# NCAA Division I FBS passing leaders

The NCAA Division I FBS passing leaders are career, single-season, and single-game passing leaders in yards, touchdowns, efficiency, completions, and completion percentage. These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
* Since 1955, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length (with some major programs playing additional games in a playoff and/or bowls).
* The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), disallowing players to have four-year careers.
* Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002. This affects many players from before that time period. For example, Ty Detmer would have 16,206 yards and 127 touchdowns if bowl games were included in his career statistics, moving him up one rank on both.
* In recent decades, starting with the Southeastern Conference in 1992, FBS conferences have introduced their own championship games, which have always counted fully toward single-season and career statistics.
* The NCAA ruled that the 2020 season, heavily disrupted by COVID-19, would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player. This gave every player active in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.
* Only seasons in which a team was considered to be a part of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) are included in these lists. Most notably, Cam Ward threw 158 combined touchdowns between FCS (71) and FBS (87), but only 87 would count for the purposes of these lists. Other players, such as Shedeur Sanders, Taylor Heinicke, Chad Pennington, Vernon Adams, and Bailey Zappe, spent part of their careers on FCS rosters. This sometimes works to players' advantage, as Sanders would have a lower career completion percentage if his FCS years were included, and Zappe would have a lower efficiency rating.
Legend :
* Active FBS Player
* Current Record Holder
* Previous Record Holder
    Statistics accurate as of January 15, 2025. Career completion percentage to be updated at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

## Passing yards
### Career

The career leader in passing yards is Houston's Case Keenum. He is the only player to amass three 5,000+ yards seasons. Keenum was granted a fifth year of eligibility after being injured in Houston's third game in 2010, but he would still top the list by over 1,000 yards if 2010 were not included. Keenum passed Hawaii's Timmy Chang, who also received a fifth year of eligibility after being injured in Hawaii's third game in 2001. Chang broke the record previously held by BYU's Ty Detmer, who shattered a record previously held by San Diego State's Todd Santos, who finished his career in 1987 and is no longer in the top 50.
| # | Player | Yards | Seasons |
| 1 | Case Keenum | 19,217 | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston |
| 2 | Dillon Gabriel | 18,722 | 2019 2020 2021 UCF ᛫ 2022 2023 Oklahoma ᛫ 2024 Oregon |
| 3 | Timmy Chang | 17,072 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Hawaii |
| 4 | Landry Jones | 16,646 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Oklahoma |
| 5 | Graham Harrell | 15,793 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Texas Tech |
| 6 | Sam Hartman | 15,656 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Wake Forest ᛫ 2023 Notre Dame |
| 7 | Bo Nix | 15,352 | 2019 2020 2021 Auburn ᛫ 2022 2023 Oregon |
| 8 | Ty Detmer | 15,031 | 1988 1989 1990 1991 BYU |
| 9 | Will Rogers | 14,773 | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mississippi State ᛫ 2024 Washington |
| 10 | Kellen Moore | 14,667 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State |
| 11 | Baker Mayfield | 14,607 | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma |
| 12 | Luke Falk | 14,486 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Washington State |
| 13 | Seth Henigan | 14,278 | 2021 2022 2023 2024 Memphis |
| 14 | Colt Brennan | 14,193 | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii |
| 15 | Rakeem Cato | 14,079 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Marshall |
| 16 | Holton Ahlers | 13,927 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 East Carolina |
| 17 | Michael Penix Jr. | 13,741 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Indiana ᛫ 2022 2023 Washington |
| 18 | Mason Rudolph | 13,618 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma State |
| 19 | Sean Mannion | 13,600 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Oregon State |
| 20 | Brett Rypien | 13,581 | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Boise State |
| 21 | Philip Rivers | 13,484 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 NC State |
| 22 | Corey Robinson | 13,477 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Troy |
| 23 | Colt McCoy | 13,253 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Texas |
| 24 | Aaron Murray | 13,166 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Georgia |
| 25 | Kevin Kolb | 12,964 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 Houston |
| # | Player | Yards | Seasons |
| 26 | Dan LeFevour | 12,905 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Central Michigan |
| 27 | Cooper Rush | 12,894 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Central Michigan |
| 28 | Brandon Doughty | 12,855 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky |
| 29 | Derek Carr | 12,843 | 2009 2011 2012 2013 Fresno State |
| 30 | Jayden Daniels | 12,749 | 2019 2020 2021 Arizona State ᛫ 2022 2023 LSU |
| 31 | Tim Rattay | 12,746 | 1997 1998 1999 Louisiana Tech |
| 32 | Ryan Lindley | 12,690 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 San Diego State |
| 33 | Luke McCown | 12,666 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 Louisiana Tech |
| 34 | Chris Redman | 12,541 | 1996 1997 1998 1999 Louisville |
| 35 | Chase Daniel | 12,515 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Missouri |
| 36 | Mason Fine | 12,505 | 2016 2017 2018 2019 North Texas |
| 37 | Brent Stockstill | 12,495 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Middle Tennessee |
| 38 | Trevor Vittatoe | 12,439 | 2007 2008 2009 2010 UTEP |
| 39 | Kliff Kingsbury | 12,429 | 1999 2000 2001 2002 Texas Tech |
| 40 | Connor Bazelak | 12,349 | 2019 2020 2021 Missouri ᛫ 2022 Indiana ᛫ 2023 2024 Bowling Green |
| 41 | Matt Barkley | 12,327 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 USC |
| 42 | Kenny Pickett | 12,303 | 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Pittsburgh |
| 43 | Jake Browning | 12,296 | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Washington |
| 44 | Jared Goff | 12,200 | 2013 2014 2015 California |
| 45 | Drew Lock | 12,193 | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Missouri |
| 46 | Chevan Cordeiro | 12,191 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Hawaii ᛫ 2022 2023 San Jose State |
| 47 | Brock Purdy | 12,170 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Iowa State |
| 48 | Zach Terrell | 12,088 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Western Michigan |
| 49 | Zac Dysert | 12,013 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Miami (OH) |
| 50 | Clayton Tune | 11,996 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Houston |

