List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders explained

The list of college football yearly total offense leaders identifies the major college leaders for each season from 1937 to the present. It includes yearly leaders in two statistical categories: (1) total offense yards, and (2) total offense yards per game. From 1937 to 1969, the NCAA determined its national total offense individual title based on total yardage. Starting in 1970, the NCAA began making that determination based on total offense yards per game.

Total offense leaders

Key
† = Winner of that year's Heisman Trophy
Bold = Figure established an NCAA major college record

Leaders in total offense by NCAA season! Year! Name! Total yards! Name!
1937Byron White[1]
(Colorado)		1,596
1938Davey O'Brien
(TCU)		1,847
1939Kenny Washington
(UCLA)		1,370Tom Harmon
(Michigan)		169.5
1940Johnny Knolla
(Creighton)		1,420Tom Harmon†[2]
(Michigan)		168.3
1941Bud Schwenk[3]
(Washington University in St. Louis)		1,928Bud Schwenk[4] 214.2
1942Frank Sinkwich†[5]
(Georgia)		2,187
1943R. Hoernschemeyer[6]
(Indiana)		1,648
1944Bob Fenimore[7]
(Oklahoma State)		1,758Bob Fenimore[8] 219.75
1945Bob Fenimore[9]
(Oklahoma State)		1,641Bob Fenimore[10] 205.1
1946Travis Tidwell
(Auburn)		1,715Travis Tidwell[11] [12] 171.5
1947Fred Enke[13]
(Arizona)		1,941Fred Enke[14] 194.1
1948Stan Heath[15]
(Nevada)		1,992Stan Heath[16] 221.3
1949Johnny Bright
(Drake)		1,950
1950Johnny Bright[17]
(Drake)		2,400Johnny Bright[18] 266.7
1951Dick Kazmaier†[19]
(Princeton)		1,827
1952Ted Marchibroda[20]
(Detroit)		1,813
1953Paul Larson[21]
(California)		1,572
1954George Shaw[22]
(Oregon)		1,536
1955George Welsh[23] 1,348
1956John Brodie[24]
(Stanford)		1,642
1957Bob Newman
(Washington State)		1,444
1958Dick Bass[25]
(Pacific)		1,440Randy Duncan
(Iowa)		156.2
1959Dick Norman
(Stanford)		2,018
1960Billy Kilmer[26]
(UCLA)		1,889Billy Kilmer[27] 188.9
1961Dave Hoppman
(Iowa State)		1,638Dave Hoppman[28] 163.8
1962Terry Baker†
(Oregon State)		2,276
1963George Mira
(Miami [FL])		2,318George Mira[29] 231.8
1964Jerry Rhome
(Tulsa)		3,128Jerry Rhome[30] 312.8
1965Billy Anderson
(Tulsa)		3,343Billy Anderson[31] 334.3
1966Virgil Carter
(BYU)		2,545
1967Sal Olivas[32]
(New Mexico State)		2,184
1968Greg Cook
(Cincinnati)		3,210Greg Cook321.0
1969Dennis Shaw
(San Diego State)		3,197
1970Jim Plunkett
(Stanford)		3,189Pat Sullivan
(Auburn)		285.6
1971Don Bunce
(Stanford)		2,805Gary Huff
(Florida State)		241.2
1972Don Strock
(Virginia Tech)		3,170Don Strock288.2
1973Jesse Freitas
(San Diego State)		2,901Jesse Freitas263.7
1974Gene Swick
(Toledo)		2,450Steve Joachim
(Temple)		222.7
1975Gene Swick
(Toledo)		2,706Gene Swick246.0
1976Tommy Kramer
(Rice)		3,272Tommy Kramer297.5
1977Doug Williams
(Grambling)		3,249Doug Williams293.5
1978Mike Ford
(SMU)		2,957Mike Ford268.8
1979Marc Wilson
(BYU)		3,580Marc Wilson325.5
1980Jim McMahon
(BYU)		4,627Jim McMahon385.6
1981Sam King
(UNLV)		3,562Jim McMahon345.8
1982Todd Dillon
(Long Beach State)		3,587Todd Dillon326.1
1983Steve Young
(BYU)		4,346Steve Young395.1
1984Doug Flutie†
(Boston College)		4,013Robbie Bosco327.7
1985Robbie Bosco
(BYU)		4,141Jim Everett
(Purdue)		326.3
1986Mike Perez
(San Jose State)		3,250Mike Perez329.9
1987Todd Santos
(San Diego State)		3,688Todd Santos307.3
1988Scott Mitchell
(Utah)		4,299Scott Mitchell390.8
1989Andre Ware†
(Houston)		4,661Andre Ware423.7
1990David Klingler
(Houston)		5,221David Klingler474.6
1991Ty Detmer
(BYU)		4,001Ty Detmer333.4
1992Jimmy Klingler
(Houston)		3,768Jimmy Klingler342.5
1993Chris Vargas
(Nevada)		4,332Chris Vargas393.8
1994Stoney Case
(New Mexico)		3,649Mike Maxwell
(Nevada)		318.0
1995Cody Ledbetter
(New Mexico State)		3,724Mike Maxwell
(Nevada)		402.6
1996Josh Wallwork
(Wyoming)		4,209Josh Wallwork350.8
1997Tim Rattay
(Louisiana Tech)		3,968Tim Rattay360.7
1998Tim Rattay4,865Tim Rattay403.3
1999Drew Brees
(Purdue)		4,086Tim Rattay381.0
2000Drew Brees
(Purdue)		4,189Drew Brees358.1
2001David Carr
(Fresno State)		4,906Rex Grossman
(Florida)		354.9
2002Kliff Kingsbury
(Texas Tech)		4,903Byron Leftwich
(Marshall)		355.6
2003B. J. Symons
(Texas Tech)		5,976B. J. Symons459.7
2004Sonny Cumbie
(Texas Tech)		4,575Sonny Cumbie381.3
2005Colt Brennan
(Hawaii)		4,455Colt Brennan371.3
2006Colt Brennan5,915Colt Brennan422.5
2007Graham Harrell
(Texas Tech)		5,614Graham Harrell431.8
2008Case Keenum
(Houston)		5,241Case Keenum403.2
2009Case Keenum5,829Case Keenum416.4
2010Bryant Moniz
(Hawaii)		5,142Bryant Moniz367.3
2011Case Keenum
(Houston)		5,666Case Keenum404.7
2012Johnny Manziel†
(Texas A&M)		5,116Johnny Manziel393.5
2013Derek Carr
(Fresno State)		5,200Derek Carr399.9
2014Marcus Mariota†
(Oregon)		5,224Connor Halliday
(Washington State)		415.8
2015Deshaun Watson
(Clemson)		5,209Patrick Mahomes
(Texas Tech)		393.0
Patrick Mahomes
(Texas Tech) 		5,307 Patrick Mahomes
(Texas Tech) 		410.5
Lamar Jackson
(Louisville) 		5,261 Lamar Jackson
(Louisville) 		404.7
Kyler Murray†
(Oklahoma) 		5,362 Kyler Murray
(Oklahoma) 		383.0
Joe Burrow†
(LSU) 		6,039 Joe Burrow
(LSU) 		402.6
2020Mac Jones
(Alabama)		4,514Matt Corral
(Ole Miss)		384.3
2021Bailey Zappe
(Western Kentucky)		5,984Bailey Zappe
(Western Kentucky)		427.4
2022Drake Maye
(North Carolina)		5,019Michael Penix Jr.
(Washington)		364.1
2023Jayden Daniels†
(LSU)		4,946Jayden Daniels†
(LSU)		412.2

