Big 12 Football: Top 20 quarterbacks since 2000

Career Stats: 62.5% completions, 11,436 yards, 94 touchdowns, 27 interceptions

When Charlie Strong was let go, there was a clear change needing to be made. The quarterback play through the Strong tenure left a lot to be desired, and the program’s offenses year in and year out were lacking.

While battling time with Shane Buechele, true freshman Sam Ehlinger rose to the top of the depth chart. Although at times Ehlinger played like a freshman, there was never doubt of his toughness and ability to finish the play.

Texas etched out the threshold for a bowl game and defeated Drew Lock-led Missouri in the Texas bowl.

Ehlinger became unique, with his frame and fantastic ability to run option plays, while also improving his arm strength every season. Ehlinger, alongside the program, took a massive jump in 2018, making the conference championship and defeating No.6 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

The sophomore from Austin Westlake was the most efficient runner in the conference, with 16 rushing touchdowns, to go along with 3,292 passing yards. The yards ranked fourth in the conference that season.

The remaining two seasons weren’t quite as successful from a team success standpoint, but Ehlinger continued to showcase instant classic performances.

Although it was losing efforts, Ehlinger lit up playoff-level teams as he tossed for 401 yards and four touchdowns in a tough loss to LSU in 2019.

The following season, Ehlinger carried the Texas offense with a six touchdown performance, to alongside 287 passing yards and 112 rushing yards, in a loss against Oklahoma.

The debate can be made for the player with the eighth most passing yards in Big 12 history to be higher. Even with the amount of talent, Texas still could not earn a conference title and was turnover-prone at times.

Ehlinger doesn’t have the most talented arm the conference has seen. However, his toughness will be remembered, alongside the rise of Texas football from the Strong era.