ESPN Releases Top Quarterback Lists for 2000s and 21st Century, Highlighting Mayfield, Newton, Winston, and Oregon’s QBU Status

ESPN has released its rankings of the top quarterbacks of both the 2000s and the 21st century, spotlighting key players such as Baker Mayfield, Cam Newton, and Jameis Winston. Baker Mayfield was named the best college quarterback of the 21st century, recognized for his time at Oklahoma, where he won a Heisman Trophy and led multiple conference title runs, as reported by Yahoo Sports.

In ESPN’s ranking of the 2000s, Cam Newton secured the No. 2 spot among college quarterbacks following his 2010 Heisman season and Auburn’s undefeated national championship run. Jameis Winston placed 17th on the list, noted for his two impactful seasons at Florida State, including a national championship and a Heisman win, according to Yahoo Sports coverage.

Joe Burrow was ranked fifth among college quarterbacks of the 2000s by ESPN, positioned behind Tebow, Young, Newton, and Mayfield. Burrow’s 2019 record-breaking season and LSU’s national title were key factors in his placement, though team context was also considered in the rankings, per Yahoo Sports reports.

The list also highlighted Oregon’s prominence in quarterback rankings for the 21st century, assigning four Ducks players to the top 100. ESPN’s analysis emphasized Oregon’s ongoing role in the quarterback conversation, noting NCAA transfer trends and dual-school player careers that complicate definitive school claims, according to insights from Yahoo Sports.

Additional programs with multiple top-ranked quarterbacks include Michigan and Clemson, which have two and three quarterbacks respectively in ESPN’s lists for the 21st century. These rankings reflect broad shifts in college football and reinforce the importance of quarterback development across various programs.

Looking ahead, the significance of these rankings lies in their influence on how quarterback legacies are perceived and how programs are evaluated regarding quarterback production. Future lists will likely revisit rising stars and the evolving landscape of college football talent pipelines.