The 10 Best College Quarterbacks Ever
In the history of college football, there have been many good quarterbacks, but a few others who reached legendary status. The all-time best college quarterbacks are looked at as gods at their alma maters whose names live on forever.
Here are the 10 best college quarterbacks ever to step on the collegiate gridiron. Check out their stats and stories below to see why they’re revered as legends.
10. Roger Staubach- Navy Midshipmen(1962-1964)
At the top of the 10 best college quarterbacks ever list, we have the Navy legend Roger Staubach. As a sophomore, Staubach got his shot to become Navy’s starting QB during the season and became a legend.
Throughout Navy’s history, they have generally been a low seated Division I team. That all changed in 1963, when Roger Staubach led the Midshipmen to the national title.
During that magical year, Staubach won the Heisman Trophy and led the nation in numerous offensive categories. By the end of his senior year, Roger had over 6,000 yards of total offense and scored 53 touchdowns.
He then went on to become a Dallas Cowboy legend and further cemented his name as a football legend.
9. Joe Burrow- LSU Tigers(2018-2019)
From 2018-2019, LSU great Joe Burrow was undeniably one of the best college players in the game. After waiting to play for four years at Ohio State, Burrow transferred to LSU and proved he was a good player.
Joe did just that as he led the Tigers to a 10-3 record and a victory over UCF in the Fiesta Bowl. In his second year as LSU’s starting QB, Burrow evolved into one of the 10 best college quarterbacks ever.
En route to winning the Heisman Trophy and the national championship, Joe Burrow broke the FBS record with 60 TD passes. Burrow then got drafted by Cincinnati and helped make the lowly Bengals a contender.
8. Johnny Manziel- Texas A&M Aggies(2012-2013)
During the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Johnny Manziel was the most watched college QB in the nation. Any time Manziel took the field it was a show that tens of millions of fans tuned in to watch.
He etched his name as one of the best college quarterbacks ever and gave Texas A&M their best years. In 2012, Johnny Football won both the Heisman Trophy and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year Award.
In Johnny’s two years as Texas A&M’s quarterback, he scored over 90 touchdowns and nearly 10,000 yards of offense.
7. Cam Newton- Auburn Tigers(2010-2011)
After years of problems at other schools, Cam Newton showed the world how good he was in 2010. Newton got a shot to be the starter at Auburn and became one of the 10 best college quarterbacks ever.
In that magical season, Newton was the top star in college football and future pro. En route to winning the national title, Newton scored 50 TDs(30 Passing, 20 Rushing) and over 3,000 offensive yards.
6. Baker Mayfield- Oklahoma Sooners(2015-2017)
In 2015, Baker Mayfield walked into Oklahoma University and helped once again make the Sooners a powerhouse. During Mayfield’s time as OU’s starter, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Mayfield led the Sooners to a Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl appearance during his time as the Sooner’ starting QB. In his final college year, Baker finally won the Heisman Trophy in the same year he became Oklahoma’s all-time leading passer
Baker ended his collegiate career with 14,607 passing yards and 152 total TDs(131 Passing, 21 Rushing).
5. Matt Leinart- USC Trojans(2003-2005)
During the early 2000s Matt Leinart was the captain of one of the greatest college teams ever assembled. As the leader of the USC Trojans, Leinart became one of the best college quarterbacks ever.
In Leinart’s sophomore years, he led the Trojans to a national title in his first attempt. Then in his junior year, Matt topped the previous year as USC went undefeated and won the Heisman Trophy.
The USC legend nearly made history in 2005 by nearly winning his 3rd straight national title. Matt broke numerous USC and national records as he passed for almost 11,000 yards and 99 TD passes.
4. Peyton Manning- Tennessee Volunteers(1994-1997)
We know Peyton Manning is unanimously one of the best NFL QBs ever. Manning is also one of the 10 best college quarterbacks ever.
During his time as the starter of the Tennessee Volunteers, Peyton was a gunslinger. In Manning’s collegiate career, he broke numerous records, while putting up over 11,000 passing yards and 89 touchdowns.
Then as we all know, Peyton got drafted and became one of the most beloved NFL players ever.
3. Vince Young- Texas Longhorns(2003-2005)
The Texas legend Vince Young marked his name as one of the 10 best college quarterbacks ever, while playing at Texas. Young was a force to be reckoned with as he led Mack Brown’s Longhorns to an incredible run.
Vince could do it all from passing for over 300 yards per game and rush for 150 yards. The UT QB marked his name as a legend in the national championship against the undefeated USC Trojans.
Vince ran in for a touchdown to win the championship in a game, which many consider the greatest ever.
2. Tommy Frazier- Nebraska Cornhuskers(1992-1995)
Nebraska icon Tommy Frazier isn’t just one of the best college quarterbacks ever. Frazier was one of the original dual-threat QBs, who could tear apart opposing defenses with his arm or his feet.
As the starter for Nebraska, Tommy led the Cornhuskers to one of their greatest runs in school history. Under Frazier’s lead as the starting Nebraska QB, they won two straight national titles and he won MVP honors for both games.
This incredible run etched Frazier’s name as one of the greatest college football players ever.
1. Tim Tebow- Florida Gators(2006-2009)
Some may not like our choice for the top spot on the 10 best college quarterbacks ever. However, if you say Tim Tebow led the Florida Gators during his time in college, he was undeniably the best.
Tebow wasn’t technically the best quarterback, but he was a born leader who just knew how to win. As the captain of the Florida Gators, Tim Tebow led them to two national titles.
He also won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and put over 12,000 yards and 145 TDs in his collegiate career. Tebow personified greatness at Florida.
