Top 10 best individual college football seasons in history [videos]
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Over the venerable years of college football, several athletes have accomplished amazing feats. Still, only a tiny handful of players have had really outstanding seasons that confirm their place in American football history.
Apart from driving their teams to unprecedented heights, these players changed the definition of excellence in the game. Seasons like this will always be loved since they provide unmatched statistical achievements and unique experiences under the most brilliant lights.
Examining the remarkable campaigns of famous players and their impact on the game, this paper ranks the 10 most outstanding individual college football seasons of all time.
These are the games that changed the course of college football independent of the quarterback's record-setting performance or two-way phenomenon.
10. Ricky Williams, Texas, 1998
As a running back, Ricky Williams showed his adaptability, speed, and endurance, thus defining his 1998 season with the Longhorns. With 27, Williams exceeded Tony Dorsett's record for the most career touchdowns scored by a collegiate running back and also amassed 2,124 yards on the ground.
His 6,279 yards still ranks among the all-time leaders in NCAA rushing yards over his career.
With his 259 yards and four touchdowns, Williams' supremacy was on full display when he exceeded the lifetime running record against Texas A&M, and his six straight 200-yard running efforts that season easily claimed the Heisman Trophy.
Williams was unique in that he could finesse yet also display raw power. Due to his great balance and vision, as well as the fact that defenders couldn't keep up with him, he was able to create major plays off of little advances.
For running backs in college football, his 1998 season is a model of performance.
9. Travis Hunter, Colorado, 2024
Unlike few other college football players before or since, Travis Hunter revolutionised the definition of a versatile athlete in 2024.
Playing for the Colorado Rockies and under Deion Sanders' coaching, Hunter developed into the first real two-way phenomenon of the modern age.
Following in the footsteps of Charles Woodson in 1997, his exceptional performance on offence and defence, as well as his unheard-of workload and game-changing plays, set him apart as only the second full-time defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy.
Hunter was outstanding on the offensive and defensive sides, a performance quite rare in modern football this season. After collecting 1,152 yards, scoring fourteen touchdowns, and receiving 92 passes, he was named the top receiver in the Big 12.
He tied for third place in the league with four interceptions, broke up eleven passes, and let only one touchdown in coverage, displaying his remarkable lockdown skills all through the season.
His forced fumble in overtime versus Baylor emphasised his defensive efforts and guaranteed a key win. Hunter exceeded any other FBS player with nearly 400 plays (669 defensively and 687 offensively).
In an era where most players hardly see action outside of 60%, Hunter's participation in 84% of Colorado's overall plays was an amazing feat.
Following Rashaan Salaam in 1994, Hunter became the second Colorado player to reach this mark by being overwhelmingly proclaimed the Heisman Trophy winner after garnering 552 first-place votes attributable to his outstanding accomplishments.
Apart from the Player of the Year title, Hunter also got the Walter Camp title and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
He also won Best Receiver and Best Defensive Player trophies. Hunter followed a poor 4-8 record in 2023 to contribute to Colorado's first bowl bid in four years and a 9-3 record in 2024.
Hunter's two-way skills have garnered him analogies to historical icons; nonetheless, his performance surpasses that of other two-way athletes, notably Charles Woodson's 1997 Heisman campaign.
Though he lacks a national championship and statistically overwhelming numbers in any one category, his unmatched effort and brilliance on both sides of the ball guarantee his position among the all-time greats. He however cannot climb much higher on this list due to a lack of trophy.
8. Marcus Mariota, Oregon, 2014
Marcus Mariota's 2014 campaign proved evidence of his skill and output. Leading the Ducks to a 13-2 record and a College Football Playoffs National Championship slot, the quarterback also carried for 750 yards and 15 touchdowns.
He tossed for 42 touchdowns and 4,454 yards. Among all the passer ratings in NCAA history, Mariota's was 184.4.
Mariota's season was notable for his extraordinary ability to minimise mistakes and nevertheless execute plays.
Though he tried 445 passes, he only threw four interceptions and scored five or more touchdowns in several games.
Mariota's 400-yard, three-touchdown performance in the Rose Bowl versus Florida State is among the most unforgettable events of his season.
Apart from a notable margin of victory for the Heisman Trophy, Mariota smashed many Pac-12 records. His incredible accuracy and composure under duress in 2014 made for one of the most complete quarterback seasons ever.
7. Lamar Jackson, Louisville, 2016
Lamar Jackson displayed in 2016 a degree of agility and explosiveness rare in NCAA football. With 3,543 throwing yards and 1,571 rushing touchdowns, the Louisville Cardinals' quarterback compiled 5,114 total yards and 51 touchdowns.
As a quarterback, Jackson set a record for most rushing yards in a season and became the youngest athlete to have won the Heisman Trophy.
Jackson made a great opponent for defences since he could pass and carry the ball. Two of his most outstanding efforts were against Charlotte, an eight-touchdown game, and against Syracuse, a 610-yard, five-touchdown game.
His fabled hurdle versus Syracuse and other highlight reel runs went viral.
