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According to ESPN. They ranked 90 total. Here's the top 10:
10. Robert Griffin III, Baylor
Years: 2008-11
Stats: 10,366 passing yards, 67% completion rate, 78 TD, 17 INT, 2,254 rushing yards, 33 rushing TD
Baylor hadn't enjoyed a single winning season in 13 years before Griffin came to town. His senior season, the Bears won 10 games with Griffin throwing and rushing for 4,992 yards and 47 combined TDs and winning the Heisman. He was Baylor's Andrew Luck.
9. Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Years: 2012-14
Stats: 10,796 passing yards, 67% completion rate, 105 TD, 14 INT, 2,237 rushing yards, 29 TD
By 2014, Oregon's defense had fallen off pretty significantly, allowing 27+ points in seven games. And it didn't matter in the slightest because the Ducks had Mariota. It's hard to call someone underappreciated when he won the Heisman and went second in the NFL draft the next year ... but even in an age of gaudy stats, his 2014 totals -- 5,224 combined passing and rushing yards and 57 combined TDs -- stand out.
8. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Years: 2015-17
Stats: 9,043 passing yards, 57% completion rate, 69 TD, 27 INT, 4,132 rushing yards, 50 rushing TD
At the start of the century, Clemson's Woody Dantzler pulled off the first 2,000/1,000 season. Less than two decades later, Jackson was posting back-to-back 3,500/1,500s. He was a solid passer and the most terrifying runner at the QB position since Michael Vick. And that hurdle. Oh, that hurdle.
7. Kyler Murray, Texas A&M/Oklahoma
Years: 2015-18
Stats: 5,406 passing yards, 67% completion rate, 50 TD, 14 INT, 1,478 rushing yards, 13 rushing TD
Murray was a first-round draft pick in baseball but decided to play college football one last season in 2018. We were all better off for it. As Baker Mayfield's OU successor, he threw for 4,361, rushed for 1,478 more and posted 54 combined TDs. IN ONE YEAR. And then he became a first-rounder in another draft.
6. Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Years: 2014-16
.Stats: 10,168 passing yards, 67% completion rate, 90 TD, 32 INT, 1,934 rushing yards, 26 TD
Remember when "Clemsoning" meant "failing spectacularly on the big stage?" No? That's because Watson came to town and flipped Dabo Swinney's program from good to elite. He averaged 4,351 passing yards and 867 rushing yards in 2015-16, first leading the Tigers to the CFP title game, then winning it the next year. "Clemsoning" now simply means "winning big."
5. Joe Burrow, Ohio State/LSU
Years: 2016-19
Stats: 8,852 passing yards, 69% completion rate, 78 TD, 11 INT, 13 rushing TD
After a decent first season as LSU's starter, Burrow simply unleashed the best passing season we've ever seen in college football. He threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns, produced almost as many rushing touchdowns (five) as interceptions (six) and led the Tigers -- who had gone eight years without a top-five finish -- to a 15-0 record and national title. His 2019 was good enough to stand up next to Cam Newton's 2010. There is no greater compliment than that.
4. Tim Tebow, Florida
Years: 2006-09
Stats: 9,285 passing yards, 66% completion rate, 88 TD, 16 INT, 2,947 rushing yards, 57 rushing TD
In 2006, Tebow served as short-yardage back and scary red zone passing option as Florida won the national title.
In 2007, he posted 4,181 combined rushing and passing yards and won the Heisman.
In 2008, he gave an immortal speech and led the Gators to a 13-1 record and second title.
In 2009, he led the Gators to another 13-1 record, posted 3,805 rushing and passing yards and finished in the Heisman top five for a third straight year.
It's almost impossible to put together a career more complete than that.
3. Vince Young, Texas
Years: 2003-05
Stats: 6,040 passing yards, 62% completion rate, 44 TD, 28 INT, 3,127 rushing yards, 37 rushing TD
Maybe the single most amazing thing about Young's career: Halfway through, it was a disappointment. He was a terrifying runner from the get-go, but his passing wasn't coming along, and he was briefly benched midway through 2004.
