NCAA Division I FBS passing leaders

The NCAA Division I FBS passing leaders are career, single-season, and single-game passing leaders in yards, touchdowns, efficiency, completions, and completion percentage.^[1] These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:

• Since 1955, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length (with some major programs playing additional games in a playoff and/or bowls).
• The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), disallowing players to have four-year careers.
• Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.^[2] This affects many players from before that time period. For example, Ty Detmer would have 16,206 yards and 127 touchdowns if bowl games were included in his career statistics, moving him up one rank on both.
• In recent decades, starting with the Southeastern Conference in 1992, FBS conferences have introduced their own championship games, which have always counted fully toward single-season and career statistics.
• The NCAA ruled that the 2020 season, heavily disrupted by COVID-19, would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player. This gave every player active in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.
• Only seasons in which a team was considered to be a part of the Football Bowl Subdivision are included in these lists. Players such as Taylor Heinicke and Chad Pennington played for teams who reclassified to the FBS during their careers, and only their stats from the FBS years are eligible for inclusion. Similarly, players such as Vernon Adams and Bailey Zappe finished their careers by transferring to an FBS school, but their earlier seasons are not counted.

Statistics accurate as of November 13, 2024. Completion percentage to be updated at the conclusion of the 2024 season.