Due to societal developments, physiological advancements, and the evolution of the sport itself, today’s college football is nothing like what it was a century ago. And that sentence will hold true a century from now. You know what else will hold true? These 10 unbreakable college football records.
10 College Football Records That Are Seemingly Unbreakable
If we go past 1960, there are a great many records to choose from, including the fewest rushing yards allowed per game (Penn State, 1947: 17), the fewest total yards gained by a winning team (NC State, 1944: 10), the highest margin of victory (Georgia Tech, 1916: 222), or the most wins in a single week (Sewanee, 1899: 5).
However, we are going with more recent — and therefore more realistic — records for this list.
Individual Sacks in a Season (27)
Officially, the NCAA didn’t start collecting sacks as an FBS statistic until 2000, but unofficially, this record is likely the most impressive on the list. Arizona State’s Terrell Suggs holds the official record, producing 24 sacks in 2002, which is also impressive.
Yet, Derrick Thomas was a man amongst boys while at Alabama, and he proved it in the 1988 season. He hunted QBs like a predator, single-handedly terrorizing offenses to the tune of 27 sacks.
Most Scrimmage Yards Per Game in a Season (273.4)
Barry Sanders’ 1988 Heisman-winning campaign is the stuff of legend. He generated 2,734 yards from scrimmage in just 10 games, rushing for 300+ four times. UCF’s Kevin Smith (2,809 in 2007) and Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (2,740 in 2014) surpassed Sanders’ output, but they played 14-game schedules.
One of the most elusive players in football lore will likely never see his efficiency from that year matched.
Combined Offensive Yards in a Single Game (1,708)
Prime Baker Mayfield. An up-and-coming Patrick Mahomes. What more needs to be said? Oklahoma and Texas Tech locked swords in one of the greatest firework displays in the history of mankind. Both offenses put up 854 yards, combining for a record 1,708, but the Sooners ultimately won 66-59.
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Mahomes went a ridiculous 52 of 88 for 734 yards and five touchdowns, setting an NCAA record in total yards at 819. Mayfield’s ground game provided more of a spark, but he still threw for 545 yards and seven scores himself. That contest was a once-in-a-lifetime offensive showcase that we were lucky enough to witness.
Career Receiving Yards (5,278)
Is Corey Davis the best college football receiver of all time? No. Yet, he was the most productive — so productive, in fact, that his record for most career receiving yards will likely never be touched.
After racking up 941 yards as a freshman in 2013, Davis went on to haul in 1,408, 1,429, and 1,500 yards in his final three seasons. He and former Nevada star Trevor Insley are the only players to finish their career with over 5,000 receiving yards.
Most Individual Interceptions Thrown in a Single Game (9)
John Reaves is fortunate he played in an era before social media because if a quarterback threw nine interceptions in a single game now, they’d never be able to escape the existential dread.
However, after tossing nine picks in a 38-12 loss to Auburn in 1969, he was able to bounce back and set an SEC record for most career passing TDs (56) and an NCAA record for most career passing yards (7,581).
Individual Seasons With 1,500+ Rushing Yards (3)
Six players have reached this record: Pittsburgh’s Tony Dorsett (1973, 1975, 1976), Georgia’s Herschel Walker (1980-82), Miami of Ohio’s Travis Prentice (1997-99), Northern Ilinois’ Garrett Wolfe (2004-06), Oregon’s LaMichael James (2009-11), and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor (2017-19).
But to surpass this record, a player would need to take the nation by storm as a true freshman (or redshirt freshman) and maintain that level of productivity until their final season of eligibility. Not only is the feat extremely difficult, but if a player puts up 1,500+ rushing yards in three straight seasons, he’s usually off to the NFL to make generational wealth.
Most Consecutive Passes Completed in a Season (36)
In 2020, much was made of then-Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz completing his first 17 passes in the Badgers’ season opener against Illinois. But that outing was less than half of East Carolina’s Dominique Davis’ record run of 36 consecutive completions.
He set the record across back-to-back games against Memphis and Navy in 2011, connecting on his first 26 attempts against the Midshipmen.
Most Consecutive Passes Completed for Touchdowns (6)
UTEP has been on the receiving end of a couple of FBS records:
- Former Houston QB Case Keenum holds the record for the most career passing yards against one opponent (1,882 yards against UTEP)
- Former TCU RB LaDainian Tomlinson owns the record for career rushing yards against one opponent (788 yards against UTEP)
But the Miners were home to one of the best collegiate performances of all time — and one that we will presumably never see again. UTEP QB Brooks Dawson started 6 for 6 against New Mexico, with all his completions going for TDs.
Forget Randy Moss’ three-catch, three-TD game — Dawson has the statline many will attempt to replicate when EA Sports College Football 25 officially launches on July 19, 2024.
Most Career Passing Yards (19,217)
Even in today’s pass-happy era, former Wake Forest and Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman was the closest to touching Case Keenum’s record, and he was over 3,500 yards short. What Keenum did at Houston with head coach Kevin Sumlin from 2007-2011 was downright diabolical.
His FBS record of 155 passing TDs (13 more than the next closest player) will stand the test of time as well.
Most Punt Yards in a Single Season (4,479)
We saved the best — and most recent — for last. In 2023, Tory Taylor won the Ray Guy Award, given to the country’s top punter. There really was no other choice, as he broke the NCAA’s 85-year-old single-season punt yardage record, recording 4,479 yards on 93 attempts.
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But that wasn’t the only NCAA record Taylor broke, as his 48.2 yards per attempt in 2023, career average of 46.3, and average of 40+ yards in 43 career games etched his name in college football history.
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