Pre-1937 unofficial data

Before 1937 the NCAA did not compile official statistics. This chart reflects unofficial total offense statistics compiled by historians mostly from newspaper accounts. Prior to 1913, total offense leaders will be almost exclusively due to rushing yards, and prior to 1906 there was no forward pass.

1936
Sammy Baugh
(TCU)		1,324
1935Sammy Baugh
(TCU) 		1,435
1934Dixie Howell
(Alabama)		1,437 Dixie Howell143.7
1932Pug Lund
(Minnesota)		1,203
1930Marchy Schwartz
(Notre Dame)		1,246
Lloyd Brazil[33]
(Detroit)
Ken Strong[34]
(NYU) 		3,000 Ken Strong300
1927Bill Spears
(Vanderbilt) 		2,001 Bill Spears181.9
1926Gibby Welch[35] [36]
(Pittsburgh)		1,964 or 1,172
1925Swede Oberlander
(Dartmouth)		1,147
1924Red Grange
(Illinois) 		1,176 Red Grange147
1923
1922
Aubrey Devine
(Iowa) 		2,211 Aubrey Devine315.9
Jimmy Leech
(VMI) 		1,771 Jimmy Leech196.8
1919George Gipp
(Notre Dame)		1,456 George Gipp161.8
1918
1917
1916
1914
Jim Thorpe
(Carlisle)		1,972 Jim Thorpe140.9
1911Jim Thorpe
(Carlisle) 		914
1910
1909
Jim Thorpe
(Carlisle) 		993
1907
1906
1905
1904Willie Heston
(Michigan)		686
1903
1902
- align="center"Willie Heston
(Michigan) 		684

