NCAA Division I FBS passing leaders

College football statistics

Case Keenum is the career record holder in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.

The NCAA Division I FBS passing leaders are career, single-season, and single-game passing leaders in yards, touchdowns, efficiency, completions, and completion percentage.[1] These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:

* Since 1955, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length (with some major programs playing additional games in a playoff and/or bowls).
* The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), disallowing players to have four-year careers.
* Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[2] This affects many players from before that time period. For example, Ty Detmer would have 16,206 yards and 127 touchdowns if bowl games were included in his career statistics, moving him up one rank on both.
* In recent decades, starting with the Southeastern Conference in 1992, FBS conferences have introduced their own championship games, which have always counted fully toward single-season and career statistics.
* The NCAA ruled that the 2020 season, heavily disrupted by COVID-19, would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player. This gave every player active in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.
* Only seasons in which a team was considered to be a part of the Football Bowl Subdivision are included in these lists. Players such as Taylor Heinicke and Chad Pennington played for teams who reclassified to the FBS during their careers, and only their stats from the FBS years are eligible for inclusion. Similarly, players such as Vernon Adams and Bailey Zappe finished their careers by transferring to an FBS school, but their earlier seasons are not counted.

Legend

| Active FBS Player
| Current Record Holder
| Previous Record Holder

Statistics accurate as of December 2, 2024. Completion percentage to be updated at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

## Passing yards

[edit]

### Career

[edit]

The career leader in passing yards is Houston's Case Keenum. He is the only player to amass three 5,000+ yards seasons. Keenum was granted a fifth year of eligibility after being injured in Houston's third game in 2010, but he would still top the list by over 1,000 yards if 2010 were not included. Keenum passed Hawaii's Timmy Chang, who also received a fifth year of eligibility after being injured in Hawaii's third game in 2001. Chang broke the record previously held by BYU's Ty Detmer, who shattered a record previously held by San Diego State's Todd Santos, who finished his career in 1987 and is no longer in the top 50.

| #  | Player  | Yards  | Seasons

|
|
|

1  | Case Keenum | 19,217  | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston
2  | Dillon Gabriel | 18,140 | 2019 2020 2021 UCF ᛫ 2022 2023 Oklahoma ᛫ 2024 Oregon
3  | Timmy Chang | 17,072  | 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Hawaii
4  | Landry Jones | 16,646  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Oklahoma
5  | Graham Harrell | 15,793  | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Texas Tech
6  | Sam Hartman | 15,656 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Wake Forest ᛫ 2023 Notre Dame
7  | Bo Nix | 15,352 | 2019 2020 2021 Auburn ᛫ 2022 2023 Oregon
8  | Ty Detmer | 15,031  | 1988 1989 1990 1991 BYU
9  | Will Rogers | 14,773 | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mississippi State ᛫ 2024 Washington
10  | Kellen Moore | 14,667  | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State
11  | Baker Mayfield | 14,607 | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma
12  | Luke Falk | 14,486  | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Washington State
13  | Colt Brennan | 14,193  | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii
14  | Rakeem Cato | 14,079  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Marshall
15  | Seth Henigan | 13,972  | 2021 2022 2023 2024 Memphis
16  | Holton Ahlers | 13,927  | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 East Carolina
17  | Michael Penix Jr. | 13,741 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Indiana ᛫ 2022 2023 Washington
18  | Mason Rudolph | 13,618  | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma State
19  | Sean Mannion | 13,600  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Oregon State
20  | Brett Rypien | 13,581  | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Boise State
21  | Philip Rivers | 13,484  | 2000 2001 2002 2003 NC State
22  | Corey Robinson | 13,477  | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Troy
23  | Colt McCoy | 13,253  | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Texas
24  | Aaron Murray | 13,166  | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Georgia
25  | Kevin Kolb | 12,964  | 2003 2004 2005 2006 Houston
| #  | Player  | Yards  | Seasons

|
|
|

26  | Dan LeFevour | 12,905  | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Central Michigan
27  | Cooper Rush | 12,894  | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Central Michigan
28  | Brandon Doughty | 12,855  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky
29  | Derek Carr | 12,843  | 2009 2011 2012 2013 Fresno State
30  | Jayden Daniels | 12,749 | 2019 2020 2021 Arizona State ᛫ 2022 2023 LSU
31  | Tim Rattay | 12,746  | 1997 1998 1999 Louisiana Tech
32  | Ryan Lindley | 12,690  | 2008 2009 2010 2011 San Diego State
33  | Luke McCown | 12,666  | 2000 2001 2002 2003 Louisiana Tech
34  | Chris Redman | 12,541  | 1996 1997 1998 1999 Louisville
35  | Chase Daniel | 12,515  | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Missouri
36  | Mason Fine | 12,505  | 2016 2017 2018 2019 North Texas
37  | Brent Stockstill | 12,495  | 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Middle Tennessee
38  | Trevor Vittatoe | 12,439  | 2007 2008 2009 2010 UTEP
39  | Kliff Kingsbury | 12,429  | 1999 2000 2001 2002 Texas Tech
40  | Matt Barkley | 12,327  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 USC
41  | Kenny Pickett | 12,303  | 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Pittsburgh
42  | Jake Browning | 12,296  | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Washington
43  | Jared Goff | 12,200  | 2013 2014 2015 California
44  | Drew Lock | 12,193  | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Missouri
45  | Chevan Cordeiro | 12,191 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Hawaii ᛫ 2022 2023 San Jose State
46  | Brock Purdy | 12,170  | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Iowa State
47  | Zach Terrell | 12,088  | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Western Michigan
48  | Zac Dysert | 12,013  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Miami (OH)
49  | Clayton Tune | 11,996  | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Houston
50  | Nick Mullens | 11,994  | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Southern Miss

