College Football: Each Power Five conference’s top 3 quarterbacks for 2020
In his first season, as Penn State’s Sean Clifford did a much better job than the numbers suggest. He threw for 2,564 yards with 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also ran for 402 yards with five touchdowns.
When replacing a legend like Trace McSorley, expectations were lofty for Clifford. He still did deliver an 11-2 season, including a 8-0 start and Cotton Bowl victory, which even McSorley did not do in his senior season.
In year two, Clifford should be much more comfortable under center and being the guy in University Park.
Tanner Morgan helped lead Minnesota to its best season in recent history. He threw for 3,253 yards with 30 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He also posted a sky-high 66 percent completion rate.
He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors, guiding the Gophers to an 11-2 season, including wins over No. 4 Penn State and a victory over Auburn during bowl season.
In 2020, Morgan has the Gophers in great shape to take the next step and compete for a Big Ten West title. While he isn’t a dual-threat like some of the other top quarterbacks in the conference, he is perhaps the most accurate and prolific passer earning him the second spot in the Big Ten.
Behind Trevor Lawrence at Clemson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields might be the top quarterback in the nation in 2020. Fields spent his first college season at Georgia and then transferred to the Buckeyes and won the starting job after obtaining instant eligibility.
In his first season in Columbus, Fields threw for 3,273 yards with 41 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also ran for 484 yards and 10 touchdowns. He guided the Buckeyes to a perfect regular season and to the College Football Playoff where they fell to Clemson.
Fields’ big season earned him first-team All-Big Ten honors, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award and saw him finish third in Heisman Trophy voting.
He is a lock to be a first-round draft pick if he stays healthy in 2020 and should lead the Buckeyes to another Big Ten title.