Top 10 QBs BYU Has Ever Beaten

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Over the years, BYU football has notched some marquee wins over big programs and elite players. For a team that hasn’t enjoyed decades of playing in a power conference until only recently, BYU sure has their fair share of “pelts on the wall.”

From Heisman winners, national champions, top NFL draft picks, to NFL Pro Bowl ers, BYU has defeated a large list of quality quarterbacks throughout the years. What defines the “best” quarterbacks can be tricky. Some of these are extremely successful college signal callers who flamed out in the NFL. Others went through college relatively unheralded before carving out a stellar pro career.

Let’s take a look at the 10 best quarterbacks BYU has defeated in program history.

Honorable mention: Trent Dilfer, Fresno St (2002)

Dilfer put up some big numbers at Fresno State. BYU defeated the Bulldogs 36-24 in Provo, with the Cougars defense sacking Dilfer four times and intercepting him twice. Dilfer went on to win a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2000.

10. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (2024)

This one can certainly move up with time. Sanders only just got drafted less than two months ago. Some might even scoff at him even being on this list. But make no mistake, love him or hate him, Sanders brings the juice. Colorado had not had made a bowl game in eight seasons. After an up-and-down first year in Boulder in 2023, the Buffs took off under the Sanders’ last year. He rewrote the passing record books and led Colorado to nine wins. He led the FBS in completion percentage and led the Big 12 in passing yards. That was good enough for eighth in Heisman voting.

Many assumed Sanders would be taken inside the top 10 of the 2025 NFL Draft. For whatever reason, he plummeted to the fifth round where the Cleveland Browns scooped him up. It’s not hard to squint and see Sanders igniting on a revenge tour through the NFL and becoming a fine pro quarterback. BYU fans lightheartedly suggest that the Cougars dominating Sanders and Colorado in the Alamo Bowl hurt his stock. BYU intercepted him twice and sacked him four times in the emphatic 36-14 win.

9. Kerry Collins, Penn State (1992)

Much like others on this list, Collins had not totally risen to power in the college ranks when BYU got the best of him and the Nittany Lions. In fact, BYU pummeled Penn State. They were up 27-3 at halftime and cruised to a 30-17 win. Collins still played well, with zero turnovers and 317 passing yards. The Cougars sacked him once. But the BYU offense did enough to outlast Collins’ furious comeback attempt in the fourth quarter.

Collins went on to an illustrious college career that saw him win basically every award and trophy a quarterback could win aside from the Heisman, where he finished fourth in voting in 1994. He went on to a solid NFL career, earning two Pro Bowls and playing 17 seasons, with a good chunk of that as a respected backup. He even won three playoff games.

8. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame (2004)

It doesn’t get much bigger than playing Notre Dame with the nation watching. Brady Quinn had yet to establish himself as a premier quarterback when the Cougars and Fighting Irish met in Provo. He would go on to win the Maxwell Award and become an All-American in 2006. However, this was 2004 in Provo and BYU’s defense came to play. The Cougars forced and recovered a fumble and limited Quinn to 265 yards and one touchdown. Quinn had zero help from his running game, as the Cougars allowed just 11 yards rushing. Quinn eventually got drafted 22nd overall by the Browns in 2007 and he played for four years in the NFL.

7. Andy Dalton, TCU (2007)

For the most part, Dalton tortured BYU at TCU. He went 3-1 against the Cougars. BYU beat him in his first start against them, and never again. Dalton won back-to-back Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year Awards in 2009 and 2010. But on November 8, 2007, the Cougars got him. They didn’t totally stifle him, as he ran for 60 yards and threw for 165 and a touchdown. However, BYU also forced an interception as BYU won 27-22. Dalton went on to a very solid NFL career that is not even over yet. He just completed his 14th season last year. He also made a Pro Bowl in three of his first six seasons as a the starter for the Bengals.

6. Jordan Love, Utah State (2019)

Love has not ton a ton quite yet in his NFL career, but the ceiling appears very high. Unless you were a hardcore football fan and NFL Draft aficionado, you didn’t know much about Love before he became the starter for the Green Bay Packers . After tossing for 8,600 yards in three seasons for Utah State, the Packers shocked the world by drafting Love 26th overall when Aaron Rodgers was still staunchly their starting quarterback, in 2020. It took until 2023 for him to become the full starter in Green Bay. He took the reins and ran with it, throwing for over 4,100 yards and leading the Packers to a playoff win on the road in Dallas in the NFC Wild Card Round. The Packers didn’t replicate that success with Love last season, losing in the Wild Card Round to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles, but the star potential certainly is there for Love.