### Single season

[edit]

The single-season leader in passing yards is Bailey Zappe, who transferred to Western Kentucky for his final year of eligibility after starting his career at FCS Houston Baptist (now Houston Christian). He broke a record that had stood for 18 years from Texas Tech's B. J. Symons. Prior to Symons, the record had been held by Detmer, who edged out Houston's David Klingler in 1990.

| #  | Player  | Yards  | Season

|
|
|

1  | Bailey Zappe | 5,967  | 2021 Western Kentucky
2  | B. J. Symons | 5,833  | 2003 Texas Tech
3  | Graham Harrell | 5,705  | 2007 Texas Tech
4  | Case Keenum | 5,671  | 2009 Houston
Joe Burrow | 5,671  | 2019 LSU
6  | Case Keenum | 5,631  | 2011 Houston
7  | Anthony Gordon | 5,579  | 2019 Washington State
8  | Colt Brennan | 5,549  | 2006 Hawaii
9  | Ty Detmer | 5,188  | 1990 BYU
10  | David Klingler | 5,140  | 1990 Houston
| #  | Player  | Yards  | Season

|
|
|

11  | Graham Harrell | 5,111  | 2008 Texas Tech
12  | Derek Carr | 5,082  | 2013 Fresno State
13  | Paul Smith | 5,065  | 2007 Tulsa
14  | Brandon Doughty | 5,055  | 2015 Western Kentucky
15  | Patrick Mahomes | 5,052  | 2016 Texas Tech
16  | Bryant Moniz | 5,040  | 2010 Hawaii
17  | Case Keenum | 5,020  | 2008 Houston
18  | Kliff Kingsbury | 5,017  | 2002 Texas Tech
19  | Matt Johnson | 4,946  | 2015 Bowling Green
20  | Tim Rattay | 4,943  | 1998 Louisiana Tech
| #  | Player  | Yards  | Season

|
|
|

21  | Mason Rudolph | 4,904  | 2017 Oklahoma State
22  | Michael Penix Jr. | 4,903  | 2023 Washington
23  | Bryce Young | 4,872  | 2021 Alabama
24  | Dwayne Haskins | 4,831  | 2018 Ohio State
25  | Brandon Doughty | 4,830  | 2014 Western Kentucky
26  | Gardner Minshew | 4,779  | 2018 Washington State
27  | Austin Reed | 4,744  | 2022 Western Kentucky
28  | Sonny Cumbie | 4,742  | 2004 Texas Tech
29  | Will Rogers | 4,739  | 2021 Mississippi State
30  | Shane Carden | 4,735  | 2014 East Carolina

### Single game

[edit]

The first player to pass for 600 yards in a single game was Illinois' Dave Wilson, whose record stood for eight years. The 700-yard barrier was first breached in 1990 by David Klingler. The current single-game record of 734 is shared by Connor Halliday and Patrick Mahomes.

| #  | Player  | Yards  | Date / Team

|
|
|

1  | Connor Halliday | 734  |  Oct. 4, 2014 Washington State
Patrick Mahomes | 734  | Oct. 22, 2016 Texas Tech
3  | David Klingler | 716  |  Dec. 2, 1990 Houston
4  | Matt Vogler | 690  |  Nov. 3, 1990 TCU
5  | B. J. Symons | 661  |  Sep. 27, 2003 Texas Tech
6  | Geno Smith | 656  |  Sep. 29, 2012 West Virginia
7  | Graham Harrell | 646  |  Sep. 22, 2008 Texas Tech
8  | Cody Hodges | 643  |  Oct. 15, 2005 Texas Tech
9  | Brian Lindgren | 637  |  Oct. 6, 2001 Idaho
10  | Scott Mitchell | 631  |  Oct. 15, 1988 Utah
11  | K. J. Costello | 623  |  Sep. 26, 2020 Mississippi State
12  | Jeremy Leach  | 622  |  Nov. 11, 1989 New Mexico
13  | Dave Wilson | 621  |  Nov. 8, 1980 Illinois
14  | John Walsh | 619  |  Oct. 30, 1993 BYU
15  | Jimmy Klingler | 613  |  Nov. 28, 1992 Houston
| #  | Player  | Yards  | Date / Team

|
|
|

16  | David Neill | 611  |  Oct. 10, 1998 Nevada
17  | Anthony Gordon | 606  |  Nov. 23, 2019 Washington State
18  | Alan Bowman | 605  |  Sep. 15, 2018 Texas Tech
19  | Luke Falk | 601  |  Nov. 22, 2014 Washington State
Daniel Meager  | 601  |  Sep. 7, 2007 North Texas
Dillon Gabriel | 601  |  Oct. 17, 2020 UCF
22  | Ty Detmer | 599  |  Nov. 16, 1991 BYU
23  | Patrick Mahomes | 598  |  Nov. 29, 2014 Texas Tech
Baker Mayfield | 598  |  Nov. 4, 2017 Oklahoma
25  | Drew Anderson | 597  |  Oct. 7, 2017 Buffalo
26  | Brandon Doughty | 593  | Sep. 13, 2014 Western Kentucky
27  | Chris Redman | 592  |  Nov. 14, 1998 Louisville
28  | Nick Mullens | 591  |  Oct. 1, 2016 Southern Miss
29  | Tim Rattay | 590  | Aug. 26, 1998 Louisiana Tech
30  | Blake Frohnapfel  | 589  | Sep. 27, 2014 UMass

## Passing touchdowns

[edit]

### Career

[edit]