### Single season

The single-season leader in passing yards is Bailey Zappe, who transferred to Western Kentucky for his final year of eligibility after starting his career at FCS Houston Baptist (now Houston Christian). He broke a record that had stood for 18 years from Texas Tech's B. J. Symons. Prior to Symons, the record had been held by Detmer, who edged out Houston's David Klingler in 1990.
| # | Player | Yards | Season |
| 1 | Bailey Zappe | 5,967 | 2021 Western Kentucky |
| 2 | B. J. Symons | 5,833 | 2003 Texas Tech |
| 3 | Graham Harrell | 5,705 | 2007 Texas Tech |
| 4 | Case Keenum | 5,671 | 2009 Houston |
| 4 | Joe Burrow | 5,671 | 2019 LSU |
| 6 | Case Keenum | 5,631 | 2011 Houston |
| 7 | Anthony Gordon | 5,579 | 2019 Washington State |
| 8 | Colt Brennan | 5,549 | 2006 Hawaii |
| 9 | Ty Detmer | 5,188 | 1990 BYU |
| 10 | David Klingler | 5,140 | 1990 Houston |
| # | Player | Yards | Season |
| 11 | Graham Harrell | 5,111 | 2008 Texas Tech |
| 12 | Derek Carr | 5,082 | 2013 Fresno State |
| 13 | Paul Smith | 5,065 | 2007 Tulsa |
| 14 | Brandon Doughty | 5,055 | 2015 Western Kentucky |
| 15 | Patrick Mahomes | 5,052 | 2016 Texas Tech |
| 16 | Bryant Moniz | 5,040 | 2010 Hawaii |
| 17 | Case Keenum | 5,020 | 2008 Houston |
| 18 | Kliff Kingsbury | 5,017 | 2002 Texas Tech |
| 19 | Matt Johnson | 4,946 | 2015 Bowling Green |
| 20 | Tim Rattay | 4,943 | 1998 Louisiana Tech |
| # | Player | Yards | Season |
| 21 | Mason Rudolph | 4,904 | 2017 Oklahoma State |
| 22 | Michael Penix Jr. | 4,903 | 2023 Washington |
| 23 | Bryce Young | 4,872 | 2021 Alabama |
| 24 | Dwayne Haskins | 4,831 | 2018 Ohio State |
| 25 | Brandon Doughty | 4,830 | 2014 Western Kentucky |
| 26 | Gardner Minshew | 4,779 | 2018 Washington State |
| 26 | Kyle McCord | 4,779 | 2024 Syracuse Orange |
| 28 | Austin Reed | 4,744 | 2022 Western Kentucky |
| 29 | Sonny Cumbie | 4,742 | 2004 Texas Tech |
| 30 | Will Rogers | 4,739 | 2021 Mississippi State |

### Single game

The first player to pass for 600 yards in a single game was Illinois' Dave Wilson, whose record stood for eight years. The 700-yard barrier was first breached in 1990 by David Klingler. The current single-game record of 734 is shared by Connor Halliday and Patrick Mahomes.
| # | Player | Yards | Date / Team |
| 1 | Connor Halliday | 734 | Oct. 4, 2014 Washington State |
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | 734 | Oct. 22, 2016 Texas Tech |
| 3 | David Klingler | 716 | Dec. 2, 1990 Houston |
| 4 | Matt Vogler | 690 | Nov. 3, 1990 TCU |
| 5 | B. J. Symons | 661 | Sep. 27, 2003 Texas Tech |
| 6 | Geno Smith | 656 | Sep. 29, 2012 West Virginia |
| 7 | Graham Harrell | 646 | Sep. 22, 2008 Texas Tech |
| 8 | Cody Hodges | 643 | Oct. 15, 2005 Texas Tech |
| 9 | Brian Lindgren | 637 | Oct. 6, 2001 Idaho |
| 10 | Scott Mitchell | 631 | Oct. 15, 1988 Utah |
| 11 | K. J. Costello | 623 | Sep. 26, 2020 Mississippi State |
| 12 | Jeremy Leach | 622 | Nov. 11, 1989 New Mexico |
| 13 | Dave Wilson | 621 | Nov. 8, 1980 Illinois |
| 14 | John Walsh | 619 | Oct. 30, 1993 BYU |
| 15 | Jimmy Klingler | 613 | Nov. 28, 1992 Houston |
| # | Player | Yards | Date / Team |
| 16 | David Neill | 611 | Oct. 10, 1998 Nevada |
| 17 | Anthony Gordon | 606 | Nov. 23, 2019 Washington State |
| 18 | Alan Bowman | 605 | Sep. 15, 2018 Texas Tech |
| 19 | Luke Falk | 601 | Nov. 22, 2014 Washington State |
| 19 | Daniel Meager | 601 | Sep. 7, 2007 North Texas |
| 19 | Dillon Gabriel | 601 | Oct. 17, 2020 UCF |
| 22 | Ty Detmer | 599 | Nov. 16, 1991 BYU |
| 23 | Patrick Mahomes | 598 | Nov. 29, 2014 Texas Tech |
| 23 | Baker Mayfield | 598 | Nov. 4, 2017 Oklahoma |
| 25 | Drew Anderson | 597 | Oct. 7, 2017 Buffalo |
| 26 | Brandon Doughty | 593 | Sep. 13, 2014 Western Kentucky |
| 27 | Chris Redman | 592 | Nov. 14, 1998 Louisville |
| 28 | Nick Mullens | 591 | Oct. 1, 2016 Southern Miss |
| 29 | Tim Rattay | 590 | Aug. 26, 1998 Louisiana Tech |
| 30 | Blake Frohnapfel | 589 | Sep. 27, 2014 UMass |

