Rating The 23 Quarterbacks To Beat Nick Saban At Alabama


Simply how good have been the quarterbacks who beat Nick Saban throughout his time at Alabama? Wealthy Cirminiello ranks the 23 who have been in a position to do it.

(mm-video sort=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none picture=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/pictures/playlist-icon.png)

Rating the QBs Who’ve Crushed Nick Saban at Alabama

This Friday at Jerry’s World, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder hopes to hitch an elite fraternity – quarterbacks who’ve defeated Nick Saban at Alabama over the previous 15 seasons.

There are simply 23 within the group, 24 when you rely Jarrett Lee’s contributions to LSU victories in 2010 and 2011.

Some went on to lengthy NFL careers, some pale into obscurity and, regardless of what you’ve heard, not all have been dynamic dual-threats.

From worst to first, right here’s a rating of the 23 Saban slayers, primarily based on their school AND professional careers.

23. Xavier Lee, Florida State (2007)

Lee by no means panned out after being one of the crucial embellished recruits of 2004. Changing a benched Drew Weatherford and beating Alabama was the spotlight of a Seminole profession marked by unmet expectations and only a handful of forgettable begins.

22. Wesley Carroll, Mississippi State (2007)

Pressured into motion as a real freshman, Carroll confronted the standard ups-and-downs of a rookie. He broke his thumb within the Alabama upset, a win led by the D. Carroll didn’t match into Dan Mullen’s plans in Starkville and wound up ending his profession with Florida Worldwide.

21. Zach Calzada, Texas A&M (2021)

Maybe essentially the most unlikely quarterback to defeat Saban at Alabama during the last 15 seasons. A backup when 2021 started, he was pressed into responsibility after Haynes King was injured. And Calzada was enjoying poorly main as much as the Oct. 9 go to from Alabama. But, he rallied the Aggies in gutsy vogue handy the Tide its solely lack of the yr. Calzada is now within the switch portal, taking a 7-4 document to a brand new college.

20. Kinsmon Lancaster, ULM (2007)

It’s onerous to think about as we speak, however there was a time when a Solar Belt crew may simply up and beat Saban in Tuscaloosa. That was a really very long time in the past. Lancaster began three seasons with the Warhawks, accounting for a career-high 22 TDs as a senior in 2008.

19. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (2010)

Garcia’s tumultuous Gamecock profession hit its apex within the 2010 upset of top-ranked Alabama. When he flashed he may very well be sensible, however too usually he was inconsistent and a distraction. Garcia’s resume included 47 TD passes and 41 picks, and he was finally booted from the crew in 2011.

2021-2022 Bowl Schedule, Predictions, Previews

18. Brandon Cox, Auburn (2007)

One among simply two Tiger quarterbacks to ever go 3-0 versus Alabama, Cox is an Iron Bowl legend. Extra recreation supervisor than recreation changer throughout his time on the Plains, he went 29-9 as a three-year starter, throwing for 42 TDs, 6,959 yards and 32 interceptions.

17. Bo Wallace, Ole Miss (2014)

In one of the crucial memorable Insurgent wins this century, Wallace led the 2014 upset of Alabama with two TD passes within the last 5:29 of regulation. It was the spotlight of a winding school profession marked by enchancment and pleasure beneath Hugh Freeze, but in addition 41 interceptions over the course of three seasons.

16. Cardale Jones, Ohio State {2014)

Jones left behind one of many strangest legacies in Large Ten historical past. He by no means misplaced a recreation because the Ohio State starter, changing an injured J.T. Barrett and beating Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon to assist win the 2014 nationwide championship. However he did not construct on his auspicious debut in 2015 and accomplished simply six passes in a single NFL season.

NEXT: High 15 Quarterbacks To Beat Nick Saban

High 15 Quarterbacks To Beat Nick Saban

15. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (2010 & 2011)

Jefferson had a task in back-to-back wins over Alabama, sharing snaps with Jarrett Lee all through a lot of his profession. Jefferson was 24-8 as a starter in Baton Rouge, together with his greatest yr coming in 2010 as a sophomore. A four-star recruit, he by no means rose to an All-SEC stage of play.

14. Bo Nix, Auburn (2019)

Nix, who’s now transferring to Oregon, had a good three-year keep at Auburn, however by no means obtained over the hump. He began as a real freshman in 2019, beating Alabama and incomes SEC Freshman of the Yr in his debut. Nevertheless, the inconsistent Nix regressed as a sophomore and was injured late in his junior season. Now, he’ll look to ignite his profession on a brand new campus.

13. Trevor Knight, Oklahoma (2013)

As a redshirt freshman, Knight threw for 4 scores and 348 yards to upset two-time reigning nationwide champion Alabama within the Sugar Bowl. Sadly, his profession peaked that evening in New Orleans. He struggled as a passer the following two seasons in Norman, gave technique to Baker Mayfield and completed his profession at Texas A&M.

