The debate over which college program can claim to be the best producer of NFL quarterback talent has raged for some time. But some schools stand out more than others as potential QBU contenders.
Let’s examine the data, draft selections, and talent to assess who can really call themselves QBU.
Ranking the Top NFL Quarterback Producing College Football Programs
25) Auburn Tigers
The Auburn Tigers are riding Cam Newton’s back to make this list. Newton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and was named to the NFL Pro Bowl three times.
He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011 and MVP in 2015, on his way to leading the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 season and an appearance in Super Bowl 50.
Meanwhile, Pat Sullivan, also a Heisman Trophy winner, went in the second round of the 1972 draft and played four years with the Atlanta Falcons.
24) Washington State Cougars
The Washington State Cougars have only had 11 quarterbacks drafted in program history, but when in the league, they have been very successful.
Drew Bledsoe played nine seasons with the New England Patriots between 1993 and 2001, including a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl 31. Furthermore, Mark Rypien – a sixth-round pick in the 1986 NFL Draft – won two Super Bowls and was named MVP in Super Bowl 26.
23) Michigan State Spartans
14 former Michigan State Spartans have been selected in the history of the NFL Draft, including Earl Morrall, Brian Hoyer, Drew Stanton, and Kirk Cousins. Cousins has gone on to become one of the highest-earning NFL players of all time and was a fourth-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft.
22) Maryland Terrapins
Among the nine Maryland Terrapin quarterbacks to have made the NFL are Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich, and Neil O’Donnell.
Esaison still ranks fourth in school history for passing yards and appeared in Super Bowl 23 with the Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile, O’Donnell, who also lost a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, played for four different NFL franchises between 1990 and 2003.
21) Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles have produced a large amount of collegiate talent that has been drafted to the NFL without any outstanding success. Jameis Winston was the No. 1 selection in 2015 but is on his fourth NFL team.
Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke’s talent also didn’t really materialize in the NFL. The one passer who did, however, is Brad Johnson, who won Super Bowl 37 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
20) Texas Longhorns
Texas has only had seven quarterbacks drafted to the NFL in its storied history. The List includes Colt McCoy, Chris Simms, Booby Lane, and Vince Young, who was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 and went to two Pro Bowls.
19) Louisville Cardinals
Louisville has sent 12 quarterbacks to the NFL, but two stand out. Both were picked with the 32nd overall selection in their respective drafts.
Teddy Bridgewater was a good starter and earned Pro Bowl honors before his horrific leg injury in 2016, and has since bounced around the league as a high-level backup. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and is a two-time league MVP with the Baltimore Ravens.
18) BYU Cougars
Steve Young and Jim McMahon sit at the top of the NFL quarterbacks produced by the BYU Cougars.
Both won Super Bowls in their respective careers and are regarded as greats by the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears, respectively. However, the program hasn’t produced high-level talent in recent years, with Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, flaming out with the New York Jets.
17) UCLA Bruins
The extensive list of UCLA Bruins quarterbacks to have played in the NFL is led by Troy Aikman, whose resume includes three Super Bowl titles, a Super Bowl MVP, NFL Man of the Year, six Pro Bowl appearances, and an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
16) Washington Huskies
The Washington Huskies have produced an abundance of NFL passing talent, most recently Michael Penix, who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. He followed Chris Chandler to the A as he led the Falcons to a Super Bowl loss in 1998. Other quarterbacks from Washington include Mark Brunell, Don Heinrich, and Hall of Famer Warren Moon.
15) Georgia Bulldogs
Matthew Stafford headlines the list of 15 former Georgia Bulldogs to be drafted to the NFL. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft won Super Bowl 56 with the Los Angeles Rams and was placed in the Detroit Lions’ All-Time Team.
Elsewhere, Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton went to nine Pro Bowls and was named NFL MVP in 1975; the Minnesota Vikings have retired his No. 10 jersey.
14) Boston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles have had 11 quarterback draft picks who have combined for 1,40049 passing yards in the NFL, but three stand out at the top.
Matt Ryan is unquestionably the best passer in the Falcons’ franchise history and won the NFL MVP in 2016. Elsewhere, Matt Hasselbeck was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Seattle Seahawks, and Doug Flutie made the Pro Bowl in 1998 before heading north to play in the CFL.
13) Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes have been an underrated quarterback factory. Jim Kelly played in four consecutive Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills in the 1990s, while Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta were both Heisman Trophy winners. Other notable names include Craig Erickson, Steve Walsh, and Bernie Kosar.
12) Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes have had a conveyor belt of NFL draft picks at the quarterback position, producing a total of 21. While the relative success of those passers in the NFL can be questioned, what can’t be questioned is the talent that the NFL is willing to take a chance on.
There are plenty of misses on the list, but C.J. Stroud is currently playing as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and Justin Fields is getting another chance to be a starter with the New York Jets.
11) NC State Wolfpack
Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson have both had excellent NFL careers and headline the group of NC State Wolfpack quarterbacks to have played in the league. Rivers was a part of one of the dramatic draft day stories of all time and made eight Pro Bowls between 2006 and 2018. Other considerable names include Jacoby Brissett and Mike Glennon.
10) Michigan Wolverines
Tom Brady. It goes without saying that the seven-time Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Famer is considered the greatest of all time.
The elite college program has also produced Chad Henne, Jim Harbaugh, Brian Griese, and, most recently, JJ McCarthy.
9) USC Trojans
The USC Trojans have delivered great talent across all positions to the NFL, including the most quarterbacks drafted by a single program (26). Among that group is Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, Matt Barkley, and Chicago Bears starting quarterback Caleb Williams.
8) California Golden Bears
Aaron Rodgers leads a list of great quarterbacks to have been developed by the Cal Golden Bears. The former Super Bowl MVP is one of the top quarterbacks to have ever taken to the gridiron, and is joined by Vince Ferragamo, Joe Kapp, and Craig Morton as former Cal passers to have played in a Super Bowl.
7) Stanford Cardinal
Joe Elway is one of the NFL’s legendary players. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is the lead name in an exciting list of former Stanford Cardinal passers to have played in the NFL. Andrew Luck was an immense talent, and Jim Plunket played in a Super Bowl and won a Heisman Trophy over his career.
6) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Joe Montana, Joe Theismann, Steve Beurlein, John Huarte, the list goes on. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have pumped out talent under center for the NFL, combining for a total of 187499 passing yards in the NFL and having 23 draft picks at the position in program history.
5) Oregon Ducks
The emergence of Bo Nix as a solid NFL starter has undoubtedly helped the Oregon Ducks’ numbers, and they have also sent great talent to the professional ranks.
There may be some recency bias here, but Justin Herbert is one of the best currently playing in the NFL. Marcus Mariota has had a solid career, as did Dan Fouts, Norm Van Brocklin, and A.J. Feeley. The school ranks eighth among all college programs with 174567 passing yards thrown in the NFL.
4) LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers have produced two of the NFL’s current hottest commodities. Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels. Both are exciting young talents who have changed the reputation surrounding quarterbacks drafted from the Bayou.
Throw in Y.A. Tittle, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, alongside 18 draft picks at the position, and the program is one of the hottest for producing NFL talent right now.
3) Purdue Boilermakers
This may seem lofty heights for the Purdue Boilermakers, but they have produced 14 draft picks at the quarterback position, including three Super Bowl Champions.
Drew Brees, Bob Griese, and Len Dawson all lifted the Lombardi Trophy, proving the low-key Big Ten team is a considerable producer of NFL passing talent. The school leads all college football programs with the most passing yards thrown in NFL history, with 262241.
2) Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners have produced three starting NFL quarterbacks who are currently playing. Jalen Hurts is fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles, while Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield are serviceable starting quarterbacks.
The SEC team also produced Sam Bradford, Josh Heupel, and Jason White, which has earned it the reputation of being one of the best developers of quarterback talent in college football.
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1) Alabama Crimson Tide
The No. 1 team on this list should be no surprise. The Alabama Crimson Tide has consistently provided starters to the NFL.
Historic names like Joe Namath, Bart Starr, and Greg McElroy give an adequate base for the Tuscaloosa team’s case. But throw in current NFL starters Tua Tagovailoa, Bryce Young, and Hurts, as well as 49ers backup Mac Jones, and Alabama stakes its claim as the official QBU.
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