥32 passing and 23 rushing. The next season, he led the Gators to their third-ever national title, defeating top ranked Oklahoma in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.
Best College QBs of All Time – Additional Resources