5. Craig Erickson, Miami (1990)

The BYU/Miami game remains the number one game ever played at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Frankly, it will be extremely difficult to ever top. No. 1 Miami paid a visit to Provo, Miami was the defending national champions under quarterback Craig Erickson, and had just won two of the last three titles overall. Erickson had been part of both titles, but the starter for 1989’s.

The Hurricanes needed no introduction. Erickson’s crew came to Provo expecting to pound the Cougars. BYU’s defense made Erickson look pedestrian, instead of one of the best quarterbacks in college football. BYU held Erickson without a touchdown passing or rushing and sacked him three times. BYU defeated the two-time national champion quarterback and Miami in one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

4. Jared Goff, Cal (2014)

It’s not often BYU faces a quarterback who, by then, many assumed would be a high draft pick. In 2014’s final game, BYU and Cal squared off, with the Bears needing a win to become bowl eligible.

BYU had other plans for Goff and Cal. Goff attempted an incredible 60 passes in this game, completing 38 for 393 yards and four touchdowns. However, BYU’s defense forced an interception as well and eventually won 42-35, thwarting Cal’s bowl hopes.

That day, backup QB Christian Stewart threw for 433 yards and five touchdowns, outdueling Goff.

Goff rewrote the Cal passing record books and eventually became the No. 1 overall pick to the Rams in the 2016 draft. He’s earned four Pro Bowls, playing for the Rams and Lions and made it to Super Bowl during the 2018 season.

But on that day in Berkeley, BYU outlasted Goff.

3. Jayden Daniels, Arizona State (2021)

Daniels was still fairly unheralded when BYU and the Sun Devils met in Provo in 2021. Still, the game itself was epic. The crowd at LaVell Edwards Stadium caused numerous false start penalties by ASU. This also was the game where Tyler Allgeier punched loose the ball after Jaren Hall threw an interception.

Daniels struggled with two interceptions and zero touchdowns. Eventually, BYU won 27-17 against a ranked ASU squad.

Daniels eventually transferred to LSU and lit the world on fire in 2023, tossing for a whopping 40 touchdowns, running for over 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns, and winning the Heisman. After being drafted second overall in 2024 to the Washington Commanders , Daniels set all kinds of rookie records. He helped turn around the embattled franchise, winning 12 games and making it to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie. He nearly became the first rookie QB to make it to the Super Bowl.

He is one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL right now. Four years ago, BYU made him look human.

2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (2009)

While Bradford doesn’t have the same kind of NFL success as others on this list, he was one of the most decorated and prolific quarterbacks in college football over the 2000s decade. In 2008, he won the Heisman, Davey O’Brien Award , Sammy Baugh Trophy, and was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and led the Sooners to the BCS National Title Game, where they lost to Florida. BYU faced Bradford in the opening game of 2009, which was his first game as the reigning Heisman winner.

Oklahoma and BYU squared off in Arlington, Texas, essentially being the first big football game to be played at the newly christened “Jerry World.” As BYU fans know, the Cougars upset the No. 3-ranked Sooners. That was aided by Bradford leaving the game with an injury after a big hit.

Despite missing most of the 2009 season after that loss to BYU, Bradford became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, going to the St. Louis Rams. He ended up playing parts of nine seasons in the NFL, throwing for 103 touchdowns for the Rams, Eagles, Vikings, and Cardinals.

1. Josh Allen, Wyoming (2016)

Yes, BYU beat the current reigning NFL MVP. Not only that, the Cougars beat Allen in a bowl game and utterly dominated him on defense. In the 2016 Poinsettia Bowl, the Cougars picked off Allen twice and forced him into a lowly 53 percent completion rate.

The final interception against Allen came as Wyoming was driving down to tie or even win the game late, trailing by three. With the Cowboys already on the fringes of field goal range, Allen did what is now his signature move of rolling right and firing across his body. However, BYU defensive back Kai Nacua was there to pick it off and seal the victory for BYU.

Of course, Allen has gone on to what could be a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. The three-time Pro Bowler and now MVP is the face of the Buffalo Bills and one of the most recognizable players in all the NFL.