Keenum is also the career passing touchdowns leader, with 155 over 5 seasons. He broke the record set a few years before by Texas Tech's Graham Harrell.

| #  | Player  | TDs  | Seasons

|
|
|

1  | Case Keenum | 155  | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston
2  | Dillon Gabriel | 149 | 2019 2020 2021 UCF ᛫ 2022 2023 Oklahoma ᛫ 2024 Oregon
3  | Kellen Moore | 142  | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State
4  | Graham Harrell | 134  | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Texas Tech
Sam Hartman | 134 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Wake Forest ᛫ 2024 Notre Dame
6  | Colt Brennan | 131  | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii
Rakeem Cato | 131  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Marshall
Baker Mayfield | 131 | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma
9  | Landry Jones | 123  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Oklahoma
10  | Ty Detmer | 121  | 1988 1989 1990 1991 BYU
Aaron Murray | 121  | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Georgia
12  | Luke Falk | 119  | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Washington State
13  | Timmy Chang | 117  | 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Hawaii
14  | Matt Barkley | 116  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 USC
15  | Tim Rattay | 115  | 1997 1998 1999 Louisiana Tech
16  | Danny Wuerffel | 114  | 1993 1994 1995 1996 Florida
17  | Derek Carr | 113  | 2009 2011 2012 2013 Fresno State
Bo Nix | 113 | 2019 2020 2021 Auburn ᛫ 2022 2023 Oregon
19  | Colt McCoy | 112  | 2006 2007 2008 2009Texas
20  | Brandon Doughty | 111  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky
21  | Russell Wilson | 109 | 2008 2009 2010 NC State ᛫ 2011 Wisconsin
22  | Will Rogers | 108 | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mississippi State ᛫ 2024 Washington
23  | Tajh Boyd | 107  | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Clemson
24  | Brent Stockstill | 106  | 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Middle Tennessee
25  | Marcus Mariota | 105  | 2012 2013 2014 Oregon
| #  | Player  | TDs  | Seasons

|
|
|

26  | J. T. Barrett | 104  | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Ohio State
Clayton Tune | 104  | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Houston
28  | Dan LeFevour | 102  | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Central Michigan
Seth Henigan | 102  | 2021 2022 2023 2024 Memphis
30  | Chase Daniel | 101  | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Missouri
31  | Chad Pennington | 100 | 1997 1998 1999 Marshall
32  | Matt Leinart | 99  | 2003 2004 2005 USC
Chase Clement | 99  | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Rice
Tim Hiller | 99  | 2005 2007 2008 2009 Western Michigan
Drew Lock | 99  | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Missouri
36  | Geno Smith | 98  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 West Virginia
37  | Trevor Vittatoe | 97  | 2007 2008 2009 2010 UTEP
Holton Ahlers | 97  | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 East Carolina
39  | Jared Goff | 96  | 2013 2014 2015 California
Zach Terrell | 96  | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Western Michigan
Michael Penix Jr. | 96 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Indiana ᛫ 2022 2023 Washington
42  | Kliff Kingsbury | 95  | 1999 2000 2001 2002 Texas Tech
Brady Quinn | 95  | 2003 2004 2005 2006 Notre Dame
Philip Rivers | 95  | 2000 2001 2002 2003 NC State
Justin Herbert | 95  | 2016 2017 2018 2019 Oregon
46  | Max Hall | 94  | 2007 2008 2009 BYU
Jake Browning | 94  | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Washington
Sam Ehlinger | 94  | 2017 2018 2019 2020 Texas
49  | Logan Woodside | 93  | 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Toledo
Patrick Mahomes | 93  | 2014 2015 2016 Texas Tech
Mason Fine | 93  | 2016 2017 2018 2019 North Texas
Caleb Williams | 93 | 2021 Oklahoma ᛫ 2022 2023 USC

### Single season

[edit]

Zappe also holds the single-season passing touchdowns record, with 62, after breaking the record set by Joe Burrow 2 seasons before.

| #  | Player  | TDs  | Season

|
|
|

1  | Bailey Zappe | 62  | 2021 Western Kentucky
2  | Joe Burrow | 60  | 2019 LSU
3  | Colt Brennan | 58  | 2006 Hawaii
4  | David Klingler | 54  | 1990 Houston
5  | B. J. Symons | 52  | 2003 Texas Tech
6  | Sam Bradford | 50  | 2008 Oklahoma
Derek Carr | 50  | 2013 Fresno State
Dwayne Haskins | 50  | 2018 Ohio State
9  | Brandon Doughty | 49  | 2014 Western Kentucky
10  | Graham Harrell | 48  | 2007 Texas Tech
Case Keenum | 48  | 2011 Houston
Brandon Doughty | 48  | 2015 Western Kentucky
Anthony Gordon | 48  | 2019 Washington State
| #  | Player  | TDs  | Season

|
|
|

14  | Jim McMahon | 47  | 1980 BYU
Paul Smith | 47  | 2007 Tulsa
Bryce Young | 47  | 2021 Alabama
17  | Andre Ware | 46  | 1989 Houston
Tim Rattay | 46  | 1998 Louisiana Tech
David Johnson | 46  | 2008 Tulsa
Matt Johnson | 46  | 2015 Bowling Green
| #  | Player  | TDs  | Season

|
|
|

21  | Kliff Kingsbury | 45  | 2002 Texas Tech
Graham Harrell | 45  | 2008 Texas Tech
Logan Woodside | 45  | 2016 Toledo
Bo Nix | 45  | 2023 Oregon
25  | Chase Clement | 44  | 2008 Rice
Case Keenum | 44  | 2008 Houston
Case Keenum | 44  | 2009 Houston
Drew Lock | 44  | 2017 Missouri
C. J. Stroud | 44  | 2021 Ohio State

### Single game

[edit]

The single-game record holder is Houston's David Klingler, who threw for 11 touchdowns in a 1990 game against Eastern Washington. Five quarterbacks (including Klingler himself) have had a 9-touchdown game, and 7 quarterbacks have had an 8-touchdown game. Many quarterbacks have passed for 7 touchdowns in a game, too many to list here.

