The Fringe was created to be the antithesis of GOAT culture, a market that feels completely saturated. When we pitched this series, we even said we would never write about an athlete people routinely argue is the greatest of all time.
And yet, here we are.
Because for all its popularity, college football has somehow avoided GOAT culture more than any other major American sport. The NFL has it, the NBA lives on it, MLB has been built on it. College football rarely debates it, and when it does, it tends to get it spectacularly wrong. Case in point: Matt Leinart.
We believe Matt Leinart should be regarded as the greatest college football player of all time. Apparently, no one else does. ESPN ranked their top 150 college players ever and Leinart did not even make the list. And this was not some SEC homer list, nine USC players were included but not Leinart.
The names that come up in every GOAT conversation are Reggie Bush, Archie Griffin, Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, and Joe Burrow. We will address them all later, but first here is why Leinart’s career is the best in college football history.
The Rise
Despite not playing his freshman year and with future NFL quarterback Matt Cassel already on the roster, USC named Leinart their starter in 2003.
All he did that season was lead USC to a 12-1 record, win the national championship, and finish sixth in the Heisman voting. And that is underselling it. USC’s only loss was to Aaron Rodgers and Cal. Leinart would not lose another game for three more years.
If 2003 happened today, Leinart likely wins the Heisman outright. At the time, voters were heavily biased against underclassmen quarterbacks. The first underclassman to ever win the Heisman was in 2007. Leinart’s numbers were nearly identical to Jason White, the senior who won, but Leinart received only five first place votes.
So in his first year as a starter, Leinart had a national title and should have had a Heisman. That résumé alone rivals the careers of some of the names regularly in the GOAT conversation.
The Peak
Leinart’s junior season was as dominant as any true junior season ever. USC went 13 and 0, with most of the wins being blowouts. Leinart took home the Heisman, avenging the previous year’s robbery, then capped it by dismantling Jason White’s Oklahoma team 55 to 19 in the Orange Bowl. He threw five touchdowns and extended his win streak to 22 straight games.
At this point, his career looked complete. Two years, two national championships, one Heisman, and the presumed number one overall pick in the NFL Draft waiting.
The Decision
And then he shocked the football world.
Leinart turned down the draft and returned for his senior season. Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck made similar decisions, but neither had a résumé that came close. Leinart was already sitting on two national titles and a Heisman.
His senior season gets called underwhelming, but that is revisionist history. Leinart extended his win streak to 34 straight games before finally losing to Vince Young and Texas in one of the greatest college games ever played. He still finished third in Heisman voting behind Young and teammate Reggie Bush.
So let’s recap. Three seasons as a starter, two national titles, a third title game appearance, a Heisman, and three straight top three Heisman finishes. A 34 game win streak. There is not another résumé in college football history that matches that.
The Gauntlet: Why Not Them?
Cam Newton and Joe Burrow: Longevity matters. One incredible year does not make you the GOAT. If Bryce Underwood throws 65 touchdowns and wins a title next year, no one would crown him the best college player ever. Burrow and Newton had magical seasons, but they had one season. Leinart dominated for three.
Barry Sanders: Same problem, though his single season was the most absurd of the bunch. Still, a one season wonder does not clear Leinart’s body of work.
Tim Tebow: A legendary college player, no doubt. But let’s get honest about the résumé. His freshman year title barely involved him. His Heisman year was spectacular individually, but Florida lost four games and Tebow was bad in all four. Darren McFadden should have won the Heisman. Tebow’s junior year was an all timer, and even then he finished third despite having the most first place votes. His senior season was good but not on Leinart’s level. If Tebow is number two all time, fine. But Leinart’s three year run is unmatched.
Archie Griffin: His two Heismans are a trivia answer more than a true résumé. His numbers were ordinary compared to modern backs, and neither of his teams won a national title. In today’s context, his seasons would not even make Heisman finalist lists.
Reggie Bush: Leinart’s toughest comparison, since they played together. Bush was electrifying, but he only topped 1,000 rushing yards once. Leinart’s impact as the quarterback and leader of the most dominant team of the era outweighs Bush’s highlight reel plays.
The Fringe Verdict
Matt Leinart is the greatest college football player of all time. His career combined dominance, team success, and individual accolades in a way no one else ever has.
Two national championships, a third title game, a Heisman, and three straight top three finishes. A 34 game win streak. A decision to return to school that cemented his legacy as a college player rather than just an NFL prospect.
Football is a team game, but greatness in this sport has always been measured by winning. Tom Brady is called the NFL GOAT not because he was the most talented quarterback, but because of his unparalleled team success. Leinart had that same formula at USC.
So why does he not get the same recognition in college football? Because GOAT culture never really took root here, and when it did, it latched on to the wrong players.
Leinart is the GOAT. The fact that no one else says it only proves how blind GOAT culture can be.
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