Big 12 Football: Top 20 quarterbacks since 2000

Career Stats: 67.1% completions, 10,366 passing yards, 78 passing touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 2,254 rushing yards, 33 rushing touchdowns

One of the most electrifying players the conference has seen, alongside being one of the main reasons behind Baylor’s success in the 2010s.

Robert Griffin III was originally committed to play for Houston, while Art Briles was the Head Coach. Once Briles made the move to Baylor, Griffin III joined him. Griffin III became a starter as a freshman on the football team, while also running track.

After a 4-8 season in 2008, Baylor was excited for the future with their quarterback and started the season with an upset win at Wake Forest. The following week, Griffin III would tear his ACL, his season would be finished, and Baylor would finish with another 4-8 season.

Griffin became more known on the national scale, alongside the program in 2010. The Bears reached their first bowl game since 1994. That season included wins over Colorado, Kansas State and Texas in consecutive weeks. He finished his sophomore year with over 4,000 total yards and 30 touchdowns.

The breakout and final season came in 2011 and started with a thrilling 50-48 win over No. 14 TCU in Week 1. The momentum continued for Griffin as he went through the first three games without an interception.

Baylor would falter through the middle of the season, with back-to-back losses to Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. Griffin’s Heisman moment came on a Hail Mary-esque throw in the corner of the end zone to upset No. 5 Oklahoma.

It would carry momentum throughout the remainder of the season, with blowout wins over Texas Tech and Texas, before concluding the season with a 67-56 barnburner over Washington in the Alamo Bowl.

The impact that Griffin made not only for the program at the time but for the future makes him one of the best quarterbacks of the 21st century.