#  | Player  | TDs  | Date / Team

|
|
|

1  | David Klingler | 11  | Nov. 17, 1990 Houston
2  | Dennis Shaw | 9  | Nov. 15, 1969 San Diego State
David Klingler | 9  | Aug. 31, 1991 Houston
Case Keenum | 9  | Oct. 27, 2011 Houston
Anthony Gordon | 9  | Sep. 21, 2019 Washington State
Tanner Mordecai | 9  | Nov. 5, 2022 SMU
7  | Jason Martin | 8  | Oct. 19, 1996 Louisiana Tech
Pat Barnes | 8  | Nov. 2, 1996 California
Nick Rolovich | 8  | Dec. 8, 2001 Hawaii
B. J. Symons | 8  | Oct. 4, 2003 Texas Tech
Giovanni Vizza  | 8  | Nov. 10, 2007 North Texas
Geno Smith | 8  | Sep. 29, 2012 West Virginia
Brandon Doughty | 8  | Nov. 28, 2014 Western Kentucky

## Passing efficiency

[edit]

Passing efficiency is a measure of quarterback performance based on the following formula:

Passing Efficiency = ( 100 × completions ) + ( 8.4 × yards ) + ( 330 × touchdowns ) − ( 200 × interceptions ) attempts {\displaystyle {\text{Passing Efficiency}}={(100\times {\text{completions}})+(8.4\times {\text{yards}})+(330\times {\text{touchdowns}})-(200\times {\text{interceptions}}) \over {\text{attempts}}}}

Only passing statistics are included in the formula. Any yards or touchdowns gained rushing or by any other method are not a factor in the formula, and neither are fumbles. Players tend to rank highly on the list when they have a high completion percentage, high yards per completion, and many touchdowns to few interceptions.

### Career

[edit]

The career leader (with a minimum of 325 completions) in effiency is Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa. The career list is dominated by recent players, with no player debuting before the 21st century appearing in the top 25 of the list. To appear on this list, a player must have at least 325 career completions.

| #  | Player  | Eff  | Seasons

|
|
|

1  | Tua Tagovailoa | 199.4  | 2017 2018 2019 Alabama
2  | Mac Jones | 197.6  | 2018 2019 2020 Alabama
3  | C. J. Stroud | 182.4  | 2020 2021 2022 Ohio State
4  | Kyler Murray | 181.3  | 2015 Texas A&M ᛫ 2017 2018 Oklahoma
5  | Justin Fields | 178.8  | 2018 Georgia ᛫ 2019 2020 Ohio State
6  | Sam Bradford | 175.6  | 2007 2008 2009 Oklahoma
7  | Baker Mayfield | 175.4  | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma
8  | Grayson McCall | 174.7  | 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Coastal Carolina ᛫ 2024 NC State
9  | Dwayne Haskins | 174.0  | 2017 2018 Ohio State
10  | Joe Burrow | 172.4  | 2016 2017 Ohio State ᛫ 2018 2019 LSU
11  | Hendon Hooker | 172.2  | 2018 2019 2020 Virginia Tech ᛫ 2021 2022 Tennessee
12  | Marcus Mariota | 171.8  | 2012 2013 2014 Oregon
13  | Tim Tebow | 170.8  | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Florida
14  | Caleb Williams | 169.3  | 2021 Oklahoma ᛫ 2022 2023 USC
15  | Kellen Moore | 169.0  | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State
16  | Bailey Zappe | 168.9  | 2021 Western Kentucky
17  | Ryan Dinwiddie | 168.9  | 2000 2001 2002 2003 Boise State
18  | Kyle Trask | 168.5  | 2018 2019 2020 Florida
19  | Colt Brennan | 167.6  | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii
20  | Bryce Petty | 166.0  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Baylor
21  | Will Grier | 165.1  | 2015 Florida ᛫ 2017 2018 West Virginia
22  | Bryce Young | 165.0  | 2020 2021 2022 Alabama
23  | Alex Smith | 164.4  | 2002 2003 2004 Utah
24  | Trevor Lawrence | 164.3  | 2018 2019 2020 Clemson
25  | Sam Howell | 164.2  | 2019 2020 2021 North Carolina
| #  | Player  | Eff  | Seasons

|
|
|

26  | Johnny Manziel | 164.1  | 2012 2013 Texas A&M
27  | Danny Wuerffel | 163.6  | 1993 1994 1995 1996 Florida
28  | Jameis Winston | 163.3  | 2013 2014 Florida State
29  | Zach Wilson | 162.9  | 2018 2019 2020 BYU
Logan Woodside | 162.9  | 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Toledo
31  | Andrew Luck | 162.8  | 2009 2010 2011 Stanford
32  | Ty Detmer | 162.7  | 1988 1989 1990 1991 BYU
Jalen Hurts | 162.7  | 2016 2017 2018 Alabama  ᛫ 2019 Oklahoma
34  | A. J. McCarron | 162.5  | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Alabama
35  | Omar Jacobs | 162.5  | 2003 2004 2005 Bowling Green
36  | Steve Sarkisian | 162.0  | 1995 1996 BYU
37  | David Fales | 161.7  | 2012 2013 San Jose State
38  | Brandon Doughty | 161.0  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky
39  | Stetson Bennett | 160.9  | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Georgia
40  | Dillon Gabriel | 160.8  | 2019 2020 2021 UCF ᛫ 2022 2023 Oklahoma ᛫ 2024 Oregon
41  | Case Keenum | 160.6  | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston
42  | J. J. McCarthy | 160.5  | 2021 2022 2023 Michigan
Shedeur Sanders | 160.5  | 2023 2024 Colorado
44  | Matt Johnson | 160.4  | 2012 2013 2014 2015 Bowling Green
45  | Stefan LeFors | 159.8  | 2001 2002 2003 2004 Louisville
46  | Mason Rudolph | 159.7  | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma State
Kaleb Eleby | 159.7  | 2018 2020 2021 Western Michigan
48  | Matt Leinart | 159.5  | 2003 2004 2005 USC
Jalen Milroe | 159.5  | 2021 2022 2023 2024 Alabama
50  | Seth Russell | 159.4  | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Baylor