12. Matt Flynn, LSU (2007)

Flynn was by no means essentially the most proficient QB within the room, however he at all times obtained essentially the most out of his potential. He waited his flip in Baton Rouge earlier than main the Tigers to the 2007 BCS Nationwide Championship as a fifth-year senior. After which he parlayed transient success as a Inexperienced Bay backup right into a three-year, $26 million cope with Seattle.

11. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn (2017)

After flashing potential as a real freshman in 2015, Stidham left Baylor within the wake of a scandal that eradicated the workers that recruited him. He landed at Auburn, the place he had two strong seasons as Gus Malzahn’s quarterback. Stidham threw 18 TD passes in back-to-back years, incomes All-SEC in 2017. However leaving college early has but to work out, and now he’s buried behind former Bama star Mac Jones in New England.

NEXT: High 10 Quarterbacks To Beat Nick Saban

High 10 Quarterbacks To Beat Nick Saban

10. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss (2015)

Kelly’s profession started by getting dismissed by Clemson and needing a yr of character rehab in junior school. So, he deserves credit score for turning issues round at Ole Miss. Kelly was twice named All-SEC and accounted for 66 touchdowns over these two seasons. In 2015, he spurred the Rebs to 10 wins, together with a street upset of Alabama and a Sugar Bowl drubbing of Oklahoma State.

9. Brian Johnson, Utah (2008)

Johnson is the winningest quarterback in Utah historical past. He helped pave the transition of the Alex Smith/City Meyer period to Kyle Whittingham and an eventual invitation to hitch the Pac-12. Johnson completed his profession because the 2008 Mountain West Participant of the Yr, whereas guiding the Utes to an ideal season and a Sugar Bowl upset of Alabama.

8. Nick Marshall, Auburn (2013)

Cemented in Auburn lore, Marshall threw the “prayer at Jordan-Hare” to beat Georgia in 2013, one week earlier than the miracle defeat of Bama on a 109-yard return of a missed area objective try. He was an excellent match for Gus Malzahn’s read-option as a two-year starter, going 19-7 and serving to lead the Tigers to the 2014 BCS Nationwide Championship Sport.

7. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (2012)

The legend of “Johnny Soccer” grew to become a nationwide phenomenon after the Aggies upset No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Manziel would go on to win the Heisman and be named consensus All-American, however 2012 could be the apex of his profession. Out and in of bother, he was a first-round bust in two seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

6. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (2018)

Lawrence arrived out of highschool as a can’t-miss blue-chipper, and didn’t disappoint. He took over after simply 4 video games, going 11-0 because the starter and handing Alabama the worst lack of the Nick Saban period within the nationwide championship recreation. Lawrence would go 34-2 because the Tiger starter earlier than being the highest total decide of Jacksonville this previous spring.

NEXT: High 5 Quarterbacks To Beat Nick Saban

High 5 Quarterbacks To Beat Nick Saban

5. Joe Burrow, LSU (2019)

In 2019, Burrow delivered one of the crucial improbably unbelievable seasons in school soccer historical past. One yr after performing like a backyard selection journeyman, he erupted right into a celebrity with a then-FBS document 60 TD passes that resulted in an ideal season, a nationwide title and a Heisman Trophy. Burrow has recovered from a severe knee harm in his Cincinnati debut, and is without doubt one of the NFL’s high younger quarterbacks.

4. Tim Tebow, Florida (2008)

Tebow has been a cultural phenomenon and one of the crucial celebrated quarterbacks in school soccer historical past. As a Gator, he was part of two nationwide championship groups, accounted for 145 complete touchdowns and raked in a slew of information and particular person honors, together with the 2007 Heisman Trophy.

CFN Knowledgeable Picks: New Yr’s 6 & CFP

3. Matthew Stafford, Georgia (2007)

Freakish arm expertise helped Stafford begin as a real freshman and finally get chosen No. 1 total in 2009 by Detroit. However he’s but to win the massive one and his penchant for throwing too many picks started in Athens. Stafford remains to be going sturdy, now in LA, and he owns a slew of Lions passing information.

2. Cam Newton, Auburn (2010)

After stops at Florida and Blinn School, Newton spent only one season at Auburn. Nevertheless it was among the best seasons ever by a school quarterback. Newton carried the Tigers to the nationwide championship, gathering the Heisman Trophy and a slew of information alongside the best way. The highest total decide within the 2011 NFL Draft has been named to the Professional Bowl thrice and owns the league mark for profession dashing touchdowns by a QB.

1. Deshaun Watson, Clemson (2016)

A two-time All-American and Heisman finalist, Watson is without doubt one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play within the ACC. He was 32-3 because the starter, with the ultimate win coming within the waning seconds of the nationwide championship recreation to dethrone Alabama. And whereas off-field points have grounded his NFL profession, Watson is already a three-time Professional Bowler, with 104 TD passes in slightly over three seasons of labor.

(protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ data=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” )

Predictions of Each Sport
Bowl Schedule | Rankings



supply

Leave a Reply