Passing Yards Year-by-Year Leaders and Records

An asterisk (*) after a player's name indicates bowl stats are included.
Read more about our data coverage.

Leaders

  • Since 1956
Leaders Table
Year Player Yds School
2024Cameron Ward3494Miami (FL)
2023Michael Penix Jr.*4903Washington
2022Austin Reed*4746Western Kentucky
2021Bailey Zappe*5967Western Kentucky
2020Mac Jones*4500Alabama
2019Joe Burrow*5671Louisiana State
2018Dwayne Haskins*4831Ohio State
2017Mason Rudolph*4904Oklahoma State
2016Patrick Mahomes5052Texas Tech
2015Brandon Doughty*5055Western Kentucky
2014Brandon Doughty*4830Western Kentucky
2013Derek Carr*5083Fresno State
2012Nick Florence*4309Baylor
2011Case Keenum*5631Houston
2010Bryant Moniz*5040Hawaii
2009Case Keenum*5671Houston
2008Graham Harrell*5111Texas Tech
2007Graham Harrell*5705Texas Tech
2006Colt Brennan*5549Hawaii
2005Colt Brennan4301Hawaii
2004Sonny Cumbie*4742Texas Tech
2003B.J. Symons*5833Texas Tech
2002Kliff Kingsbury*5017Texas Tech
2001David Carr4308Fresno State
2000Chris Weinke4167Florida State
1999Tim Rattay3922Louisiana Tech
1998Tim Rattay4943Louisiana Tech
1997Tim Couch3884Kentucky
1996Josh Wallwork4090Wyoming
1995Mike Maxwell3611Nevada
1994John Walsh3712Brigham Young
1993Chris Vargas4265Nevada
1992Jimmy Klingler3818Houston
1991Ty Detmer4031Brigham Young
1990Ty Detmer5188Brigham Young
1989Andre Ware4699Houston
1988Scott Mitchell4322Utah
1987Todd Santos3932San Diego State
1986Sammy Garza3140UTEP
1985Robbie Bosco4273Brigham Young
1984Robbie Bosco3875Brigham Young
1983Steve Young3902Brigham Young
1982Todd Dillon3517Long Beach State
1981Sam King3778Nevada-Las Vegas
1980Jim McMahon4571Brigham Young
1979Marc Wilson3720Brigham Young
1978Mike Ford3007Southern Methodist
1977Doug Williams3286Grambling State
1976Tommy Kramer3317Rice
1975Craig Penrose2660San Diego State
1974Steve Bartkowski2580California
1973Jesse Freitas2993San Diego State
1972Don Strock3243Virginia Tech
1971Gary Huff2736Florida State
1970Bob Parker2789Air Force
1969Dennis Shaw3185San Diego State
1968Greg Cook3272Cincinnati
1967Sal Olivas2225New Mexico State
1966Mark Reed2368Arizona
1965Bill Anderson3464Tulsa
1964Jerry Rhome2870Tulsa
1963Don Trull2157Baylor
1962Terry Baker1738Oregon State
1961Ron Miller1487Wisconsin
1960Norm Snead1676Wake Forest
1959Dick Norman1963Stanford
1958Randy Duncan1347Iowa
1957Lee Grosscup1398Utah
1956John Brodie1633Stanford