Kings Of Winter: Who’s the real QBU?

By Dorrington Myers

What is QBU?

" QBU " stands as a testament to more than just athletic prowess—it embodies a culture, a commitment to excellence, and a tradition that transcends the gridiron. This journey delves into the heart of universities known for crafting the finest quarterbacks in college football, propelling them to greatness at the next level. As we navigate this critical dataset, we uncover a time when the game's intensity and competition reached unprecedented heights, shaping the destinies of those who dared to redefine what it means to lead from the pocket.

The Inception

The College Football Playoff (CFP) era began with the 2014 season, replacing the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). The CFP is a postseason tournament that determines the national champion for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The tournament consists of a single-elimination bracket with four teams, two semifinal games, and a national championship game. The semifinals are played in bowl games, and the winners of those games advance to the championship. The championship game is held on the second Monday of January. The CFP will expand to include 12 teams for the 2024-25 season.

The Draft: QBs Selected During this Era

The NFL draft is a spectacle unlike any other in sports, where the promise of talent and potential franchise-changing quarterbacks ignites the passions of fans and executives alike. Each year, teams eagerly await their chance to secure the next star player who could lead them to glory. As we reflect on past drafts, some quarterbacks have become legends, while others have left their mark before moving on. This constant cycle of hope and anticipation underscores the thrilling journey of talent evaluation and team building in professional football. Here’s a look back at past drafts and players chosen.