Despite Louisville's late-season woes producing a 9-4 record, Jackson's performance was outstanding. His special mix of speed, agility, and arm strength changed the quarterbacking scene forever.
6. Herschel Walker, Georgia, 1981
As a sophomore in 1981, Herschel Walker confirmed his reputation as among the best running backs in college football history. Walker missed time due to a dislocated shoulder but still managed to gather 1,891 yards and 18 touchdowns.
With 385, he set an NCAA record for most carries, evidence of his extraordinary speed, strength, and endurance.
Walker stayed remarkably consistent all through the season. In every game he ran for over 100 yards, including a 205-yard performance against Florida and a 188-yard effort against Auburn, he accumulated Walker guided Georgia into a 10-1 regular season record and guaranteed their second consecutive SEC title.
Though he did not win the Heisman Trophy, Walker was clearly the most outstanding athlete on the field in 1981.
Walker's 1981 season stands out for his extraordinary performance, which he attained despite heavy duties and fierce competition.
5. Tim Tebow, Florida, 2007
Being the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, Tim Tebow's 2007 season marks a turning point in quarterbacking. Through his passing, Tebow compiled 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns; from his running, he added 895 yards and 23 extra scores. His 55 touchdowns over the season are an NCAA record.
Tebow carried an unmatched dual-threat aptitude. When he had less time to pass the ball, he was as skilled in demolishing opponents as in throwing long passes.
His "jump pass" evolved to be an internationally known emblem of his flexibility. Given Florida's 9-4 record, Tebow's performance was exceptional.
Against Troy, he landed six touchdowns; against South Carolina, five. Apart from his numbers, Tebow's leadership and fierce competitiveness helped him to rise.
Since it set the groundwork for Florida's future success—which resulted in not one but two national championships—his 2007 season stands among the most unforgettable in the annals of college football.
4. Vince Young, Texas, 2005
Most people remember Vince Young's 2005 season for the Rose Bowl, where he led Texas to a national title triumph over USC and achieved history by surpassing all previous athletes in NCAA history during the season. He rushed for 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns and passed for 3,036 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Young's exceptional performance came during the game versus USC, usually regarded as one of the best teams of all time. Running for the deciding score on fourth-and-five, Young added to his 467 yards and three touchdowns in the Rose Bowl.
His effort guaranteed Texas' championship and strengthened his reputation as among the best players in college football history.
Young's 2005 season was notable for his dominance as a passer and runner as well as for his great performance in the most pivotal events.
3. Cam Newton, Auburn, 2010
Adaptability and essential performance defined Cam Newton's 2010 Auburn season. With 2,854 yards of passing and 30 ground touchdowns—1,493 yards rushing and 20 extra scores—the quarterback has scored 50 touchdowns overall in his career.
With his 20 touchdowns on the ground and in the air, Newton became only the third player in NCAA history to reach this mark. Newton exhibited an unmatched capacity for athletic domination.
Among his several comebacks was a 24-point Iron Bowl rally against Alabama. He was crowned the Heisman Trophy winner following carries for 49 yards and a touchdown against LSU and 217 yards and a touchdown against South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game.
Auburn won their first national championship since 1957 under Newton's direction by defeating Oregon in a title game, thus ending a 14-0 season.
With his mix of aptitude, speed, and height, Newton's 2010 season was among the most dominant all-around seasons in college football history, as he presented a continuous challenge to defences.
2. Joe Burrow, LSU, 2019
Joe Burrow's 2019 LSU season changed the quarterback's role in collegiate football. With 5,671 yards—the third-highest total in a single season—Burrow broke records for both passing touchdowns (60) and total touchdowns (65).
With 76.3%, he tied for the second-best completion rate in NCAA history. The platform Burrow delivered the statistics on, and the actual statistics set his season apart. On its road to the national championship, LSU defeated seven teams ranked in the top 10 and attained a perfect 15-0 record.
Burrow completed seven passes for touchdowns in the first half of the College Football Playoffs game against Oklahoma. Still, he completed five more passes in the title game versus Clemson. Unmatched were Burrow's calmness, accuracy, and ability to make quick decisions.
With his legendary performance as the lynchpin for LSU, he guided the team to what many regard to be their most successful season ever and guaranteed the Heisman Trophy by the largest margin in school history.
1. Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State, 1988
Most agree that Barry Sanders' 1988 college football season was the best in history. With 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in just 11 games during the regular season, Sanders had an incredible running back career at Oklahoma State.
Including the Holiday Bowl, his career stats were unheard of—an 2,850-yard total and 44 touchdowns. What set Sanders apart was his extraordinary ability to turn even failed plays into highlight reel events.
With an average of 238.9 running yards per game, he obliterated the old benchmark of footballing excellence, setting a new NCAA record, and ate up over 300 yards in four games.
Against Kansas State, he had a memorable effort, scoring five touchdowns and rushed for 332 yards.
Even with defences designed especially to stop Sanders, his vision, agility, and breakaway speed made him practically flawless.
Sanders won 559 of the 578 first-place votes, therefore securing his overwhelming lead and the Heisman Trophy.
His mind-boggling stats and highlights from the 1988 season set a new benchmark for college football supremacy.