### Single season

[edit]

To qualify for the single-season lists, a quarterback must have at least 15 passing attempts per the number of games his team played that season. The record is currently held by LSU's Jayden Daniels, who broke the record in 2023. The record has been broken many times recently, including in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

| #  | Player  | Eff  | Team

|
|
|

1  | Jayden Daniels | 208.0  | 2023 LSU
2  | Grayson McCall | 207.6  | 2021 Coastal Carolina
3  | Mac Jones | 203.1  | 2020 Alabama
4  | Joe Burrow | 202.0  | 2019 LSU
5  | Tua Tagovailoa | 199.4  | 2018 Alabama
6  | Kyler Murray | 199.2  | 2018 Oklahoma
7  | Baker Mayfield | 198.9  | 2017 Oklahoma
8  | Zach Wilson | 196.4  | 2020 BYU
9  | Baker Mayfield | 196.4  | 2016 Oklahoma
10  | Kaleb Eleby | 195.1  | 2020 Western Michigan
| #  | Player  | Eff  | Team

|
|
|

11  | Dustin Crum | 192.7  | 2020 Kent State
12  | Russell Wilson | 191.8  | 2011 Wisconsin
13  | Jalen Hurts | 191.2  | 2019 Oklahoma
14  | Robert Griffin III | 189.5  | 2011 Baylor
15  | Bo Nix | 188.3  | 2023 Oregon
16  | C. J. Stroud | 186.6  | 2021 Ohio State
17  | Colt Brennan | 186.0  | 2006 Hawaii
18  | Jameis Winston | 184.8  | 2013 Florida State
19  | Grayson McCall | 184.3  | 2020 Coastal Carolina
20  | Logan Woodside | 183.3  | 2016 Toledo
| #  | Player  | Eff  | Team

|
|
|

21  | Shaun King | 183.3  | 1998 Tulane
22  | Kellen Moore | 182.6  | 2010 Boise State
23  | Cam Newton | 182.0  | 2010 Auburn
24  | Marcus Mariota | 181.7  | 2014 Oregon
25  | Stefan LeFors | 181.7  | 2004 Louisville
26  | Justin Fields | 181.4  | 2019 Ohio State
27  | Hendon Hooker | 181.4  | 2021 Tennessee
28  | Mike White | 181.4  | 2016 Western Kentucky
29  | Sam Bradford | 180.8  | 2008 Oklahoma
30  | Kyle Trask | 180.0  | 2020 Florida

### Single game

[edit]

The NCAA does not recognize a single-game leaderboard in passing efficiency, and detailed box scores do not exist for every year going back to the beginning of college football, but the single-game record holder is Cincinnati's Gunner Kiel, who achieved an efficiency rating of 388.6, going 15-for-15 for 319 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 2015 game against UCF.[3]

## Completions

[edit]

### Career

[edit]

Keenum is also the career leader in completions, breaking a record previously held by Harrell.

| #  | Player  | Comp  | Seasons

|
|
|

1  | Case Keenum | 1,546  | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston
2  | Will Rogers | 1,521 | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mississippi State ᛫ 2024 Washington
3  | Luke Falk | 1,404  | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Washington State
4  | Graham Harrell | 1,403  | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Texas Tech
5  | Timmy Chang | 1,388  | 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Hawaii
Landry Jones | 1,388  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Oklahoma
7  | Dillon Gabriel | 1,325 | 2019 2020 2021 UCF ᛫ 2022 2023 Oklahoma ᛫ 2024 Oregon
8  | Bo Nix | 1,286 | 2019 2020 2021 Auburn ᛫ 2022 2023 Oregon
9  | Kliff Kingsbury | 1,231  | 1999 2000 2001 2002 Texas Tech
10  | Sean Mannion | 1,187  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Oregon State
11  | Corey Robinson | 1,179  | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Troy
12  | Dan LeFevour | 1,171  | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Central Michigan
13  | Colt McCoy | 1,157  | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Texas
Kellen Moore | 1,157  | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State
15  | Rakeem Cato | 1,153  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Marshall
16  | Sam Hartman | 1,135 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Wake Forest ᛫ 2024 Notre Dame
17  | Seth Henigan | 1,129  | 2021 2022 2023 2024 Memphis
18  | Holton Ahlers | 1,127  | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 East Carolina
19  | Connor Bazelak | 1,119 | 2019 2020 2021 Missouri ᛫ 2022 Indiana ᛫ 2023 2024 Bowling Green
20  | Colt Brennan | 1,115  | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii
21  | Chase Daniel | 1,094  | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Missouri
22  | Philip Rivers | 1,087  | 2000 2001 2002 2003 NC State
Derek Carr | 1,087  | 2009 2011 2012 2013 Fresno State
24  | Chase Holbrook | 1,086  | 2006 2007 2008 New Mexico State
25  | Michael Penix Jr. | 1,067 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Indiana ᛫ 2022 2023 Washington
| #  | Player  | Comp  | Seasons