## Passing touchdowns
### Career

In 2024, Dillon Gabriel tied Case Keenum's passing touchdowns record of 155. Gabriel played in 64 career games compared to Keenum's 57.
| # | Player | TDs | Seasons |
| 1 | Case Keenum | 155 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston |
| 1 | Dillon Gabriel | 155 | 2019 2020 2021 UCF ᛫ 2022 2023 Oklahoma ᛫ 2024 Oregon |
| 3 | Kellen Moore | 142 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State |
| 4 | Graham Harrell | 134 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Texas Tech |
| 4 | Sam Hartman | 134 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Wake Forest ᛫ 2023 Notre Dame |
| 6 | Colt Brennan | 131 | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii |
| 6 | Rakeem Cato | 131 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Marshall |
| 6 | Baker Mayfield | 131 | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma |
| 9 | Landry Jones | 123 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Oklahoma |
| 10 | Ty Detmer | 121 | 1988 1989 1990 1991 BYU |
| 10 | Aaron Murray | 121 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Georgia |
| 12 | Luke Falk | 119 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Washington State |
| 13 | Timmy Chang | 117 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Hawaii |
| 14 | Matt Barkley | 116 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 USC |
| 15 | Tim Rattay | 115 | 1997 1998 1999 Louisiana Tech |
| 16 | Danny Wuerffel | 114 | 1993 1994 1995 1996 Florida |
| 17 | Derek Carr | 113 | 2009 2011 2012 2013 Fresno State |
| 17 | Bo Nix | 113 | 2019 2020 2021 Auburn ᛫ 2022 2023 Oregon |
| 19 | Colt McCoy | 112 | 2006 2007 2008 2009Texas |
| 20 | Brandon Doughty | 111 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky |
| 21 | Russell Wilson | 109 | 2008 2009 2010 NC State ᛫ 2011 Wisconsin |
| 22 | Will Rogers | 108 | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mississippi State ᛫ 2024 Washington |
| 23 | Tajh Boyd | 107 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Clemson |
| 24 | Brent Stockstill | 106 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Middle Tennessee |
| 25 | Marcus Mariota | 105 | 2012 2013 2014 Oregon |
| # | Player | TDs | Seasons |
| 26 | J. T. Barrett | 104 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Ohio State |
| 26 | Clayton Tune | 104 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Houston |
| 26 | Seth Henigan | 104 | 2021 2022 2023 2024 Memphis | 2021 2022 2023 2024 Memphis | 2021 2022 2023 2024 Memphis |
| 29 | Dan LeFevour | 102 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Central Michigan |
| 30 | Chase Daniel | 101 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Missouri |
| 31 | Chad Pennington | 100 | 1997 1998 1999 Marshall |
| 32 | Matt Leinart | 99 | 2003 2004 2005 USC |
| 32 | Chase Clement | 99 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Rice |
| 32 | Tim Hiller | 99 | 2005 2007 2008 2009 Western Michigan |
| 32 | Drew Lock | 99 | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Missouri |
| 36 | Geno Smith | 98 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 West Virginia |
| 37 | Trevor Vittatoe | 97 | 2007 2008 2009 2010 UTEP |
| 37 | Holton Ahlers | 97 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 East Carolina |
| 39 | Jared Goff | 96 | 2013 2014 2015 California |
| 39 | Zach Terrell | 96 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Western Michigan |
| 39 | Michael Penix Jr. | 96 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Indiana ᛫ 2022 2023 Washington |
| 42 | Kliff Kingsbury | 95 | 1999 2000 2001 2002 Texas Tech |
| 42 | Brady Quinn | 95 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 Notre Dame |
| 42 | Philip Rivers | 95 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 NC State |
| 42 | Justin Herbert | 95 | 2016 2017 2018 2019 Oregon |
| 46 | Max Hall | 94 | 2007 2008 2009 BYU |
| 46 | Jake Browning | 94 | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Washington |
| 46 | Sam Ehlinger | 94 | 2017 2018 2019 2020 Texas | 2017 2018 2019 2020 Texas | 2017 2018 2019 2020 Texas |
| 49 | Logan Woodside | 93 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Toledo |
| 49 | Patrick Mahomes | 93 | 2014 2015 2016 Texas Tech |
| 49 | Mason Fine | 93 | 2016 2017 2018 2019 North Texas |
| 49 | Caleb Williams | 93 | 2021 Oklahoma ᛫ 2022 2023 USC |