Then he flipped the switch. UT averaged 38 points per game and rolled to a Rose Bowl win to finish 2004, then fielded one of the best teams of our lifetime in 2005, going 13-0 while Young threw for 3,036 yards and rushed for 1,050. The last eight of those rushing yards gave the Horns a last-second win over Matt Leinart and USC in the greatest national title game ever played.
2. Cam Newton, Auburn
Years: 2007-10 (really, though, just 2010)
Stats: 2,908 passing yards, 65% completion rate, 30 TD, 7 INT, 1,586 rushing yards, 24 rushing TD
Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest single-season supernova the sport has seen. After two years of backing up Tebow at Florida, Newton won a juco national title at Blinn College, then landed at Auburn and almost single-handedly carried the Tigers to their first AP national title since 1957. His supporting cast was good but not nearly the caliber of Young's, Tebow's, etc., but that was fine -- he was simultaneously the best running back and quarterback in the sport.
Then he was gone, off to an NFL career that has included an MVP award, more than 31,000 passing yards and a Super Bowl appearance.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Years: 2013-17
Stats: 14,607 passing yards, 69% completion rate, 131 TD, 30 INT, 1,083 rushing yards, 21 rushing TD
Newton, Young and Burrow had the best seasons. Mayfield had the best career.
It began with him walking on at Texas Tech, quickly winning the starting job and throwing for 413 yards in his debut. He lost his job to injury, then traded up, landing at OU. The Sooners hadn't won an outright conference title since 2010, but he led them to three in a row, with three top-five finishes and two CFP bids. His storybook career ended with him throwing and rushing for 4,938 yards and 48 TDs, winning the Heisman and bringing OU to within an eyelash of the national title game. He was so good that, despite non-prototypical size, the Cleveland Browns couldn't resist making him the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.
10. Robert Griffin III, Baylor
Years: 2008-11
Stats: 10,366 passing yards, 67% completion rate, 78 TD, 17 INT, 2,254 rushing yards, 33 rushing TD
Baylor hadn't enjoyed a single winning season in 13 years before Griffin came to town. His senior season, the Bears won 10 games with Griffin throwing and rushing for 4,992 yards and 47 combined TDs and winning the Heisman. He was Baylor's Andrew Luck.
9. Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Years: 2012-14
Stats: 10,796 passing yards, 67% completion rate, 105 TD, 14 INT, 2,237 rushing yards, 29 TD
By 2014, Oregon's defense had fallen off pretty significantly, allowing 27+ points in seven games. And it didn't matter in the slightest because the Ducks had Mariota. It's hard to call someone underappreciated when he won the Heisman and went second in the NFL draft the next year ... but even in an age of gaudy stats, his 2014 totals -- 5,224 combined passing and rushing yards and 57 combined TDs -- stand out.
8. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Years: 2015-17
Stats: 9,043 passing yards, 57% completion rate, 69 TD, 27 INT, 4,132 rushing yards, 50 rushing TD
At the start of the century, Clemson's Woody Dantzler pulled off the first 2,000/1,000 season. Less than two decades later, Jackson was posting back-to-back 3,500/1,500s. He was a solid passer and the most terrifying runner at the QB position since Michael Vick. And that hurdle. Oh, that hurdle.
7. Kyler Murray, Texas A&M/Oklahoma
Years: 2015-18
Stats: 5,406 passing yards, 67% completion rate, 50 TD, 14 INT, 1,478 rushing yards, 13 rushing TD
Murray was a first-round draft pick in baseball but decided to play college football one last season in 2018. We were all better off for it. As Baker Mayfield's OU successor, he threw for 4,361, rushed for 1,478 more and posted 54 combined TDs. IN ONE YEAR. And then he became a first-rounder in another draft.
6. Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Years: 2014-16
.Stats: 10,168 passing yards, 67% completion rate, 90 TD, 32 INT, 1,934 rushing yards, 26 TD
Remember when "Clemsoning" meant "failing spectacularly on the big stage?" No? That's because Watson came to town and flipped Dabo Swinney's program from good to elite. He averaged 4,351 passing yards and 867 rushing yards in 2015-16, first leading the Tigers to the CFP title game, then winning it the next year. "Clemsoning" now simply means "winning big."
5. Joe Burrow, Ohio State/LSU
Years: 2016-19
Stats: 8,852 passing yards, 69% completion rate, 78 TD, 11 INT, 13 rushing TD
After a decent first season as LSU's starter, Burrow simply unleashed the best passing season we've ever seen in college football. He threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns, produced almost as many rushing touchdowns (five) as interceptions (six) and led the Tigers -- who had gone eight years without a top-five finish -- to a 15-0 record and national title. His 2019 was good enough to stand up next to Cam Newton's 2010. There is no greater compliment than that.
4. Tim Tebow, Florida
Years: 2006-09
Stats: 9,285 passing yards, 66% completion rate, 88 TD, 16 INT, 2,947 rushing yards, 57 rushing TD
In 2006, Tebow served as short-yardage back and scary red zone passing option as Florida won the national title.
In 2007, he posted 4,181 combined rushing and passing yards and won the Heisman.
In 2008, he gave an immortal speech and led the Gators to a 13-1 record and second title.
In 2009, he led the Gators to another 13-1 record, posted 3,805 rushing and passing yards and finished in the Heisman top five for a third straight year.
It's almost impossible to put together a career more complete than that.
3. Vince Young, Texas
Years: 2003-05
Stats: 6,040 passing yards, 62% completion rate, 44 TD, 28 INT, 3,127 rushing yards, 37 rushing TD
Maybe the single most amazing thing about Young's career: Halfway through, it was a disappointment. He was a terrifying runner from the get-go, but his passing wasn't coming along, and he was briefly benched midway through 2004.
Then he flipped the switch. UT averaged 38 points per game and rolled to a Rose Bowl win to finish 2004, then fielded one of the best teams of our lifetime in 2005, going 13-0 while Young threw for 3,036 yards and rushed for 1,050. The last eight of those rushing yards gave the Horns a last-second win over Matt Leinart and USC in the greatest national title game ever played.
2. Cam Newton, Auburn
Years: 2007-10 (really, though, just 2010)
Stats: 2,908 passing yards, 65% completion rate, 30 TD, 7 INT, 1,586 rushing yards, 24 rushing TD
Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest single-season supernova the sport has seen. After two years of backing up Tebow at Florida, Newton won a juco national title at Blinn College, then landed at Auburn and almost single-handedly carried the Tigers to their first AP national title since 1957. His supporting cast was good but not nearly the caliber of Young's, Tebow's, etc., but that was fine -- he was simultaneously the best running back and quarterback in the sport.
Then he was gone, off to an NFL career that has included an MVP award, more than 31,000 passing yards and a Super Bowl appearance.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Years: 2013-17
Stats: 14,607 passing yards, 69% completion rate, 131 TD, 30 INT, 1,083 rushing yards, 21 rushing TD
Newton, Young and Burrow had the best seasons. Mayfield had the best career.
It began with him walking on at Texas Tech, quickly winning the starting job and throwing for 413 yards in his debut. He lost his job to injury, then traded up, landing at OU. The Sooners hadn't won an outright conference title since 2010, but he led them to three in a row, with three top-five finishes and two CFP bids. His storybook career ended with him throwing and rushing for 4,938 yards and 48 TDs, winning the Heisman and bringing OU to within an eyelash of the national title game. He was so good that, despite non-prototypical size, the Cleveland Browns couldn't resist making him the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.
