The 25 Best College Football Players of the Century, Ranked
When the 2025 season kicks off, college football will begin its journey into a new quarter-century of this millennium.
Before we move forward, however, we are looking back.
The sport looked much different in 2000 and included conferences like the Big East, Big West and WAC. Hundred-dollar handshakes, um, allegedly were happening under the table, and the Bowl Championship Series ruled the day.
Now 25 years later, the American, Mountain West and Sun Belt exist. Realignment has overhauled the power-conference structure, NIL money has changed recruiting and the advent of the College Football Playoff has brought unprecedented access to competing for a national title.
Along the way, we've watched some unforgettable players.
To rank them, we turned to our legion of college football experts, giving them the near-impossible task of cutting through 25 years of history to rank the sport's top 25 players.
Honorable Mentions
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Here's a list of the most gut-wrenching omissions:
Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma (2004-06): The chiseled machine ran for 1,925 yards as a freshman in 2004 for a fourth-place Heisman Trophy showing. He finished his college career with 4,045 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns.
Chase Young, Edge, Ohio State (2017-19): He won both the Bednarik and Nagurski Awards, set the Buckeyes' single-season sack record with 16.5 and finished fourth in Heisman voting, all in 2019.
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (2005-07): One of three players to win the Doak Walker Award twice as the nation's best running back, McFadden posted back-to-back Heisman runner-up campaigns in 2006 and '07 while amassing 4,590 yards rushing in three years.
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (2013-15): Before he was truck-sticking defenders in the NFL, Henry helped the Crimson Tide to a national title while winning the Heisman behind 2,219 rushing yards in 2015.
James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State (2005-08): Laurinaitis was a three-time All-American who won the Butkus and Nagurski Awards while helping the Buckeyes to two national championship appearances.
Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M (2012-13): Johnny Football was the first freshman to ever win a Heisman Trophy, doing so in 2012 before coming in fifth for the award as a sophomore.
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (2009-11): The Cowboys standout is one of only two receivers to ever win the Biletnikoff Award (2010, 2011) twice as the country's best receiver.
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State (2008-11): A three-time top-10 Heisman finisher, Moore is 10th on the all-time FBS career passing yards list with 14,667.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon (2012-14): The 2014 Heisman winner also took home the Maxwell and Camp awards that year while throwing for 4,454 yards and 42 touchdowns in leading the Ducks to a national championship appearance.
Sean Taylor, S, Miami (2002-03): The menacing safety was an All-American and Big East Defensive Player of the Year thanks to 10 interceptions and 85 total tackles in his banner 2003 season.
Tyrann Mathieu, S, LSU (2010-11): The Honey Badger won the Bednarik Award as the nation's best defender and posted a fifth-place Heisman finish thanks to 76 tackles, two interceptions, nine passes defended and six forced fumbles in 2011.
Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama (2020-22): The Tide defender was a two-time Nagurski and one-time Bednarik winner thanks to his penchant for getting into the other team's backfield. Anderson holds the FBS single-season record for tackles for loss (35 in 2021), and his 17.5 sacks that year were fourth all-time.
25. David Pollack, DE, Georgia
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National Accolades: Three-time AP All-American, winner of 2003 Hendricks Award and 2004 Bednarik, Hendricks and Lombardi Awards and Lott Trophy
Georgia's ascent in the early moments of Mark Richt's tenure coincided with the emergence of star defender David Pollack.
A pass-rushing force, he was a three-time All-SEC selection for the Dawgs. He racked up 36 sacks—including a then-record 14 in 2002—during his time in Athens and remains the program leader in the category.
Pollack, a first-round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, won SEC Player of the Year twice and SEC Defensive Player of the Year once.
High Vote: 15
24. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
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National Accolades: Three-time AP All-American, winner of 2018 and 2019 Doak Walker Award
From the moment Jonathan Taylor set foot on campus, he was practically unstoppable in the Wisconsin backfield.