### Single season

Zappe also holds the single-season passing touchdowns record, with 62, after breaking the record set by Joe Burrow 2 seasons before.
| # | Player | TDs | Season |
| 1 | Bailey Zappe | 62 | 2021 Western Kentucky |
| 2 | Joe Burrow | 60 | 2019 LSU |
| 3 | Colt Brennan | 58 | 2006 Hawaii |
| 4 | David Klingler | 54 | 1990 Houston |
| 5 | B. J. Symons | 52 | 2003 Texas Tech |
| 6 | Sam Bradford | 50 | 2008 Oklahoma |
| 6 | Derek Carr | 50 | 2013 Fresno State |
| 6 | Dwayne Haskins | 50 | 2018 Ohio State |
| 9 | Brandon Doughty | 49 | 2014 Western Kentucky |
| 10 | Graham Harrell | 48 | 2007 Texas Tech |
| 10 | Case Keenum | 48 | 2011 Houston |
| 10 | Brandon Doughty | 48 | 2015 Western Kentucky |
| 10 | Anthony Gordon | 48 | 2019 Washington State |
| # | Player | TDs | Season |
| 14 | Jim McMahon | 47 | 1980 BYU |
| 14 | Paul Smith | 47 | 2007 Tulsa |
| 14 | Bryce Young | 47 | 2021 Alabama |
| 17 | Andre Ware | 46 | 1989 Houston |
| 17 | Tim Rattay | 46 | 1998 Louisiana Tech |
| 17 | David Johnson | 46 | 2008 Tulsa |
| 17 | Matt Johnson | 46 | 2015 Bowling Green |
| # | Player | TDs | Season |
| 21 | Kliff Kingsbury | 45 | 2002 Texas Tech |
| 21 | Graham Harrell | 45 | 2008 Texas Tech |
| 21 | Logan Woodside | 45 | 2016 Toledo |
| 21 | Bo Nix | 45 | 2023 Oregon |
| 25 | Chase Clement | 44 | 2008 Rice |
| 25 | Case Keenum | 44 | 2008 Houston |
| 25 | Case Keenum | 44 | 2009 Houston |
| 25 | Drew Lock | 44 | 2017 Missouri |
| 25 | C. J. Stroud | 44 | 2021 Ohio State |

### Single game

The single-game record holder is Houston's David Klingler, who threw for 11 touchdowns in a 1990 game against Eastern Washington. Five quarterbacks (including Klingler himself) have had a 9-touchdown game, and 7 quarterbacks have had an 8-touchdown game. Many quarterbacks have passed for 7 touchdowns in a game, too many to list here.
| # | Player | TDs | Date / Team |
| 1 | David Klingler | 11 | Nov. 17, 1990 Houston |
| 2 | Dennis Shaw | 9 | Nov. 15, 1969 San Diego State |
| 2 | David Klingler | 9 | Aug. 31, 1991 Houston |
| 2 | Case Keenum | 9 | Oct. 27, 2011 Houston |
| 2 | Anthony Gordon | 9 | Sep. 21, 2019 Washington State |
| 2 | Tanner Mordecai | 9 | Nov. 5, 2022 SMU |
| 7 | Jason Martin | 8 | Oct. 19, 1996 Louisiana Tech |
| 7 | Pat Barnes | 8 | Nov. 2, 1996 California |
| 7 | Nick Rolovich | 8 | Dec. 8, 2001 Hawaii |
| 7 | B. J. Symons | 8 | Oct. 4, 2003 Texas Tech |
| 7 | Giovanni Vizza | 8 | Nov. 10, 2007 North Texas |
| 7 | Geno Smith | 8 | Sep. 29, 2012 West Virginia |
| 7 | Brandon Doughty | 8 | Nov. 28, 2014 Western Kentucky |

## Passing efficiency

Passing efficiency is a measure of quarterback performance based on the following formula:
${\text{Passing Efficiency}}={(100\times {\text{completions}})+(8.4\times {\text{yards}})+(330\times {\text{touchdowns}})-(200\times {\text{interceptions}}) \over {\text{attempts}}}$
Only passing statistics are included in the formula. Any yards or touchdowns gained rushing or by any other method are not a factor in the formula, and neither are fumbles. Players tend to rank highly on the list when they have a high completion percentage, high yards per completion, and many touchdowns to few interceptions.

### Career

The career leader (with a minimum of 325 completions) in effiency is Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa. The career list is dominated by recent players, with no player debuting before the 21st century appearing in the top 25 of the list. To appear on this list, a player must have at least 325 career completions.
| # | Player | Eff | Seasons |
| 1 | Tua Tagovailoa | 199.4 | 2017 2018 2019 Alabama |
| 2 | Mac Jones | 197.6 | 2018 2019 2020 Alabama |
| 3 | C. J. Stroud | 182.4 | 2020 2021 2022 Ohio State |
| 4 | Kyler Murray | 181.3 | 2015 Texas A&M ᛫ 2017 2018 Oklahoma |
| 5 | Justin Fields | 178.8 | 2018 Georgia ᛫ 2019 2020 Ohio State |
| 6 | Sam Bradford | 175.6 | 2007 2008 2009 Oklahoma |
| 7 | Baker Mayfield | 175.4 | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma |
| 8 | Grayson McCall | 174.7 | 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Coastal Carolina ᛫ 2024 NC State |
| 9 | Dwayne Haskins | 174.0 | 2017 2018 Ohio State |
| 10 | Joe Burrow | 172.4 | 2016 2017 Ohio State ᛫ 2018 2019 LSU |
| 11 | Hendon Hooker | 172.2 | 2018 2019 2020 Virginia Tech ᛫ 2021 2022 Tennessee |
| 12 | Marcus Mariota | 171.8 | 2012 2013 2014 Oregon |
| 13 | Tim Tebow | 170.8 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Florida |
| 14 | Caleb Williams | 169.3 | 2021 Oklahoma ᛫ 2022 2023 USC |
| 15 | Kellen Moore | 169.0 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State |
| 16 | Ryan Dinwiddie | 168.9 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 Boise State |
| 17 | Bailey Zappe | 168.7 | 2021 Western Kentucky |
| 18 | Kyle Trask | 168.5 | 2018 2019 2020 Florida |
| 19 | Colt Brennan | 167.6 | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii |
| 20 | Bryce Petty | 166.0 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Baylor |
| 21 | Will Grier | 165.1 | 2015 Florida ᛫ 2017 2018 West Virginia |
| 22 | Bryce Young | 165.0 | 2020 2021 2022 Alabama |
| 23 | Alex Smith | 164.4 | 2002 2003 2004 Utah |
| 24 | Trevor Lawrence | 164.3 | 2018 2019 2020 Clemson |
| 25 | Sam Howell | 164.2 | 2019 2020 2021 North Carolina |
| # | Player | Eff | Seasons |
| 26 | Johnny Manziel | 164.1 | 2012 2013 Texas A&M |
| 27 | Danny Wuerffel | 163.6 | 1993 1994 1995 1996 Florida |
| 28 | Jameis Winston | 163.3 | 2013 2014 Florida State |
| 29 | Zach Wilson | 162.9 | 2018 2019 2020 BYU |
| 29 | Logan Woodside | 162.9 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Toledo |
| 31 | Andrew Luck | 162.8 | 2009 2010 2011 Stanford |
| 32 | Ty Detmer | 162.7 | 1988 1989 1990 1991 BYU |
| 32 | Jalen Hurts | 162.7 | 2016 2017 2018 Alabama ᛫ 2019 Oklahoma |
| 34 | A. J. McCarron | 162.5 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Alabama |
| 35 | Omar Jacobs | 162.5 | 2003 2004 2005 Bowling Green |
| 36 | Steve Sarkisian | 162.0 | 1995 1996 BYU |
| 37 | David Fales | 161.7 | 2012 2013 San Jose State |
| 38 | Brandon Doughty | 161.0 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky |
| 39 | Dillon Gabriel | 160.9 | 2019 2020 2021 UCF ᛫ 2022 2023 Oklahoma ᛫ 2024 Oregon |
| 40 | Stetson Bennett | 160.9 | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Georgia |
| 41 | Case Keenum | 160.6 | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston |
| 42 | J. J. McCarthy | 160.5 | 2021 2022 2023 Michigan |
| 43 | Matt Johnson | 160.4 | 2012 2013 2014 2015 Bowling Green |
| 43 | Shedeur Sanders | 160.4 | 2023 2024 Colorado |
| 45 | Stefan LeFors | 159.8 | 2001 2002 2003 2004 Louisville |
| 46 | Mason Rudolph | 159.7 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma State |
| 46 | Kaleb Eleby | 159.7 | 2018 2020 2021 Western Michigan |
| 48 | Matt Leinart | 159.5 | 2003 2004 2005 USC |
| 49 | Seth Russell | 159.4 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Baylor |
| 50 | Matt Corral | 159.2 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Ole Miss |

