ESPN has a surprising pick for best college QB of the 2000s

Baker Mayfield topped Bill Connelly's list and while he had a brilliant college career, it's surprising to see him beat out other big-name QBs with arguably better claims to the title.

Most recently, Burrow led LSU to a 15-0 record in 2019 when he threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns. Nearly a decade before him, Newton led Auburn to an undefeated record in 2010 when he had 4,327 total yards and 51 touchdowns.

Connelly suggests Mayfield's entire body of work as opposed to those two great individual seasons gives him the edge. But if we're to go off of a complete body of work, then Tebow has a right to be named the best QB this century, too.

In four seasons at Florida from 2006-09, Tebow won two championships, including in 2008 as the team's starting QB. Mayfield led Oklahoma to two College Football Playoff semifinals, losing both times. Mayfield was the better thrower but Tebow's dual-threat abilities made him one of the most dominant players in college football when he played.

During his Heisman-winning season in 2007, Tebow accounted for 55 touchdowns—32 passing and 23 rushing—and 4,181 total yards. Mayfield won the award 10 years later with 49 touchdowns and 4,938 total yards.

Choosing a favorite QB from this century requires serious hair-splitting. Mayfield was excellent and deserves to be in the conversation. Among the QBs in Connelly's top 25, only Case Keenum had more career touchdowns (178) than Mayfield (152). And according to Pro Football Focus, Mayfield's 2017 season grades favorably to Burrow's in 2019 as one of the best since 2014, when PFF began tracking college football.

But with the margin so small between the best QBs since 2000, Mayfield's lack of a championship has to stand for something. He certainly is in the pantheon of great college QBs but the best of the 21st century? Think again.