|
|
|

26  | Zac Dysert | 1,066  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Miami (OH)
27  | Luke McCown | 1,063  | 2000 2001 2002 2003 Louisiana Tech
28  | Brent Stockstill | 1,055  | 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Middle Tennessee
29  | Shane Carden | 1,052  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 East Carolina
30  | Kenny Pickett | 1,045  | 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Pittsburgh
31  | Mason Fine | 1,039  | 2016 2017 2018 2019 North Texas
32  | Brett Rypien | 1,036  | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Boise State
33  | Keith Wenning | 1,035  | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Ball State
34  | Frank Harris | 1,034  | 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 UTSA
35  | Chris Redman | 1,031  | 1996 1997 1998 1999 Louisville
36  | Baker Mayfield | 1,026 | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma
37  | Brandon Doughty | 1,023  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky
38  | Cooper Rush | 1,022  | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Central Michigan
39  | Tim Rattay | 1,015  | 1997 1998 1999 Louisiana Tech
40  | Connor Halliday | 1,014  | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Washington State
41  | Tim Hiller | 1,013  | 2005 2007 2008 2009 Western Michigan
42  | Matt Barkley | 1,001  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 USC
43  | Jarret Doege | 996 | 2017 2018 Bowling Green ᛫ 2019 2020 2021 West Virginia ᛫ 2022 Troy
44  | Alan Bowman | 994 | 2018 2019 2020 Texas Tech ᛫ 2021 2022 Michigan  ᛫ 2023 2024 Oklahoma State
45  | Brock Purdy | 993  | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Iowa State
46  | Clayton Thorson | 991  | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Northwestern
47  | Kedon Slovis | 989 | 2019 2020 2021 USC ᛫ 2022 Pittsburgh ᛫ 2023 BYU
48  | Geno Smith | 988  | 2009 2010 2011 2012 West Virginia
49  | Curtis Painter | 987  | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Purdue
50  | Jared Goff | 977  | 2013 2014 2015 California

### Single season

[edit]

Harrell holds the single season record. Of the top 17 players on the list, 13 played under head coach Mike Leach.

| #  | Player  | Comp  | Team

|
|
|

1  | Graham Harrell | 512  | 2007 Texas Tech
2  | Will Rogers | 505  | 2021 Mississippi State
3  | Anthony Gordon | 493  | 2019 Washington State
4  | Case Keenum | 492  | 2009 Houston
5  | Kliff Kingsbury | 479  | 2002 Texas Tech
6  | Bailey Zappe | 475  | 2021 Western Kentucky
7  | B. J. Symons | 470  | 2003 Texas Tech
8  | Gardner Minshew | 468  | 2018 Washington State
9  | Derek Carr | 453  | 2013 Fresno State
10  | Connor Halliday | 449  | 2013 Washington State
| #  | Player  | Comp  | Team

|
|
|

11  | Luke Falk | 447  | 2015 Washington State
12  | Luke Falk | 443  | 2016 Washington State
13  | Graham Harrell | 442  | 2008 Texas Tech
14  | Case Keenum | 428  | 2011 Houston
15  | Sonny Cumbie | 421  | 2004 Texas Tech
16  | Will Rogers | 415  | 2022 Mississippi State
17  | Graham Harrell | 412  | 2006 Texas Tech
18  | Brandon Weeden | 409  | 2011 Oklahoma State
19  | Colt Brennan | 406  | 2006 Hawaii
Rakeem Cato | 406  | 2012 Marshall
| #  | Player  | Comp  | Team

|
|
|

21  | Landry Jones | 405  | 2010 Oklahoma
22  | Joe Burrow | 402  | 2019 LSU
23  | Tim Couch | 400  | 1998 Kentucky
Sean Mannion | 400  | 2013 Oregon State
25  | Seth Doege | 398  | 2011 Texas Tech
26  | Case Keenum | 397  | 2008 Houston
27  | Chase Holbrook | 396  | 2006 New Mexico State
28  | Dominique Davis | 393  | 2011 East Carolina
29  | Shane Carden | 392  | 2014 East Carolina
30  | Austin Reed | 389  | 2022 Western Kentucky

### Single game

[edit]

The single-game record is tied between Eastern Michigan's Andy Schmidt and Washington State's Connor Halliday.

| #  | Player  | Comp  | Date / Team

|
|
|

1  | Andy Schmitt  | 58  | Nov. 28, 2008 Eastern Michigan
Connor Halliday | 58  | Oct. 19, 2013 Washington State
3  | Case Keenum | 56  | Dec. 5, 2009 Houston
Connor Halliday | 56  | Oct. 25, 2014 Washington State
5  | Rusty LaRue | 55  | Oct. 28, 1995 Wake Forest
Drew Brees | 55  |  Oct. 10, 1998 Purdue
Luke Falk | 55  | Sep. 10, 2016 Washington State
8  | David Piland  | 53  | Sep. 8, 2012 Houston
9  | Derek Carr | 52  |  Aug. 29, 2013 Fresno State
Deshaun Watson | 52  |  Nov. 12, 2016 Clemson
Patrick Mahomes | 52  | Oct. 22, 2016 Texas Tech
Gardner Minshew | 52  |  Nov. 12, 2017 East Carolina
13  | Case Keenum | 51  |  Oct. 3, 2009 Houston
14  | Rusty LaRue | 50  |  Nov. 18, 1995 Wake Forest
Andy Schmitt  | 50  |  Nov. 22, 2008 Eastern Michigan
Luke Falk | 50  | Oct. 10, 2015 Washington State
Anthony Gordon | 50  | Nov. 23, 2019 Washington State
Will Rogers | 50  | Sep. 18, 2021 Mississippi State
| #  | Player  | Comp  | Date / Team