### Single season

To qualify for the single-season lists, a quarterback must have at least 15 passing attempts per the number of games his team played that season. The record is currently held by LSU's Jayden Daniels, who broke the record in 2023. The record has been broken many times recently, including in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.
| # | Player | Eff | Team |
| 1 | Jayden Daniels | 208.0 | 2023 LSU |
| 2 | Grayson McCall | 207.6 | 2021 Coastal Carolina |
| 3 | Mac Jones | 203.1 | 2020 Alabama |
| 4 | Joe Burrow | 202.0 | 2019 LSU |
| 5 | Tua Tagovailoa | 199.4 | 2018 Alabama |
| 6 | Kyler Murray | 199.2 | 2018 Oklahoma |
| 7 | Baker Mayfield | 198.9 | 2017 Oklahoma |
| 8 | Zach Wilson | 196.4 | 2020 BYU |
| 9 | Baker Mayfield | 196.4 | 2016 Oklahoma |
| 10 | Kaleb Eleby | 195.1 | 2020 Western Michigan |
| # | Player | Eff | Team |
| 11 | Dustin Crum | 192.7 | 2020 Kent State |
| 12 | Russell Wilson | 191.8 | 2011 Wisconsin |
| 13 | Jalen Hurts | 191.2 | 2019 Oklahoma |
| 14 | Robert Griffin III | 189.5 | 2011 Baylor |
| 15 | Bo Nix | 188.3 | 2023 Oregon |
| 16 | C. J. Stroud | 186.6 | 2021 Ohio State |
| 17 | Colt Brennan | 186.0 | 2006 Hawaii |
| 18 | Jameis Winston | 184.8 | 2013 Florida State |
| 19 | Grayson McCall | 184.3 | 2020 Coastal Carolina |
| 20 | Logan Woodside | 183.3 | 2016 Toledo |
| # | Player | Eff | Team |
| 21 | Shaun King | 183.3 | 1998 Tulane |
| 22 | Kellen Moore | 182.6 | 2010 Boise State |
| 23 | Cam Newton | 182.0 | 2010 Auburn |
| 24 | Marcus Mariota | 181.7 | 2014 Oregon |
| 25 | Stefan LeFors | 181.7 | 2004 Louisville |
| 26 | Justin Fields | 181.4 | 2019 Ohio State |
| 26 | Hendon Hooker | 181.4 | 2021 Tennessee |
| 26 | Mike White | 181.4 | 2016 Western Kentucky |
| 29 | Sam Bradford | 180.8 | 2008 Oklahoma |
| 30 | Jaxson Dart | 180.7 | 2024 Ole Miss |

### Single game

The NCAA does not recognize a single-game leaderboard in passing efficiency, and detailed box scores do not exist for every year going back to the beginning of college football, but the single-game record holder is Cincinnati's Gunner Kiel, who achieved an efficiency rating of 388.6, going 15-for-15 for 319 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 2015 game against UCF.