Taylor powered his way to 1,977 yards as a true freshman, followed by 2,194 and 2,003 yards in the next two seasons. He's one of only two players in FBS history to have multiple years of 2,000-plus yards, alongside Iowa State's Troy Davis.
In total, he amassed 6,581 scrimmage yards and 55 touchdowns. Taylor finished in the top 10 in Heisman voting all three seasons.
High Vote: 12
23. Khalil Mack, Edge, Buffalo
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National Accolades: 2013 AP All-American and winner of Lambert Trophy
What he lacks in awards, Khalil Mack makes up for with dominance.
The best player in program history, the Bulls star tallied at least 14.5 tackles for loss in all four years at Buffalo. Mack generated a remarkable 327 total tackles with an FBS-record 75 tackles for loss and 28.5 sacks, adding 16 forced fumbles.
Mack, a three-time first-team All-MAC honoree and the 2013 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, became a top-five choice in the 2014 NFL draft.
High Vote: 9
22. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American, winner of 2007 and 2008 Biletnikoff Award and Warfield Trophy
Best remembered for his last-second touchdown to defeat top-ranked Texas in 2008, Michael Crabtree was a two-year superstar for Texas Tech.
Crabtree, who redshirted his first season on campus, set freshman FBS records with 134 receptions, 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns. For his encore, he reeled in 97 passes for 1,165 yards and 19 scores.
A two-time first-team All-Big 12 recipient, Crabtree landed fifth in 2008 Heisman Trophy voting on his way to becoming a top-10 NFL draft pick.
High Vote: 8
21. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American, winner of 2015 and 2016 O'Brien and Manning Awards and 2016 Unitas Golden Arm Award
Deshaun Watson reached the pinnacle of college football with Clemson.
An ACL injury cut short his superb freshman season, but he responded with two outstanding campaigns. Watson took the Tigers to the national championship in both 2015 and 2016, winning the latter showdown with Alabama on an epic last-second touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow.
Watson, who twice earned top-three Heisman finishes, was the first player in FBS history to throw for 4,000 and rush for 1,000 yards in one season.
High Vote: 13
20. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American, winner of 2011 Maxwell, Unitas Golden Arm and Walter Camp Awards
We might be too low on Andrew Luck.
There's no such thing as a perfect quarterback, but Luck came terribly close. He was incredibly smart with a strong arm and efficient release, ran an advanced system and was a threat on the ground.
During his last two seasons at Stanford, Luck completed 70-plus percent of his passes with at least 3,300 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in both 2010 and 2011.
Luck guided the Cardinal to its first two 11-win records in program history.
High Vote: 13
19. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American, 2015 AP College Football Player of the Year and winner of 2015 Hornung, Harley and Jet Awards
A few seasons after Luck headed to the NFL, Stanford signed the son of former Denver Broncos standout Ed McCaffrey.
Christian McCaffrey quickly made a name for himself on the Farm.
In his sophomore year, he scampered for 2,019 yards and caught 45 passes for 645 yards. McCaffrey also surpassed 1,000 kick-return yards, giving him a staggering, FBS-record-breaking 3,864 all-purpose yards. He accounted for 17 touchdowns via passing, rushing, receiving and both kick and punt returns.
Following that Heisman runner-up season, he again surpassed 2,000 all-purpose yards and totaled 16 scores in 2016.
High Vote: 7
18. Joe Thomas, LT, Wisconsin
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National Accolades: 2006 AP All-American and winner of 2006 Outland and Parker Trophies
Before his tremendous NFL career on the Cleveland Browns, Joe Thomas locked down the left side of Wisconsin's offensive line.
And I mean absolutely dominated.
Thomas was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. Stats for Thomas specifically do not really exist, but Wisconsin had a 1,500-yard rusher in each of the last two years and totaled 31 wins during his three seasons as a starter.
The left tackle entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019 and joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
High Vote: 8
17. Roy Williams, S, Oklahoma
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National Accolades: 2001 AP All-American and winner of 2001 Thorpe Award, Nagurski Trophy and Tatum Trophy
You know the play.
