.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
Bill Connelly’s Top 100 quarterbacks of the 2000s is an enjoyable, thoughtful read. It’s data-driven, historically aware and bound to spark debate, which is exactly what a list like that should do. But the ESPN rankings also reveal something interesting.
At Ohio State, championships apparently do not move the needle the way statistical dominance does.
Three Buckeye quarterbacks who won national championships as starters are not on the list: Craig Krenzel, Cardale Jones, and Will Howard. Meanwhile, these Ohio State quarterbacks are ranked: C.J. Stroud (No. 22), Justin Fields (No. 34), Troy Smith (No. 40), J.T. Barrett (No. 75), and Braxton Miller (No. 89).
This is not personal. Every Buckeye quarterback on the list earned his place. Smith won the Heisman. Stroud was a two time finalist. Fields finished third in the Heisman voting in 2019 after accounting for 51 total touchdowns. Barrett rewrote the Big Ten record book. Miller was one of the most dynamic players of his era and a two time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Were there Buckeyes snubbed from the list?
Ohio State offers a fascinating case study. The list celebrates sustained excellence, but does not appear to value championship execution in the same way.
Take the case of Cardale Jones. He was thrust into the starting job late in 2014 as Ohio State’s third string quarterback and responded with one of the most difficult postseason runs in college football history, winning the Big Ten Championship, the College Football Playoff semifinal and the national championship.
The following season, Jones opened as the full time starter and went 8-0 before eventually being replaced by J.T. Barrett. All told, he finished 11-0 as a starter. His overall numbers were modest, but an undefeated record across 11 starts, including three postseason victories on the biggest stage, is rare air. His career numbers do not scream Top 100.
Hype over stats for the top 100 QBs?
But if peak matters, and it clearly does elsewhere on the list, that stretch qualifies as one of the most consequential quarterback runs of the era.
Krenzel’s resume is even more straightforward. He went 24-3 as a starter, quarterbacked Ohio State to the 2002 national title and was a two time Fiesta Bowl MVP. He was not a statistical marvel. He was a winner. And in Columbus, that season still defines a generation.
More: Dallas Cowboys predicted to trade up for Ohio State star in 2026 NFL Draft
Howard’s resume goes beyond one championship run. At Kansas State, he appeared in 34 games and left as the program’s all time leader in passing touchdowns with 48, helping lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 title in 2022. He then transferred to the Ohio State Buckeyes for his final season, started all 16 games and guided the Buckeyes to a 14 win campaign and a College Football Playoff national championship. He was named MVP of both the Cotton Bowl and the national championship game.
Ohio State exposes the list’s philosophical trade off. Is it ranking quarterbacks based on how much they produced, or how much they won? Because in Columbus, those are not always the same thing.
More: Former Buckeyes WR says biggest adjustment is actually going to class
This is not about tearing anyone down. At Ohio State, the list rewards production and accolades. It just does not appear to reward the one thing Buckeye fans ultimately remember most, championships. And that is worth examining.
More college football news:
- Teddy Bridgewater's fiery reaction after Florida passes bill in his name
- Travis Hunter and wife Leanna Lenee announces new addition
- NFL Combine snubs: Championship standouts and postseason MVPs left out
- Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
- 10 worst Super Bowl halftime shows of all time
English (US)