## Completions
### Career

Keenum is also the career leader in completions, breaking a record previously held by Harrell.
| # | Player | Comp | Seasons |
| 1 | Case Keenum | 1,546 | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston |
| 2 | Will Rogers | 1,521 | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mississippi State ᛫ 2024 Washington |
| 3 | Luke Falk | 1,404 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 Washington State |
| 4 | Graham Harrell | 1,403 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Texas Tech |
| 5 | Timmy Chang | 1,388 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Hawaii |
| 5 | Landry Jones | 1,388 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Oklahoma |
| 7 | Dillon Gabriel | 1,376 | 2019 2020 2021 UCF ᛫ 2022 2023 Oklahoma ᛫ 2024 Oregon |
| 8 | Bo Nix | 1,286 | 2019 2020 2021 Auburn ᛫ 2022 2023 Oregon |
| 9 | Kliff Kingsbury | 1,231 | 1999 2000 2001 2002 Texas Tech |
| 10 | Sean Mannion | 1,187 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Oregon State |
| 11 | Corey Robinson | 1,179 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Troy |
| 12 | Dan LeFevour | 1,171 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Central Michigan |
| 13 | Colt McCoy | 1,157 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Texas |
| 13 | Kellen Moore | 1,157 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State |
| 15 | Rakeem Cato | 1,153 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Marshall |
| 16 | Connor Bazelak | 1,151 | 2019 2020 2021 Missouri ᛫ 2022 Indiana ᛫ 2023 2024 Bowling Green |
| 17 | Seth Henigan | 1,148 | 2021 2022 2023 2024 Memphis |
| 18 | Sam Hartman | 1,135 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Wake Forest ᛫ 2023 Notre Dame |
| 19 | Holton Ahlers | 1,127 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 East Carolina |
| 20 | Colt Brennan | 1,115 | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii |
| 21 | Chase Daniel | 1,094 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Missouri |
| 22 | Philip Rivers | 1,087 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 NC State |
| 22 | Derek Carr | 1,087 | 2009 2011 2012 2013 Fresno State |
| 24 | Chase Holbrook | 1,086 | 2006 2007 2008 New Mexico State |
| 25 | Michael Penix Jr. | 1,067 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Indiana ᛫ 2022 2023 Washington |
| # | Player | Comp | Seasons |
| 26 | Zac Dysert | 1,066 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Miami (OH) |
| 27 | Luke McCown | 1,063 | 2000 2001 2002 2003 Louisiana Tech |
| 28 | Brent Stockstill | 1,055 | 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Middle Tennessee |
| 29 | Shane Carden | 1,052 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 East Carolina |
| 30 | Kenny Pickett | 1,045 | 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Pittsburgh |
| 31 | Mason Fine | 1,039 | 2016 2017 2018 2019 North Texas |
| 32 | Brett Rypien | 1,036 | 2015 2016 2017 2018 Boise State |
| 33 | Keith Wenning | 1,035 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Ball State |
| 34 | Frank Harris | 1,034 | 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 UTSA |
| 35 | Chris Redman | 1,031 | 1996 1997 1998 1999 Louisville |
| 36 | Baker Mayfield | 1,026 | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma |
| 37 | Brandon Doughty | 1,023 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky |
| 38 | Cooper Rush | 1,022 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 Central Michigan |
| 39 | Tim Rattay | 1,015 | 1997 1998 1999 Louisiana Tech |
| 40 | Connor Halliday | 1,014 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Washington State |
| 41 | Tim Hiller | 1,013 | 2005 2007 2008 2009 Western Michigan |
| 42 | Matt Barkley | 1,001 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 USC |
| 43 | Jarret Doege | 996 | 2017 2018 Bowling Green ᛫ 2019 2020 2021 West Virginia ᛫ 2022 Troy |
| 44 | Alan Bowman | 994 | 2018 2019 2020 Texas Tech ᛫ 2021 2022 Michigan ᛫ 2023 2024 Oklahoma State |
| 45 | Brock Purdy | 993 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 Iowa State |
| 46 | Clayton Thorson | 991 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Northwestern |
| 47 | Kedon Slovis | 989 | 2019 2020 2021 USC ᛫ 2022 Pittsburgh ᛫ 2023 BYU |
| 48 | Geno Smith | 988 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 West Virginia |
| 49 | Curtis Painter | 987 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Purdue |
| 50 | Jared Goff | 977 | 2013 2014 2015 California |

### Single season

Harrell holds the single season record. Of the top 17 players on the list, 13 played under head coach Mike Leach.
| # | Player | Comp | Team |
| 1 | Graham Harrell | 512 | 2007 Texas Tech |
| 2 | Will Rogers | 505 | 2021 Mississippi State |
| 3 | Anthony Gordon | 493 | 2019 Washington State |
| 4 | Case Keenum | 492 | 2009 Houston |
| 5 | Kliff Kingsbury | 479 | 2002 Texas Tech |
| 6 | Bailey Zappe | 475 | 2021 Western Kentucky |
| 7 | B. J. Symons | 470 | 2003 Texas Tech |
| 8 | Gardner Minshew | 468 | 2018 Washington State |
| 9 | Derek Carr | 453 | 2013 Fresno State |
| 10 | Connor Halliday | 449 | 2013 Washington State |
| # | Player | Comp | Team |
| 11 | Luke Falk | 447 | 2015 Washington State |
| 12 | Luke Falk | 443 | 2016 Washington State |
| 13 | Graham Harrell | 442 | 2008 Texas Tech |
| 14 | Case Keenum | 428 | 2011 Houston |
| 15 | Sonny Cumbie | 421 | 2004 Texas Tech |
| 16 | Will Rogers | 415 | 2022 Mississippi State |
| 17 | Graham Harrell | 412 | 2006 Texas Tech |
| 18 | Brandon Weeden | 409 | 2011 Oklahoma State |
| 19 | Colt Brennan | 406 | 2006 Hawaii |
| 19 | Rakeem Cato | 406 | 2012 Marshall |
| # | Player | Comp | Team |
| 21 | Landry Jones | 405 | 2010 Oklahoma |
| 22 | Joe Burrow | 402 | 2019 LSU |
| 23 | Tim Couch | 400 | 1998 Kentucky |
| 23 | Sean Mannion | 400 | 2013 Oregon State |
| 25 | Seth Doege | 398 | 2011 Texas Tech |
| 26 | Case Keenum | 397 | 2008 Houston |
| 27 | Chase Holbrook | 396 | 2006 New Mexico State |
| 28 | Dominique Davis | 393 | 2011 East Carolina |
| 29 | Shane Carden | 392 | 2014 East Carolina |
| 30 | Kyle McCord | 391 | 2024 Syracuse Orange |