|
|
|

19  | Brian Lindgren | 49  | Oct. 6, 2001 Idaho
Kliff Kingsbury | 49  | Oct. 5, 2002 Texas Tech
Kliff Kingsbury | 49  | Oct. 19, 2002 Texas Tech
Bruce Gradkowski | 49  | Sep. 20, 2003 Toledo
Chase Holbrook | 49  |  Oct. 15, 2006 New Mexico State
Connor Halliday | 49  |  Oct. 4, 2014 Washington State
Dwayne Haskins | 49  |  Oct. 20, 2018 Ohio State
Carson Strong | 49  |  Oct. 23, 2021 Nevada
27  | Chase Holbrook | 48  |  Sep. 30, 2006 New Mexico State
Graham Harrell | 48  |  Sep. 8, 2007 Texas Tech
Anthony Gordon | 48  |  Nov. 29, 2019 Washington State

## Completion percentage

[edit]

### Career

[edit]

Alabama's Mac Jones holds the NCAA record for completion percentage, with 413 completions on 556 attempts. This is over 1.5 percentage points higher than the second place on the list, Northwestern's Dan Persa. The highest completion percentage among quarterbacks with over 1,000 career attempts is the 70.39% of Hawaii's Colt Brennan.

A quarterback must have at least 500 career attempts to appear in this leaderboard.

| #  | Player  | Pct  | C  | A  | Seasons

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Mac Jones | 74.28% | 413 | 556 | 2018 2019 2020 Alabama
2  | Dan Persa | 72.67% | 460 | 633 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Northwestern
3  | Anthony Gordon | 71.47% | 496 | 694 | 2018 2019 Washington State
4  | Colt Brennan | 70.39% | 1,115 | 1,584 | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii
5  | Colt McCoy | 70.33% | 1,157 | 1,645 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Texas
6  | Grant Hedrick | 70.16% | 475 | 677 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Boise State
7  | Dwayne Haskins | 70.00% | 413 | 590 | 2017 2018 Ohio State
8  | Graham Harrell | 69.80% | 1,403 | 2,010 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Texas Tech
9  | Grayson McCall | 69.62% | 763 | 1,096 | 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Coastal Carolina ᛫ 2024 NC State
10  | Kellen Moore | 69.78% | 1,157 | 1,658 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State
11  | Will Rogers | 69.55% | 1,521 | 2,187 | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mississippi State ᛫ 2024 Washington
12  | Brandon Weeden | 69.54% | 767 | 1,103 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Oklahoma State
13  | Chase Holbrook | 69.41% | 1,087 | 1,566 | 2006 2007 2008 New Mexico State
14  | Case Keenum | 69.36% | 1,546 | 2,229 | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston
15  | Joe Southwick  | 69.35% | 439 | 633 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Boise State
| #  | Player  | Pct  | C  | A  | Seasons

|
|
|
|
|

16  | Tua Tagovailoa | 69.30% | 474 | 684 | 2017 2018 2019 Alabama
17  | C. J. Stroud | 69.28% | 575 | 830 | 2020 2021 2022 Ohio State
18  | Bailey Zappe | 69.24% | 475 | 686 | 2021 Western Kentucky
19  | Jacob Zeno | 69.02% | 352 | 510 | 2019 2020 2021 Baylor ᛫ 2022 2023 UAB
20  | Seth Doege | 69.00% | 819 | 1,187 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Texas Tech
21  | Jack Abraham | 68.97% | 598 | 867 | 2018 2019 2020 Southern Miss ᛫ 2022 Missouri
22  | Johnny Manziel | 68.95% | 595 | 863 | 2012 2013 Texas A&M
23  | Joe Burrow | 68.78% | 650 | 945 | 2016 2017 Ohio State ᛫ 2018 2019 LSU
24  | Henry Colombi | 68.69% | 351 | 511 | 2018 2019 Utah State ᛫ 2020 2021 Texas Tech ᛫ 2022 Marshall
25  | Brandon Doughty | 68.61% | 1,023 | 1,491 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky
26  | Spencer Rattler | 68.55% | 900 | 1,313 | 2019 2020 2021 Oklahoma ᛫ 2022 2023 South Carolina
27  | Baker Mayfield | 68.54% | 1,026 | 1,497 | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma
28  | Justin Fields | 68.45% | 423 | 618 | 2018 Georgia ᛫ 2019 2020 Ohio State
29  | Teddy Bridgewater | 68.39% | 781 | 1,142 | 2011 2012 2013 Louisville
30  | Luke Falk | 68.32% | 1,404 | 2,055 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Washington State

### Single season

[edit]

Jones also held the single-season record, until it was broken in 2023 by Oregon's Bo Nix. At the end of the 20th century, the single season record was held by Daunte Culpepper, and while he is still 7th on the list, he is the only 20th century player on either list.

