Baker Mayfield's college career has reached legendary status this week, earning top honors in ESPN analyst Bill Connelly's list of the Top 100 quarterbacks of the 2000s. Mayfield's journey to the No. 1 spot is a testament to his outstanding performance and resilience, edging out other iconic names like Cam Newton, Vince Young, and Joe Burrow, who each had remarkable single seasons.
Mayfield's stats tell the story of a quarterback who delivered consistently over his college career. With 14,607 passing yards, a 69% completion rate, 131 touchdown passes, and only 30 interceptions, Mayfield's arm was as reliable as they come. Add in 1,083 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns, and you have a player who was as versatile as he was prolific, thriving in Lincoln Riley’s spread offense.
His path to stardom was anything but ordinary. Starting as a walk-on at Texas Tech in 2013, Mayfield quickly made a name for himself by throwing for 413 yards in his debut.
After an injury and subsequent transfer, he walked on again at Oklahoma, where he changed the trajectory of the program. Prior to his arrival, the Sooners hadn't clinched an outright conference title since 2010.
With Mayfield at the helm, they secured three consecutive Big 12 championships, reached the top five in national rankings three times, and made two College Football Playoff appearances.
His 2017 season was the stuff of legends, culminating in a Heisman Trophy win. That year, Mayfield amassed 4,938 total yards and 48 touchdowns, leading Oklahoma to the brink of a national championship game appearance.
Remarkably, he remains the only original walk-on to have won the Heisman. Despite doubts about his size, Mayfield was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and has since thrown for nearly 30,000 yards in the NFL.
Mayfield wasn't the only Sooner to make Connelly's list. Kyler Murray dazzled his way to the seventh spot after his electrifying 2018 season.
Sam Bradford, known for his record-setting 2008 campaign, landed at No. 16.
Jalen Hurts, Jason White, and Landry Jones also earned spots at No. 29, No. 39, and No. 46, respectively.
At the end of the day, Connelly’s ranking underscores a simple truth: no quarterback of the 2000s matched Mayfield's blend of longevity, production, and impact. His college career remains a benchmark for aspiring quarterbacks everywhere.