### Single game

The single-game record is tied between Eastern Michigan's Andy Schmidt and Washington State's Connor Halliday.
| # | Player | Comp | Date / Team |
| 1 | Andy Schmitt | 58 | Nov. 28, 2008 Eastern Michigan |
| 1 | Connor Halliday | 58 | Oct. 19, 2013 Washington State |
| 3 | Case Keenum | 56 | Dec. 5, 2009 Houston |
| 3 | Connor Halliday | 56 | Oct. 25, 2014 Washington State |
| 5 | Rusty LaRue | 55 | Oct. 28, 1995 Wake Forest |
| 5 | Drew Brees | 55 | Oct. 10, 1998 Purdue |
| 5 | Luke Falk | 55 | Sep. 10, 2016 Washington State |
| 8 | David Piland | 53 | Sep. 8, 2012 Houston |
| 9 | Derek Carr | 52 | Aug. 29, 2013 Fresno State |
| 9 | Deshaun Watson | 52 | Nov. 12, 2016 Clemson |
| 9 | Patrick Mahomes | 52 | Oct. 22, 2016 Texas Tech |
| 9 | Gardner Minshew | 52 | Nov. 12, 2017 East Carolina |
| 13 | Case Keenum | 51 | Oct. 3, 2009 Houston |
| 14 | Rusty LaRue | 50 | Nov. 18, 1995 Wake Forest |
| 14 | Andy Schmitt | 50 | Nov. 22, 2008 Eastern Michigan |
| 14 | Luke Falk | 50 | Oct. 10, 2015 Washington State |
| 14 | Anthony Gordon | 50 | Nov. 23, 2019 Washington State |
| 14 | Will Rogers | 50 | Sep. 18, 2021 Mississippi State |
| # | Player | Comp | Date / Team |
| 19 | Brian Lindgren | 49 | Oct. 6, 2001 Idaho |
| 19 | Kliff Kingsbury | 49 | Oct. 5, 2002 Texas Tech |
| 19 | Kliff Kingsbury | 49 | Oct. 19, 2002 Texas Tech |
| 19 | Bruce Gradkowski | 49 | Sep. 20, 2003 Toledo |
| 19 | Chase Holbrook | 49 | Oct. 15, 2006 New Mexico State |
| 19 | Connor Halliday | 49 | Oct. 4, 2014 Washington State |
| 19 | Dwayne Haskins | 49 | Oct. 20, 2018 Ohio State |
| 19 | Carson Strong | 49 | Oct. 23, 2021 Nevada |
| 27 | Chase Holbrook | 48 | Sep. 30, 2006 New Mexico State |
| 27 | Graham Harrell | 48 | Sep. 8, 2007 Texas Tech |
| 27 | Anthony Gordon | 48 | Nov. 29, 2019 Washington State |

## Completion percentage
### Career

Alabama's Mac Jones holds the NCAA record for completion percentage, with 413 completions on 556 attempts. This is over 1.5 percentage points higher than the second place on the list, Northwestern's Dan Persa. The highest completion percentage among quarterbacks with over 1,000 career attempts is the 70.39% of Hawaii's Colt Brennan.
A quarterback must have at least 500 career attempts to appear in this leaderboard.
| # | Player | Pct | C | A | Seasons |
| 1 | Mac Jones | 74.28% | 413 | 556 | 2018 2019 2020 Alabama |
| 2 | Dan Persa | 72.67% | 460 | 633 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Northwestern |
| 3 | Shedeur Sanders | 71.78% | 651 | 907 | 2023 2024 Colorado |
| 4 | Anthony Gordon | 71.47% | 496 | 694 | 2018 2019 Washington State |
| 5 | Colt Brennan | 70.39% | 1,115 | 1,584 | 2005 2006 2007 Hawaii |
| 6 | Colt McCoy | 70.33% | 1,157 | 1,645 | 2006 2007 2008 2009 Texas |
| 7 | Grant Hedrick | 70.16% | 475 | 677 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 Boise State |
| 8 | Dwayne Haskins | 70.00% | 413 | 590 | 2017 2018 Ohio State |
| 9 | Graham Harrell | 69.80% | 1,403 | 2,010 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 Texas Tech |
| 10 | Grayson McCall | 69.62% | 763 | 1,096 | 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Coastal Carolina ᛫ 2024 NC State |
| 11 | Kellen Moore | 69.78% | 1,157 | 1,658 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Boise State |
| 12 | Will Rogers | 69.55% | 1,521 | 2,187 | 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mississippi State ᛫ 2024 Washington |
| 13 | Brandon Weeden | 69.54% | 767 | 1,103 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 Oklahoma State |
| 14 | Chase Holbrook | 69.41% | 1,087 | 1,566 | 2006 2007 2008 New Mexico State |
| 15 | Case Keenum | 69.36% | 1,546 | 2,229 | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Houston |
| # | Player | Pct | C | A | Seasons |
| 16 | Joe Southwick | 69.35% | 439 | 633 | 2010 2011 2012 2013 Boise State |
| 17 | Tua Tagovailoa | 69.30% | 474 | 684 | 2017 2018 2019 Alabama |
| 18 | C. J. Stroud | 69.28% | 575 | 830 | 2020 2021 2022 Ohio State |
| 19 | Bailey Zappe | 69.24% | 475 | 686 | 2021 Western Kentucky |
| 20 | Jacob Zeno | 69.02% | 352 | 510 | 2019 2020 2021 Baylor ᛫ 2022 2023 UAB |
| 21 | Seth Doege | 69.00% | 819 | 1,187 | 2009 2010 2011 2012 Texas Tech |
| 22 | Jack Abraham | 68.97% | 598 | 867 | 2018 2019 2020 Southern Miss ᛫ 2022 Missouri |
| 23 | Johnny Manziel | 68.95% | 595 | 863 | 2012 2013 Texas A&M |
| 24 | Joe Burrow | 68.78% | 650 | 945 | 2016 2017 Ohio State ᛫ 2018 2019 LSU |
| 25 | Henry Colombi | 68.69% | 351 | 511 | 2018 2019 Utah State ᛫ 2020 2021 Texas Tech ᛫ 2022 Marshall |
| 26 | Brandon Doughty | 68.61% | 1,023 | 1,491 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Western Kentucky |
| 27 | Spencer Rattler | 68.55% | 900 | 1,313 | 2019 2020 2021 Oklahoma ᛫ 2022 2023 South Carolina |
| 28 | Baker Mayfield | 68.54% | 1,026 | 1,497 | 2013 Texas Tech ᛫ 2015 2016 2017 Oklahoma |
| 29 | Justin Fields | 68.45% | 423 | 618 | 2018 Georgia ᛫ 2019 2020 Ohio State |
| 30 | Teddy Bridgewater | 68.39% | 781 | 1,142 | 2011 2012 2013 Louisville |

