| 2018 | Kyler Murray | Oklahoma | Jr. | 4053 pass yds/40 TDs; 892 rush yds/11 TDs |
| 2017 | Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma | Sr. | 4627 pass yds/43 TDs; 311 rush yds/5 TDs |
| 2016 | Deshaun Watson | Clemson | Jr. | 4593 pass yds/41 TDs; 629 rush yds/9 TDs |
| 2015 | Deshaun Watson | Clemson | So. | 4104 pass yds/35 TDs; 1105 rush yds/12 TDs |
| 2014 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon | Jr. | 4454 pass yds/42 TDs; 770 rush yds/15 TDs |
| 2013 | Jameis Winston | Florida State | Fr. | 4057 pass yds/40 TDs; 219 rush yds/4 TDs |
| 2012 | Johnny Manziel | Texas A&M | Fr. | 3706 pass yds/26 TDs; 1410 rush yds/21 TDs |
| 2011 | Robert Griffin III | Baylor | Jr. | 4293 pass yds/47 TDs; 699 rush yds/10 TDs |
| 2010 | Cam Newton | Auburn | Jr. | 2854 pass yds/30 TDs; 1473 rush yds/20 TDs |
| 2009 | Colt McCoy | Texas | Sr. | 3521 pass yds/27 TDs; 348 rush yds/3 TDs |
| 2008 | Sam Bradford | Oklahoma | So. | 4720 pass yds/50 TDs; 47 rush yds/5 TDs |
| 2007 | Tim Tebow | Florida | So. | 3286 pass yds/32 TDs; 895 rush yds/23 TDs |
| 2006 | Troy Smith | Ohio State | Sr. | 2542 pass yds/30 TDs; 204 rush yds/1 TD |
| 2005 | Vince Young | Texas | Jr. | 3036 pass yds/26 TDs; 1050 rush yds/12 TDs |
| 2004 | Jason White | Oklahoma | Sr. | 3205 pass yds/35 TDs |
| 2003 | Jason White | Oklahoma | Jr. | 3846 pass yds/40 TDs |
| 2002 | Brad Banks | Iowa | Sr. | 2573 pass yds/26 TDs; 423 rush yds/5 TDs |
| 2001 | Eric Crouch | Nebraska | Sr. | 1510 pass yds/7 TDs; 1115 rush yds/18 TDs |
| 2000 | Chris Weinke | Florida State | Sr. | 4441 pass yds/33 TDs |
| 1999 | Joe Hamilton | Georgia Tech | Sr. | 3060 pass yds/29 TDs; 734 rush yds/6 TDs |
| 1998 | Michael Bishop | Kansas State | So. | 2844 pass yds/23 TDs; 748 rush yds/14 TDs |
| 1997 | Peyton Manning | Tennessee | Sr. | 3953 pass yds/37 TDs; 3 rush TDs |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel | Florida | Sr. | 3625 pass yds/39 TDs |
| 1995 | Danny Wuerffel | Florida | Jr. | 3266 pass yds/35 TDs |
| 1994 | Kerry Collins | Penn State | Sr. | 2879 pass yds/21 TDs |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward | Florida State | Sr. | 3318 pass yds/27 TDs; 339 rush yds/4 TDs |
| 1992 | Gino Torretta | Miami | Sr. | 3060 pass yds/19 TDs |
| 1991 | Ty Detmer | BYU | Sr. | 4031 pass yds/35 TDs; 4 rush TDs |
| 1990 | Ty Detmer | BYU | Jr. | 5188 pass yds/41 TDs; 4 rush TDs |
| 1989 | Andre Ware | Houston | Jr. | 4699 pass yds/46 TDs; 3 rush TDs |
| 1988 | Troy Aikman | UCLA | Sr. | 2771 pass yds/24 TDs |
| 1987 | Don McPherson | Syracuse | Sr. | 2481 pass yds/23 TDs; 230 rush yds/5 TDs |
| 1986 | Vinny Testaverde | Miami | Sr. | 2557 pass yds/26 TDs; 4 rush TDs |
| 1985 | Chuck Long | Iowa | Sr. | 3297 pass yds/27 TDs |
| 1984 | Doug Flutie | Boston College | Sr. | 3634 pass yds/30 TDs; 379 rush yds/3 TDs |
| 1983 | Steve Young | BYU | Sr. | 3902 pass yds/33 TDs; 444 rush yds/8 TDs |
| 1982 | Todd Blackledge | Penn State | Jr. | 2446 pass yds/22 TDs; 3 rush TDs |
| 1981 | Jim McMahon | BYU | Sr. | 3555 pass yards/30 TDs |
| 1980 | Mike Singletary | Baylor | Sr. | 62 solo tackles/83 assists |
| 1979 | Mike Singletary | Baylor | Jr. | 117 solo tackles/71 assists |
| 1978 | Billy Sims | Oklahoma | Jr. | 1896 rush yards/22 TDs |
| 1977 | Earl Campbell | Texas | Sr. | 1860 rush yards/18 TDs |
