Colorado football: Top 10 passing leaders in Buffaloes history

Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Coach Prime has brought a dynamic passing offense to Boulder with Shedeur Sanders, but this isn’t the first time that the Colorado Buffaloes have put up big numbers through the air. Even for a program known for the triple-option, Colorado has a few quarterbacks with gaudy career numbers.

You can find the entire list of all-time passers HERE, but we’ll take a journey through the top 10 in school history and remember their impact on the Colorado program.

Amazingly, Darian Hagan, who led the Buffaloes to a national championship, isn’t on this list, because his game was on the ground. Hagan is No. 11 all-time right behind Steve Vogel.

BOULDER,CO – 1990: Bill McCartney of the Colorado Buffaloes looks on during a 1990 season game. Bill McCartney was head coach from 1982 to 1994. (Photo by:Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
BOULDER,CO – 1990: Bill McCartney of the Colorado Buffaloes looks on during a 1990 season game. Bill McCartney was head coach from 1982 to 1994. (Photo by:Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Colorado football career passing leader No. 10: Steve Vogel (1981-84)

  • 3,912 passing yards
  • 27 passing touchdowns
  • 44.9% completion
  • 5.7 yards per attempt

Bill McCartney didn’t begin his career at Colorado as a triple-option head coach, he also didn’t start off as a winning head either. It wasn’t until 1985 when the Buffaloes turned to the triple-option, which is why one of Darian Hagan’s predecessors ranks higher than him on the all-time passing list.

Vogel never completed over 50% of his passes for a season and in his two years as the full-time starter, 1983 and 1984 when he had his highest number of pass attempts, the Buffaloes went 4-7 and 1-10.