| #  | Player  | Pct  | C  | A  | Team

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Bo Nix | 77.45% | 364 | 470 | 2023 Oregon
2  | Mac Jones | 77.36% | 311 | 402 | 2020 Alabama
3  | Colt McCoy | 76.67% | 332 | 433 | 2008 Texas
4  | Joe Burrow | 76.28% | 402 | 527 | 2019 LSU
5  | Kellen Moore | 74.26% | 326 | 439 | 2011 Boise State
6  | Will Rogers | 73.94% | 505 | 683 | 2021 Mississippi State
7  | Daunte Culpepper | 73.63% | 296 | 402 | 1998 UCF
8  | Jacob Zeno | 73.61% | 279 | 379 | 2023 UAB
9  | Stefan LeFors | 73.54% | 189 | 257 | 2004 Louisville
10  | Zach Wilson | 73.51% | 247 | 336 | 2020 BYU
| #  | Player  | Pct  | C  | A  | Team

|
|
|
|
|

11  | Dan Persa | 73.51% | 222 | 302 | 2010 Northwestern
12  | Dustin Crum | 73.45% | 83 | 113 | 2020 Kent State
13  | Dan Persa | 73.40% | 218 | 297 | 2011 Northwestern
14  | J. J. McCarthy | 73.25% | 230 | 314 | 2023 Michigan
15  | Jack Abraham | 73.11% | 223 | 305 | 2018 Southern Miss
16  | Tyler Huntley | 73.09% | 220 | 301 | 2019 Utah
17  | Grayson McCall | 73.03% | 176 | 241 | 2021 Coastal Carolina
18  | Scott Tolzien | 72.93% | 194 | 266 | 2010 Wisconsin
19  | Chase Daniel | 72.92% | 385 | 528 | 2008 Missouri
20  | Graham Mertz | 72.91% | 261 | 358 | 2023 Florida
| #  | Player  | Pct  | C  | A  | Team

|
|
|
|
|

21  | Russell Wilson | 72.82% | 225 | 309 | 2011 Wisconsin
22  | Colt Brennan | 72.63% | 406 | 559 | 2006 Hawaii
23  | Joe Southwick  | 72.60% | 151 | 208 | 2013 Boise State
24  | Wes Counts  | 72.59% | 188 | 259 | 2021 Middle Tennessee
25  | David Fales | 72.51% | 327 | 451 | 2012 San Jose State
26  | Carson Beck | 72.42% | 302 | 417 | 2023 Georgia
27  | Riley Skinner | 72.39% | 236 | 326 | 2007 Wake Forest
28  | Robert Griffin III | 72.39% | 291 | 402 | 2011 Baylor
29  | Noah Fifita | 72.37% | 241 | 333 | 2023 Arizona
30  | Brandon Weeden | 72.34% | 408 | 564 | 2011 Oklahoma State

### Single game

[edit]

The NCAA doesn't recognize a full list for single games, but top performances include:

* Minimum 15 attempts – 100% three times: (18 of 18) – Zach Wilson of 2018 BYU, (17 of 17) – Garrett Shrader of 2022 Syracuse, (15 of 15) – Gunner Kiel of 2015 Cincinnati
* Minimum 20 attempts – 96.00% two times: (24 of 25) – Greyson Lambert of 2015 Georgia, (24 of 25) – Hudson Card of 2024 Purdue
* Minimum 30 attempts – 93.94% (31 of 33) – Kyle Allen of 2017 Houston
* Minimum 40 attempts – 90.91% (40 of 44) – Seth Doege of 2017 Texas Tech
* Minimum 50 attempts – 88.24% (45 of 51) – Geno Smith of 2012 West Virginia
* Minimum 60 attempts – 80.33% (49 of 61) – Carson Strong of 2021 Nevada

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Football Bowl Sudivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
2. ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
3. ^ "Cincinnati pummels Central Florida, Barrett, 52-7". ESPN.com. October 31, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2022.

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I FBS statistical leaders

Career|

* Passing
* Rushing
* Receiving
* Total offense
* Field goals
* Scoring

Annual|

* Passing
* Receiving
* Return
* Rushing
* Scoring
* Total offense

*[18,140]: 8,037 at UCF, 6,828 at Oklahoma, 3,275 at Oregon
*[15,656]: 12,967 at Wake Forest, 2,689 at Notre Dame
*[15,352]: 7,251 at Auburn, 8,101 at Oregon
*[14,773]: 12,315 at Mississippi State, 2,458 at Washington
*[14,607]: 2,315 at Texas Tech, 12,292 at Oklahoma
*[13,741]: 4,197 at Indiana, 9,544 at Washington
*[12,749]: 6,024 at Arizona State, 6,725 at LSU
*[12,191]: 6,167 at Hawaii, 6,024 at San Jose State
*[149]: 70 at UCF, 55 at Oklahoma, 24 at Oregon
*[134]: 110 at Wake Forest, 24 at Notre Dame
*[131]: 12 at Texas Tech, 119 at Oklahoma
*[113]: 39 at Auburn, 74 at Oregon
*[109]: 76 at NC State, 33 at Wisconsin
*[108]: 94 at Mississippi State, 14 at Washington
*[100]: Pennington had another 15 touchdowns in 1995, when Marshall was a I-AA team, making his career total 115.
*[96]: 29 at Indiana, 67 at Washington
*[93]: 21 at Oklahoma, 72 at USC
*[1,521]: 1,301 at Mississippi State, 220 at Washington
*[1,325]: 554 at UCF, 496 at Oklahoma, 275 at Oregon
*[1,286]: 628 at Auburn, 658 at Oregon
*[1,135]: 994 at Wake Forest, 191 at Notre Dame
*[1,119]: 479 at Missouri, 235 at Indiana, 405 at Bowling Green
*[1,067]: 342 at Indiana, 725 at Washington
*[1,026]: 218 at Texas Tech, 808 at Oklahoma
*[996]: 362 at Bowling Green, 590 at West Virginia, 44 at Troy
*[994]: 478 at Texas Tech, 8 at Michigan, 508 at Oklahoma State
*[989]: 652 at USC, 184 at Pittsburgh, 153 at BYU
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template