Best College QB: Last 50 Years

[Boise4Life]

AJ McCarron?

One of the most overrated QBs in the history of college football. Of course, that is just my opinion.

The rest of your list is way too current. We are talking about 50 years. FIFTY. You have AJ McCarron over Jim Plunkett. That is just sad. Matt Lienart belongs nowhere on this list.

Even though he managed the game well and was a winner, AJ McCarron's name belongs no where near this list. Leinhart on the other hand should definitely be considered. He did play for some loaded USC teams, but that guy was an unbelievable college QB.

 

[Codaxx]

^^^THIS^^^
I thought it was pretty simple when the OP listed Championships as a criteria.

I hate that criteria. It is just lazy. Any criteria that has Dilfer over Marino is clearly not well thought out. Any one who watched the NC game between FSU and VT knows who was the better QB. Championships are won by teams, not individuals.

 

[Boise4Life]

Well, since the object of football is to win the games, let's start with the QB who won the most games.

Kellen Moore at 50-3 is at the top. No other non power 5 team in the BCS era came close to matching Boise State's success, largely in credit to Moore. Name another lower end program that was in the top ten every year he played.

His stats are gaudy: three time Heisman top ten, nearly 15,000 yards passing, 70% career completion %, 169.0 career QB rating, 148 TDs with only 28 interceptions, heck, he even punted 5 times, placing everyone inside the 20 for a 37 yd. per kick average. He was like having an offensive coordinator on the field, his ability to read college defenses and place the ball perfectly was unmatched. He was the unquestioned leader of the team, but he always gave credit to others.

Sure, there were many who played for "bigger" programs and had a more awesome physical presence. But if you want a player who exemplified the college game, you can't do better.

Despite the weaker schedule in general, he did play and beat some big time teams on big stages. He lost 3 games out of 53 total by a combined 5 points, mostly cuz Boise's kickers choked. In fact in two of those three losses they had chip shot "game winning" field goal attempts with no time left and missed them.

The kid was so smart. So tough. So talented. Such a winner. Just a tremendous college QB. I miss him.

 

[outofyourmind]

I hate that criteria. It is just lazy. Any criteria that has Dilfer over Marino is clearly not well thought out. Any one who watched the NC game between FSU and VT knows who was the better QB. Championships are won by teams, not individuals.

Well, it is his criteria and his thread.
I just followed the guidelines.
And while I agree with what you say, there are lots of great QB's on great teams that don't win championships.
If it were easy, everyone would do it.
And I would say that winning back-to-back National Championships, the QB was extra special to make that happen.

 

[Goldbug]

Even though he was before my time, James Street is one of the greatest QB's the last 50 yrs. went 20-0 as a starter, led Texas to the '69 NC and ran the wishbone to perfection. Was also a two time All American playing baseball for the Horns as well.

I have said several times that James Street was the best quarterback Texas ever had and all I get (even from most of the Horns fans) is static about how VY had to be better. Street was twice the athlete Young was. That guy was absolute magic throwing a football or a baseball. His kids were great baseball players too. He died a little over a year ago. RIP, James.

 

[trojanfan12]

Even though he managed the game well and was a winner, AJ McCarron's name belongs no where near this list. Leinhart on the other hand should definitely be considered. He did play for some loaded USC teams, but that guy was an unbelievable college QB.

Pretty sure that any college qb that has 2 NC's to his credit played on some pretty loaded teams. In fact, any college qb with one NC played on a pretty loaded team.

 

[axisoftime]

AJ McCarron?

One of the most overrated QBs in the history of college football. Of course, that is just my opinion.

The rest of your list is way too current. We are talking about 50 years. FIFTY. You have AJ McCarron over Jim Plunkett. That is just sad. Matt Lienart belongs nowhere on this list.

AJ McCarron was a great college QB. You are just hating. As for the others, sorry I don't know much about football prior to the 80's. I just try thinking of QBs I know and who I'd select first in a pick up game.

 

[axisoftime]

Championships, an overrated stat when comparing individual players. Unless you are Vince Young who almost won that title by himself in the final minutes.

 

[HuskerOC]

AJ McCarron was a great college QB. You are just hating. As for the others, sorry I don't know much about football prior to the 80's. I just try thinking of QBs I know and who I'd select first in a pick up game.

Obviously your opinion is a waste of time.

 

[TROJAN-MAN]

Pretty sure that any college qb that has 2 NC's to his credit played on some pretty loaded teams. In fact, any college qb with one NC played on a pretty loaded team.

Not to mention Matt had the top 5 all time passing efficiency rating amongst all CF QB ever at 160.5.. I guess we know who the real and or casual CF fans are... LOL

 

[TROJAN-MAN]

Championships, an overrated stat when comparing individual players. Unless you are Vince Young who almost won that title by himself in the final minutes.

It also helps when you can make a TD throw with your knees on the ground and not called for it

 

[axisoftime]

Obviously your opinion is a waste of time.

Because it disagrees with yours? Make an argument as to why he is not a good QB.

 

[axisoftime]

It also helps when you can make a TD throw with your knees on the ground and not called for it

That did happen but doesn't take away from his greatness in the 4th quarter.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

You're joking about the Matt Leinart part right?

Exactly! Did people forget how good he was at SC, because he was a bust in the league?

It's not like he was some damn game manager on those SC teams

 

[TROJAN-MAN]

That did happen but doesn't take away from his greatness in the 4th quarter.

He wouldn't have shown that greatness had USC been called for a BS face mask call when Texas was on they're own 45 with a 3rd & 12 which gave them a 1st down

 

[axisoftime]

He wouldn't have shown that greatness had USC been called for a BS face mask call when Texas was on they're own 45 with a 3rd & 12 which gave them a 1st down

Well I'm going to quit before someone brings up the bad calls in the '03 NC game.

 

[HuskerOC]

Exactly! Did people forget how good he was at SC, because he was a bust in the league?

It's not like he was some damn game manager on those SC teams

Ummm. yeah. He was exactly that.

 

[TROJAN-MAN]

Ummm. yeah. He was exactly that.

Well according to the title of the thread, you need to stay on task and keep up

 

[TROJAN-MAN]

I don't recall any mention of the NFL, or are your comments based on the beatings USC has given your program over the years????............ come on tell the truth

 

[Bandwagonbo2]

Gotta love the comments about how easy it is to win back to back titles and any QB can do it. Seems to me if it was that easy, why didnt Colt or Sam Bradford. Hell, it seems to me that neither won one did they? yet they were supposedly great QB's. Even Tebow didnt win back to back titles.

As for the comment that anyone coulda won titles on the Bama teams that McCarron won titles with, thats bullshit because it took a very accurate QB that didnt make bad decisions to work with the receiver core he had on those teams. If it was so easy to win titles at Bama, why did they fail to win one in his final year and again this year when he was gone. McCarron deserves to be on the list, he earned it in the trenches and being a leader on the field and locker room.