I'll start this post with a clarification that I love Will Howard as the Buckeyes QB. While he's not CJ Stroud- he sets the tone for this team, and can do enough in Day's system to get it done.
That said, I was thinking about past quarterbacks to win the NCAA title, and it strikes me how different college and the NFL have been in that regard. You almost never see a team win the Lombardi without a great quarterback. In college, by my count, you only see a great QB win it about 1 out of every 3 years. Everyone may not agree with my categorizations, but counting this year, I'd say that there have been 10 or 11 QBs that would generally be considered superstars in the college game since the BCS started- so 11 out of 27 times. I'll attempt to embed my spreadsheet below.
Why do you think that is? Is it because intangible factors like leadership and demeanor mean more since we're dealing with less mature players? Is it because it has been possible to out-talent teams more in the college game, so the impact of the QB can be lessened? (If so, will we start to see QB stardom be an increasingly important stat as the college game becomes NFL lite with NIL and the portal?)
What are your thoughts? Just something to chew on between rewatches of Captain Jack's big play.
(please excuse the crappy formatting and any misspellings)
Year Team Title QB College Superstar?
2024 OSU/Notre Dame CFP Howard/Leonard No
2023 Michigan CFP Mccarthy Hell no
2022 Georgia CFP Bennett No
2021 Georgia CFP Bennett No
2020 Alabama CFP Jones No
2019 LSU CFP Burrow Yes
2018 Clemson CFP Lawrence Yes
2017 Alabama CFP Tua Iffy
2016 Clemson CFP Watson Yes
2015 Alabama CFP Hurts No
2014 Ohio State CFP Cardale No
2013 Florida State BCS Winston Yes
2012 Alabama BCS McCarron No
2011 Alabama BCS McCarron No
2010 Auburn BCS Newton Yes
2009 Alabama BCS McElroy No
2008 Florida BCS Tebow Yes
2007 LSU BCS Flynn No
2006 Florida BCS Leake No
2005 Texas BCS Young Yes
2004 Southern California BCS Leinart Yes
2003 LSU, Southern California BCS, AP, FWAA Leinart Yes
2002 Ohio State BCS Krenzel In our hearts
2001 Miami (Fla.) BCS Dorsey Yes
2000 Oklahoma BCS Heupel No
1999 Florida State BCS Weinke No
1998 Tennessee BCS Tee Martin No