2015 NFL Draft

Jameis Winston (Florida State) - 1st overall

Marcus Mariota (Oregon) - 2nd overall

Garrett Grayson (Colorado State) - 75th overall

Sean Mannion (Oregon State) - 89th overall

Bryce Petty (Baylor) - 103rd overall

Brett Hundley (UCLA) - 147th overall

Trevor Siemian (Northwestern) - 250th overall

2016 NFL Draft

Jared Goff (California) - 1st overall

Carson Wentz (North Dakota State) - 2nd overall

Paxton Lynch (Memphis) - 26th overall

Christian Hackenberg (Penn State) - 51st overall

Jacoby Brissett (NC State) - 91st overall

Cody Kessler (USC) - 93rd overall

Connor Cook (Michigan State) - 100th overall

Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) - 135th overall

Cardale Jones (Ohio State) - 139th overall

Kevin Hogan (Stanford) - 162nd overall

Nate Sudfeld (Indiana) - 187th overall

Jake Rudock (Michigan) - 191st overall

Brandon Allen (Arkansas) - 201st overall

Jeff Driskel (Louisiana Tech) - 207th overall

Brandon Doughty (Western Kentucky) - 223rd overall

2017 NFL Draft

Mitchell Trubisky (North Carolina) - 2nd overall

Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech) - 10th overall

Deshaun Watson (Clemson) - 12th overall

DeShone Kizer (Notre Dame) - 52nd overall

Davis Webb (California) - 87th overall

C.J. Beathard (Iowa) - 104th overall

Joshua Dobbs (Tennessee) - 135th overall

Nathan Peterman (Pittsburgh) - 171st overall

Brad Kaaya (Miami) - 215th overall

Chad Kelly (Ole Miss) - 253rd overall

2018 NFL Draft

Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) - 1st overall

Sam Darnold (USC) - 3rd overall

Josh Allen (Wyoming) - 7th overall

Josh Rosen (UCLA) - 10th overall

Lamar Jackson (Louisville) - 32nd overall

Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State) - 76th overall

Kyle Lauletta (Richmond) - 108th overall

Mike White (Western Kentucky) - 171st overall

Luke Falk (Washington State) - 199th overall

Tanner Lee (Nebraska) - 203rd overall

Danny Ealing (LSU) - 219th overall

Alex McGough (FIU) - 220th overall

Logan Woodside (Toledo) - 249th overall

2019 NFL Draft

Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) - 1st overall

Daniel Jones (Duke) - 6th overall

Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State) - 15th overall

Drew Lock (Missouri) - 42nd overall

Will Grier (West Virginia) - 100th overall

Ryan Finley (NC State) - 104th overall

Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) - 133rd overall

Easton Stick (North Dakota State) - 166th overall

Clayton Thorson (Northwestern) - 167th overall

Gardner Minshew (Washington State) - 178th overall

Trace McSorley (Penn State) - 197th overall

2020 NFL Draft

Joe Burrow (LSU) - 1st overall

Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) - 5th overall

Justin Herbert (Oregon) - 6th overall

Jordan Love (Utah State) - 26th overall

Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma) - 53rd overall

Jacob Eason (Washington) - 122nd overall

James Morgan (FIU) - 125th overall

Jake Fromm (Georgia) - 167th overall

Jake Luton (Oregon State) - 189th overall

Cole McDonald  (Hawaii) - 224th overall

Nate Stanley (Iowa) - 244th overall

Ben DiNucci (James Madison) - 231st overall

Tommy Stevens (Mississippi State) - 240th overall

2021 NFL Draft

Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) - 1st overall

Zach Wilson (BYU) - 2nd overall

Trey Lance (North Dakota State) - 3rd overall

Justin Fields (Ohio State) - 11th overall

Mac Jones (Alabama) - 15th overall

Kyle Trask (Florida) - 64th overall

Kellen Mond (Texas A&M) - 66th overall

Davis Mills (Stanford) - 67th overall

Ian Book (Notre Dame) - 133rd overall

Sam Ehlinger (Texas) - 218th overall

K.J. Costello  (Mississippi State) - Undrafted

2022 NFL Draft

Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh) - 20th overall

Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati) - 74th overall

Malik Willis (Liberty) - 86th overall

Matt Corral (Ole Miss) - 94th overall

Bailey Zappe (Western Kentucky) - 137th overall

Sam Howell (North Carolina) - 144th overall

Chris Oladokun (South Dakota State) - 241st overall

Skylar Thompson (Kansas State) - 247th overall

Brock Purdy (Iowa State) - 262nd overall

2023 NFL Draft

Bryce Young (Alabama) - 1st overall

C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) - 2nd overall

Anthony Richardson (Florida) - 4th overall

Will Levis (Kentucky) - 33rd overall

Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) - 68th overall

Jake Ealing (Fresno State) - 127th overall

Stetson Bennett (Georgia) - 128th overall

Aidan O'Connell (Purdue) - 135th overall

Clayton Tune  (Houston) - 139th overall

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA) - 140th overall

Sean Clifford (Penn State) - 149th overall

Jaren Hall (BYU) - 164th overall

Tanner McKee (Stanford) - 188th overall

Max Duggan (TCU) - 239th overall

2024 NFL Draft

Caleb Williams (USC) - Chicago Bears, 1st overall pick

Jayden Daniels (LSU) - Washington Commanders, 2nd overall pick

Drake Maye (North Carolina) - New England Patriots, 3rd overall pick

Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) - Atlanta Falcons, 8th overall pick

J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) - Minnesota Vikings, 10th overall pick

Bo Nix (Oregon) - Denver Broncos, 12th overall pick

Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) - New Orleans Saints, 150th overall pick

Sandwolf Quarterback Academy’s “QBU” Schools

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama

3. Ohio State

4. Clemson

5. USC

6. Florida State

7. LSU

8. Notre Dame

9. Texas A and M

10. Oklahoma State

Most Consistent Offense and Team Success During this Era

As of the end of the 2023 season, the Alabama Crimson Tide has held the best record during the College Football Playoff (CFP) era, which began with the 2014 season. Here are some key points that highlight Alabama's dominance:

National Championships: Alabama has won three national championships during the CFP era (2015, 2017, and 2020 seasons).

Playoff Appearances: Alabama has appeared in the CFP seven times (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021 seasons), which is the most by any team.

Overall Record: Alabama has consistently had strong regular-season and postseason records. Over the span of the CFP era, Alabama has maintained a winning percentage above 90%.

Highlights of Alabama’s Performance in the CFP Era

- 2014 Season: Reached the CFP semifinals

- 2015 Season: National Champions

- 2016 Season: National Runner-Up

- 2017 Season: National Champions

- 2018 Season: National Runner-Up

- 2019 Season: Did not make the CFP but had an 11-2 record

- 2020 Season: National Champions

- 2021 Season: National Runner-Up

- 2022 Season: Did not make the CFP but had an 11-2 record

- 2023 Season: Performance details to be confirmed post-season

Final Remarks

It's difficult to dispute that Alabama has made a strong case for being considered "QBU," but Oklahoma has undeniably excelled at producing NFL-caliber quarterbacks. Since 2010, Oklahoma has seen five quarterbacks drafted into the NFL, with three of them becoming major contributors to their teams' success. This track record underscores Oklahoma's unparalleled ability to develop top-tier talent at the quarterback position, solidifying their reputation as the premier "QBU" in college football.

As we reflect on this impressive legacy, it's clear that the journey doesn't end here. The pipeline of exceptional talent from Oklahoma continues to flow, promising even more stars in the NFL. Let's celebrate the incredible achievements of these quarterbacks and look forward to the next wave of game-changing talent emerging from this powerhouse program. The future of football is bright, and Oklahoma remains at the forefront, shaping the next generation of NFL legends.