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Football Bowl Subdivision Records. NCAA. 50–51. 2015.
  2. News: Johnny Knolla Ground-Gaining Champ of 1940. Gail Fowler. The Decatur Review. December 5, 1940. 11. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Schwenk Leads On The Ground. The High Point (NC) Enterprise. December 4, 1941. 22. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Schwenk Gains 1,928 Yards in 9 Games; Sinkwich Leading Rusher. The Gettysburg Times. December 4, 1941. 3. Newspapers.com. (confirming that Schwenk's 1,928 yards were gained in only nine games)
  5. News: Total Offense Mark Broken By Sinkwich. Dixon Evening Telegraph. December 3, 1942. 9. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Notre Dame Shatters Colorado Mark in Offense. The Portsmouth, N.H. Herald. December 4, 1943. 6. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Oklahoma Aggies Point With Pride To Best Record In School History. The Big Spring (TX) Daily Herald. December 28, 1944. 5. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Aggies Storm Into Dallas For Big Fray. Herald and News (Oregon). December 28, 1944. 6. Newspapers.com. (Fenimore's 1,758 yards were accumulated in only eight games)
  9. News: Davis Sets All-Time Ball-Toting Record. The Amarillo Daily News. December 29, 1945. 2. Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Fenimore Smashes Previous Aggie Ball-Toting Records. Miami (OK) Daily News-Record. November 29, 1945. 10. Newspapers.com. (Fenimore's 1,641 yards were gained in eight games)
  11. News: Auburn Freshman Tidwell Emerges As Ground-Gaining King of '46 Gridiron. The Gallup Independent. December 11, 1946. 3. Newspapers.com. (Tidwell's 1,715 yards were gained in 10 games)
  12. News: Bobby Layne Got Plenty Yardage For Longhorns. The Paris News. December 3, 1946. 7. Newspapers.com. (total offense runner-up Layne also appeared in 10 games)
  13. News: Enke Close To All-Time Mark. Tucson Daily Citizen. December 12, 1947. 17. Newspapers.com.
  14. News: Enke Close To All-Time Mark. Tucson Daily Citizen. December 12, 1947. 17. Newspapers.com. (Enke's 1,941 yards second highest in history, tallied in 10 games)
  15. News: Passin' Stan Wins Honors In Total Offense: Nevada's Heath Leads Nation's Top Gridders With 1992 Yards. Pottstown (PA) Mercury. December 10, 1948. 29. Newspapers.com.
  16. News: Heath, Wendt Dominate Offenses. The Austin American. December 10, 1948. 27. Newspapers.com. (Heath's 1,992 yards gained in only nine games)
  17. News: Drake Back Pigskin's Top Gainer; Don Heinrich Third; Bright Totals 2400 Yards. The Statesman, Salem, Oregon. December 11, 1950. 9. Newspapers.com.
  18. News: Bright 1st, Ford 5th in Nation's Total Offense. Abilene Reporter-News. December 11, 1950. 28. Newspapers.com. (showing that Bright's 2,400 yards of total offense were accumulated in only nine games)
  19. News: Kazmaier U.S. Top Gainer. Brooklyn Eagle. December 9, 1951. 27. Newspapers.com.
  20. News: Ted Marchibroda Tops Nation In Total Offense. The Pantagraph. December 11, 1952. 34. Newspapers.com.
  21. News: Experiment Clicks At California As Paul Larson Wins Offense Race. Nevada State Journal. December 6, 1953. 15. Newspapers.com.
  22. News: Shaw Beats Larson In Total Offense. Corpus Christi Times. 18B. December 9, 1954. Newspapers.com.
  23. News: Welsh, Luppino Win Offense Titles. Corpus Christi Times. December 7, 1955. Newspapers.com.
  24. News: Brodie Wins Total Offense and NCAA Passing Titles. The Daily Sun (San Bernardino). December 14, 1956. 49. Newspapers.com.
  25. News: Dick Bass Dominates Statistics. Tucson Daily Citizen. December 10, 1958. Newspapers.com. (Bass was first player since 1937 to win football's triple crown in scoring, rushing and total offense; Duncan gained 1,406 yards in nine games, one less than Bass, to lead in yards per game)
  26. Web site: Year-by-Year Leaders and Records for Total Yards. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. February 5, 2018.
  27. News: Uclan Averages 188.9 Yards a Game: Kilmer Officially Gains Crown in Total Offense. The Sun (San Bernardino). December 14, 1960. 10. Newspapers.com.
  28. News: Miller 2nd In Passing, Total Offense In Nation. The Daily Telegram (WI). November 29, 1961. 17. Newspapers.com.
  29. News: Wins Total Offense Title: Mira's Bid To Overtake Leader Falls Two Passes, Yards Short. Tucson Daily Citizen. December 17, 1963. 28. Newspapers.com. (Mira's yardage gained in 10 games)
  30. News: Rhome Set 16 New Marks; Morton 2nd Best Passer. Independent-Journal. December 8, 1964. 17. Newspapers.com. (confirming Rhome gained his 3,128 yards in 10 games in 1964)
  31. News: Tulsa Star Sets Five Grid Marks. The Daily Telegram. December 9, 1965. 1B. Newspapers.com. (confirming Anderson gained his 3,343 yards in 10 games in 1965)
  32. News: Sal Olivas Leads In Total Offense. Las Cruces Sun-News. November 29, 1967. 9. Newspapers.com.
  33. [Red Cagle]
  34. http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv01/CFHSNv01n5b.pdf
  35. Book: Pass Receiving in Early Pro Football: A History to the 1960s. 9780786499465. Roberts. Jerry. 2015-12-29.
  36. http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2001football_finest.pdf

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