During the 2001 rivalry game against Texas, Roy Williams soared over a blocker to knock the ball out of UT quarterback Chris Simms' hand. The ball floated to teammate Teddy Lehman to seal the Sooners' win.
Williams, who started for three seasons at OU, earned first-team All-Big 12 honors twice and the 2001 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He gathered 287 tackles with 34 for loss and intercepted nine passes for the Sooners.
In addition to an epic individual year in 2001—when he became the first to land the Nagurski and Thorpe in the same season—Williams won a national title in 2000.
High Vote: 11
16. Matt Leinart, QB, USC
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American, winner of 2004 Heisman Trophy, AP College Football Player of the Year and Walter Camp and Manning Awards and 2005 Unitas Golden Arm Award
Pete Carroll took control of the USC program in 2001, and it rapidly rose to prominence when Matt Leinart stepped in at quarterback.
Leinart made his starting debut in 2003 and held the reins for three years. The left-hander finished sixth or better in Heisman voting in each season, hoisting the prestigious award in 2004 while leading USC to a national championship.
And he nearly did it again.
In his senior year, Leinart keyed a perfect 12-0 regular season to give the Trojans a shot at back-to-back titles. They fell short in the unforgettable clash with Vince Young and Texas, but Leinart—again a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2005—had a spectacular college career.
High Vote: 4
15. Terrell Suggs, DE, Arizona State
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National Accolades: 2002 AP All-American, winner of 2002 Hendricks and Lombardi Awards and Nagurski and Morris Trophies
Don't be fooled by Terrell Suggs' top accolades only coming in one season.
As a freshman at Arizona State, he earned Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. Then, the pass-rusher was a first-team All-Pac-10 choice in 2001 and 2002 while securing the league's Defensive Player of the Year in the latter campaign.
Suggs collected an FBS-record 24 sacks in 2002, ending his three-year career at ASU with 65.5 tackles for loss and 44 sacks.
High Vote: 10
14. Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt
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National Accolades: 2013 AP All-American, winner of 2013 Bednarik and Lombardi Awards and Nagurski, Outland and Willis Trophies
Similar to Suggs, the accolades suggest Aaron Donald was a one-year superstar. That could hardly be farther from the truth.
Now, certainly, he was an absolute phenom in his best season. Donald put up a ridiculous 28.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a senior at Pitt, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a host of national awards.
Before then, though, Donald was a two-time All-Big East defender. He posted 16 tackles for loss in his sophomore year and 18.5 more as a junior.
Donald proceeded to become an absolute legend in the NFL. Decent career!
High Vote: 9
13. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American, winner of 2020 Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff, Hornung, Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards and AP College Football Player of the Year
DeVonta Smith's time at Alabama is the stuff kids dream of accomplishing when they're running around the backyard.
As a true freshman, he caught the game-winning touchdown in the national championship. After a solid sophomore year, he turned in an All-American junior campaign. And then, he won just about every significant award—including the Heisman—while helping Bama celebrate another national title in 2020.
I mean, seriously, this trophy case is stacked.
Smith, a two-time All-SEC first-teamer, left Tuscaloosa atop the career leaderboard in all three major receiving categories.
High Vote: 9
12. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American, winner of 2023 and 2024 Hornung Award, winner of 2024 Heisman Trophy and Bednarik, Biletnikoff and Walter Camp Awards, Lott Trophy and AP College Football Player of the Year
Travis Hunter shocked the recruiting world with a last-second flip to lower-division Jackson State for his college debut in 2022. Deion Sanders took the Colorado job after that season, Hunter followed him and the rest is history.
But we get to talk about that history!
Hunter dazzled as a wide receiver and cornerback, bringing the seldom-seen two-way excellence back to college football. He tallied 153 receptions for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns with 66 tackles, seven interceptions and 16 pass defenses in two seasons with CU.
High Vote: 8
11. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American, winner of 2016 Heisman Trophy, Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards and AP College Football Player of the Year
Before he even stepped foot on campus, Lamar Jackson was dazzling. In high school, he provided the most disrespectful goal-line feint in memory.