### Single season

To qualify, a player must attempt 14 pass attempts per school game. Jones also held the single-season record, until it was broken in 2023 by Oregon's Bo Nix. At the end of the 20th century, the single season record was held by Daunte Culpepper, and while he is still 8th on the list, he is the only 20th century player on either list.
| # | Player | Pct | Cmp | Att | Team |
| 1 | Bo Nix | 77.45% | 364 | 470 | 2023 Oregon |
| 2 | Mac Jones | 77.36% | 311 | 402 | 2020 Alabama |
| 3 | Colt McCoy | 76.67% | 332 | 433 | 2008 Texas |
| 4 | Joe Burrow | 76.28% | 402 | 527 | 2019 LSU |
| 5 | Kellen Moore | 74.26% | 326 | 439 | 2011 Boise State |
| 6 | Shedeur Sanders | 74.00% | 353 | 477 | 2024 Colorado |
| 7 | Will Rogers | 73.94% | 505 | 683 | 2021 Mississippi State |
| 8 | Daunte Culpepper | 73.63% | 296 | 402 | 1998 UCF |
| 9 | Jacob Zeno | 73.61% | 279 | 379 | 2023 UAB |
| 10 | Stefan LeFors | 73.54% | 189 | 257 | 2004 Louisville |
| 11 | Zach Wilson | 73.51% | 247 | 336 | 2020 BYU |
| 12 | Dan Persa | 73.51% | 222 | 302 | 2010 Northwestern |
| 13 | Dustin Crum | 73.45% | 83 | 113 | 2020 Kent State |
| 14 | Dan Persa | 73.40% | 218 | 297 | 2011 Northwestern |
| 15 | Jack Abraham | 73.11% | 223 | 305 | 2018 Southern Miss |
| # | Player | Pct | Cmp | Att | Team |
| 16 | Tyler Huntley | 73.09% | 220 | 301 | 2019 Utah |
| 17 | Will Howard | 73.04% | 309 | 423 | 2024 Ohio State |
| 18 | Grayson McCall | 73.03% | 176 | 241 | 2021 Coastal Carolina |
| 19 | Dillon Gabriel | 72.93% | 326 | 447 | 2024 Oregon |
| 20 | Scott Tolzien | 72.93% | 194 | 266 | 2010 Wisconsin |
| 21 | Chase Daniel | 72.92% | 385 | 528 | 2008 Missouri |
| 22 | Graham Mertz | 72.91% | 261 | 358 | 2023 Florida |
| 23 | Haynes King | 72.86% | 176 | 241 | 2024 Georgia Tech |
| 24 | Russell Wilson | 72.82% | 225 | 309 | 2011 Wisconsin |
| 25 | Colt Brennan | 72.63% | 406 | 559 | 2006 Hawaii |
| 26 | Joe Southwick | 72.60% | 151 | 208 | 2013 Boise State |
| 27 | Wes Counts | 72.59% | 188 | 259 | 2021 Middle Tennessee |
| 28 | David Fales | 72.51% | 327 | 451 | 2012 San Jose State |
| 29 | Carson Beck | 72.42% | 302 | 417 | 2023 Georgia |
| 30 | Riley Skinner | 72.39% | 236 | 326 | 2007 Wake Forest |

### Single game

The NCAA doesn't recognize a full list for single games, but top performances include:
* Minimum 15 attempts – 100% three times: (18 of 18) – Zach Wilson of 2018 BYU, (17 of 17) – Garrett Shrader of 2022 Syracuse, (15 of 15) – Gunner Kiel of 2015 Cincinnati
* Minimum 20 attempts – 96.00% two times: (24 of 25) – Greyson Lambert of 2015 Georgia, (24 of 25) – Hudson Card of 2024 Purdue
* Minimum 30 attempts – 93.94% (31 of 33) – Kyle Allen of 2017 Houston
* Minimum 40 attempts – 90.91% (40 of 44) – Seth Doege of 2017 Texas Tech
* Minimum 50 attempts – 88.24% (45 of 51) – Geno Smith of 2012 West Virginia
* Minimum 60 attempts – 80.33% (49 of 61) – Carson Strong of 2021 Nevada