OPINION

By Matt Hayes and Dave Curtis

updated 11:19 p.m. ET Sept. 4, 2009

The buzz this preseason has surrounded Heisman finalists Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford all returning to school. While those three decorated quarterbacks will dominate the headlines, the list of college quarterbacks soon to be legendary at their schools is deep. At least 10 have a chance to be their programs' best QB ever before leaving campus. The game's most important position has never looked so good.

The best coach of quarterbacks in the nation has a theory when it comes to the most important position on the field. It's one of those lucid, thought-provoking statements we've come to expect from Mike Leach, the game's free thinker.

Embrace what is instead of what could be.

How's that for earth-shattering?

"There are quarterbacks in the college game now that are just doing remarkable things," says Leach, whose quarterbacks at Texas Tech are annually among the nation's leaders. "And all we want to talk about is how they project to the NFL."

So here's a better idea: Project how the quarterbacks in today's college game would fare against the greatest in their schools' history. The NFL and its computer formulas and system tags can wait. There has never been a more glorious time to be a quarterback in the college game.

Tim Tebow or Danny Wuerffel? Colt McCoy or Vince Young? Sam Bradford or Jason White? Jevan Snead or Eli Manning?

In the Big 12 alone, nearly half of the quarterbacks likely will finish their careers as the best in school history: Bradford, McCoy, Zac Robinson of Oklahoma State, Todd Reesing of Kansas and Robert Griffin of Baylor.

Then there's Taylor Potts, Leach's latest in a long line of guys who can sling it. At 6-5, 220, Potts is Leach's most physically gifted QB yet.

"You're gonna love this guy," Leach says. "He looks like Kenny Stabler and acts like Bart Starr."

The comparisons are out in full force all over the nation. Case Keenum is putting up Andre Ware/David Klingler-type numbers at Houston. Robinson is going to break all the records his coach, Mike Gundy, set in the 1980s. Oregon's Jeremiah Masoli could do what Dan Fouts and Joey Harrington never did: lead the Ducks to a Rose Bowl victory — and maybe win a Heisman Trophy along the way.

There are four statues outside Owen Field in Norman, Okla., one for each of the Sooners' Heisman winners before Bradford. By the time Bradford completes this season, he'll likely have done enough to be celebrated as not only the greatest Oklahoma quarterback — but the school's greatest player.

Embrace the history, everyone.

Ten more quarterbacks to watch

• Robert Griffin, Baylor, Soph.
  Why he has a shot: Let's face it: Baylor isn't a hotbed for quarterbacks. Or for winning. Once Baylor hired coach Art Briles — one of the game's best offensive minds—and Griffin joined him in Waco, the Bears no longer were a Big 12 tomato can. If he stays four years, Griffin will break nearly every passing record in school history. He beat out Blake Szymanski — who set multiple Baylor records during the 2007 season — for the starting job. Top competition: Don Trull, 1961-63 (Houston Post's 1963 Southwest Conference MVP ); Larry Isbell, 1950-51 (All-Southwest Conference selection in 1950-51).
  What they're saying: "There are unique players, and then there's Robert Griffin. It's remarkable how easy the game comes to him—and he's played one season. I can't wait to coach him every day because I can't wait to see what he does next." — Baylor coach Art Briles
  Will he do it? Yes. Griffin's numbers as a freshman (2,953 total yards, 28 total TDs, three interceptions) were ridiculous, especially considering he was months removed from high school, learning a new system and playing with teammates still adjusting to a new coach. And, of course, he was playing for Baylor. Griffin not only could be the best quarterback in school history, he has the potential to become the best player in school history.
• Case Keenum, Houston, Jr.
  Why he has a shot: For all the huge numbers David Klingler and Andre Ware put up, neither led the Cougars to a conference championship. It was all big numbers and disappointing losses in big games. In this BCS age, an unbeaten season and a spot in a BCS bowl game could trump those outlandish numbers of years past.
  Top competition: Andre Ware, 1987-89 (1989 Heisman Trophy winner, 8,202 passing yards); David Klingler, 1988-91 (leader in passing yards in a season, total offense in a season and career TD passes).
  What they're saying: "He had a prolific season last year, and not many people know about it. He's working with a terrific coaching staff — a group of guys that really know how to exploit defenses. He's still growing into the system and will only get better." — Former Houston QB Andre Ware
  Will he do it? Maybe. The issue isn't Keenum's numbers — 5,241 yards of total offense and 51 total touchdowns last season — it's the defense's ability to stop teams. Keenum will put up Klingler-type stats, but the defense will struggle to hold its weight in big games. If the Cougars play in a BCS bowl, though, Keenum will move very close to Ware's elite status.

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