And that was merely the appetizer to his stellar Louisville career.
Lamar had a decent freshman year but exploded as a sophomore, taking full control of the Heisman Trophy race by the end of September. He ended up throwing for 3,543 yards, running for 1,571 and totaling 51 touchdowns.
Jackson capped his college tenure with a third-place Heisman finish in 2017, again surpassing 5,000 total offensive yards and accounting for 45 scores.
High Vote: 8
10. Bryant McKinnie, LT, Miami
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National Accolades: 2001 AP All-American, winner of 2001 Outland Trophy and Parker Award
It's truly a shame that advanced stats for offensive linemen did not exist when Bryant McKinnie was at Miami in 2000 and 2001.
Do grading scales go higher than 100 percent? He would've deserved it.
McKinnie was a stone wall at left tackle, surrendering zero sacks for a pair of tremendous Miami rosters. The JUCO transfer earned first-team All-Big East recognition in both seasons with the Hurricanes.
The ultimate honor, perhaps: McKinnie finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2001. That is how much he was respected.
High Vote: 8
9. Baker Mayfield, QB, Texas Tech and Oklahoma
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National Accolades: Three-time AP All-American, winner of the 2015 and 2016 Burlsworth Trophy, 2017 Heisman Trophy and Manning, Maxwell, O'Brien and Walter Camp Awards and AP College Football Player of the Year
Need a moment to process all those awards? Me too.
Baker Mayfield first enrolled at Texas Tech, where he won the starting job as a walk-on freshman. He ultimately left the Red Raiders and walked on (again) at Oklahoma, sitting out the 2014 campaign before winning the QB1 job in 2015.
Over the next three seasons, Mayfield was a monster. He finished fourth, third and first in Heisman Trophy voting, securing first-team All-Big 12 nods every year.
Mayfield, who propelled the Sooners to three straight Big 12 championships, left OU with a top-10 FBS mark in career passing yards (now 11th) and remains tied for sixth in all-time touchdown passes.
High Vote: 5
8. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt
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National Accolades: 2003 AP All-American, winner of 2003 Biletnikoff and Walter Camp Awards and Warfield Trophy
Prior to his Hall of Fame-worthy NFL career, Larry Fitzgerald gave college defenders an unhealthy number of sleepless nights.
Fitzgerald spent a year in JUCO before playing two seasons at Pitt, where he topped 1,000 yards and caught 12 touchdowns as a freshman. That quality year set the stage for his breakout in 2003.
In total, he snagged 92 passes for FBS-best marks of 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns. Fitz finished as the Heisman runner-up, also winning Big East Offensive Player of the Year in addition to his national awards.
High Vote: 4
7. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
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National Accolades: 2019 AP All-American, winner of 2019 Heisman Trophy and Lombardi, Maxwell, Manning, Unitas Golden Arm and Walter Camp Awards and AP College Football Player of the Year
After spending three seasons in a backup role at Ohio State, Joe Burrow graduated and took his two years of immediate eligibility to LSU.
The first campaign? Fine. Ten wins, decent numbers.
The second, however, was nothing short of legendary.
Leading a record-breaking LSU offense, Burrow assembled an absurd stat line. He completed 76.3 percent of passes for 5,671 yards and a then-record 60 touchdowns to only six interceptions, also running for 368 yards and five scores. Burrow won, well, everything in the 2019 season—including a national title.
High Vote: 2
6. Ed Reed, S, Miami
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American
Patrolling the back end of what is remembered as one of the greatest defenses in history—and arguably the best ever—Ed Reed was electric.
The superstar safety had 17 interceptions in the 2000 and 2001 seasons combined. Altogether, Reed picked off 21 throws, defended 52 passes and gathered 288 tackles in his four seasons at Miami.
One enduring memory is Reed ripping the ball out of teammate Matt Walters' hands to seal a hard-fought win at Boston College. That victory was a key to the 'Canes ultimately taking the national championship in 2001.
