What makes a college football season truly great for a quarterback? It’s not just about stats or team wins. It’s about dominance, consistency, highlight plays, and carrying a program when everything is on the line. Some QBs posted video game numbers. Others delivered perfect seasons under pressure. A few managed to do both. Here’s a look at the five best individual quarterback seasons in college football history, along with a couple more that were too good to leave off the list.
1. Joe Burrow (2019, LSU)
Joe Burrow’s 2019 season was about as perfect as it gets. He threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns while completing over 76 percent of his passes. He did it all in the SEC, the toughest conference in college football, and made it look easy. LSU went undefeated and blew out teams like Georgia, Oklahoma, and Clemson in the postseason.
Burrow was always calm, made every throw, and never looked rattled. He turned LSU’s offense into a machine and helped transform Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase into future NFL stars. He won the Heisman by the largest margin ever, then dominated in the College Football Playoff. Every week felt like a clinic, and the numbers looked fake at times. No matter the opponent, Burrow just kept dealing.
Burrow’s 2019 season remains the gold standard when people talk about the greatest years in college football history.
2. Cam Newton (2010, Auburn)
Cam Newton’s 2010 season was pure dominance. He passed for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns while rushing for 1,473 yards and 20 more scores. He carried Auburn to a 14-0 season and a national championship.
This wasn’t a stacked roster. Cam didn’t have elite weapons or a top-tier defense to lean on. He just kept making big plays and winning games. His comebacks against Alabama and LSU were legendary, and he always seemed to find ways to win. He won the Heisman and became the face of college football. His mix of power, speed, and leadership was unmatched.
Newton put the entire team on his back and never lost. That kind of season is rare.
3. Marcus Mariota (2014, Oregon)
Marcus Mariota was the definition of efficient in 2014. He threw for 4,454 yards, 42 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions. He also ran for 770 yards and 15 touchdowns. Mariota was smooth, smart, and in complete control of Oregon’s offense.
He won the Heisman and led the Ducks to a Pac-12 title and a trip to the national championship game. His decision-making was elite, and he rarely made mistakes. He hit deep balls, extended drives with his legs, and made the Ducks look unstoppable for most of the year. Even when things broke down, he found ways to create.
Oregon came up short in the title game, but Mariota’s stats and command of the offense made it one of the best seasons ever by a college quarterback.
4. Lamar Jackson (2016, Louisville)
Lamar Jackson’s 2016 season felt like something out of a video game. He passed for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns, and added 1,571 yards and 21 more on the ground. Every Saturday, he was doing things nobody else could.
He opened the year on fire and had Louisville in the playoff picture by October. His five-touchdown demolition of Florida State was a defining moment. By season’s end, he had 51 total touchdowns and the Heisman Trophy. Jackson’s speed and agility were unmatched, but his awareness and calm under pressure made him more than just a runner. Even in losses, he gave his team a shot.
Jackson’s 2016 season helped redefine what a college quarterback could be.
5. Tim Tebow (2007, Florida)
Tim Tebow’s 2007 season made him a legend. He threw for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 895 yards and 23 more scores. He became the first player ever to pass and run for at least 20 touchdowns in a season.
Tebow won the Heisman as a sophomore and carried Florida’s offense with toughness and poise. He was the Gators’ red zone weapon, power runner, and vocal leader. Even though they didn’t win a title that year, Tebow’s production was off the charts.
Tebow’s play in 2007 helped define what it meant to be a dual-threat quarterback and laid the groundwork for his future success.
Honorable Mentions
Johnny Manziel (2012, Texas A&M)
Johnny Manziel’s 2012 season was one of the most electric we’ve ever seen. As a redshirt freshman, he totaled 5,116 yards and 47 touchdowns. He made magic from broken plays and forced defenses to stay honest every second.
His signature game came when Texas A&M went into Tuscaloosa and stunned defending champ Alabama. Manziel threw for 253 yards, ran for 92, and had everyone asking how he kept pulling it off. He became the first freshman to win the Heisman and put A&M back on the national map.
Every time Manziel touched the ball, something wild was about to happen.
Jameis Winston (2013, Florida State)
Jameis Winston looked like a veteran from day one. He threw for 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns, added 4 more on the ground, and led Florida State to a 14-0 record and a BCS National Championship.
He was composed in every situation and showed poise under pressure. His game-winning drive against Auburn in the title game capped off a near-flawless year. Surrounded by talent, Winston still stood out as the one who made it all go. He became just the second freshman to win the Heisman and helped put FSU back on top.
Winston’s 2013 season remains one of the cleanest quarterback campaigns in college football history.
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