Reed was a three-time All-Big East selection and shared Defensive Player of the Year honors for the conference as a senior.
High Vote: 3
5. Vince Young, QB, Texas
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National Accolades: 2005 AP All-American, winner of 2005 Manning, Maxwell and O'Brien Awards
"He's going for the corner...He's got it!"
The immortal words of Keith Jackson still ring in my head, striking up the memory of Vince Young's last-minute touchdown run to beat USC during the national championship in the 2005 season.
Young's final highlight at Texas put a proper bow on his outstanding career, one in which he became the first player to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in a season. He was the Heisman runner-up that year, as well.
Had he rushed for two more yards as a freshman, Young would've hit 1,000 yards on the ground in all three seasons with the Longhorns.
High Vote: 2
4. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
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National Accolades: 2009 AP All-American, winner of 2009 Bednarik and Lombardi Awards and Nagurski, Outland and Willis Trophies and AP College Football Player of the Year
A four-year contributor at Nebraska, Ndamukong Suh developed into a one-man wrecking machine in the middle of the defensive line.
Suh played an impactful role in 2006 and 2007 but surged in 2008 with a first-team All-Big 12 campaign. He posted 76 tackles with 19 for loss (7.5 sacks) and two interceptions that he returned for scores.
As a senior, he made 85 stops and tallied 20.5 tackles for loss (12 sacks) while piling up awards and finishing fourth in Heisman voting.
Suh memorably won Big 12 Championship Game MVP despite the Cornhuskers falling to Texas. He had 12 tackles with seven for loss (4.5 sacks) in the game.
High Vote: 2
3. Reggie Bush, RB, USC
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National Accolades: Two-time AP All-American, winner of 2005 Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker and Walter Camp Awards, Jim Brown Trophy and AP College Football Player of the Year
Hindsight, at last, permits a deserved legacy for Reggie Bush.
Because of once-called impermissible gifts, the versatile star vacated his Heisman Trophy. USC also disassociated itself with Bush for a decade. The tide finally turned in 2024 with the Heisman Trust and USC reversing course.
Now, we are completely free to remember Bush for what he was: an otherworldly playmaker who helped USC become a powerhouse again.
Bush recorded 2,330 all-purpose yards and 16 total touchdowns in 2004, ending fifth in Heisman voting. He bumped that to 2,890 yards—a top-10 mark in FBS history—and 19 scores to secure the 2005 Heisman.
High Vote: 1
2. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
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National Accolades: 2010 AP All-American, winner of 2010 Heisman Trophy and Manning, Maxwell, O'Brien and Walter Camp Awards and AP College Football Player of the Year
One season. The man spent one season at Auburn, yet that's all Cam Newton needed to carve out a place in college football history.
And it almost never happened.
Newton initially went to Florida, where he served as the backup for a QB named Tim Tebow. However, he was arrested, suspended from the team and ultimately transferred to a junior college. Newton starred in that season with Blinn College, received a second chance at Auburn and didn't waste it.
He threw for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns to seven interceptions, rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 scores, caught one pass for a touchdown and propelled Auburn to a perfect 14-0, award-filled, national title-winning year.
High Vote: 1
1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
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National Accolades: Three-time AP All-American, winner of 2007 Heisman Trophy, 2007 and 2008 Maxwell Award, 2007 O'Brien Award and AP College Football Player of the Year and 2008 Manning Award
Not only did Tim Tebow produce one of the best individual seasons in college football history, his impact at Florida lasted four years.
The bulldozing QB's longevity is what separated him from everyone else.
As a true freshman in 2006, Tebow held a short-yardage role for the national champions. He rushed for 469 yards and accounted for 13 touchdowns.
The southpaw reached his peak as a sophomore, making FBS history as the first to have 20 passing and rushing scores in a season. He ended with 32 and 23, respectively, in that Heisman-winning campaign.
As if that wasn't enough, Tebow guided the Gators to a national title in 2008 with top-five Heisman finishes in both 2008 and 2009.
High Vote: 1
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