In a stunning and comprehensive campaign orchestrated by ESPN’s “GOAT Bracket: College Football Legends Showdown,” Joe Burrow—former LSU Tigers quarterback and 2019 Heisman Trophy winner—has officially been crowned the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in collegiate men’s football. After an intense, months-long tournament that drew millions of votes from fans, analysts, and former players alike, Burrow overcame football immortals including Notre Dame’s Joe Montana, Georgia’s Herschel Walker, and Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree to emerge atop the pantheon of college football legends.
Burrow’s victory is both a celebration of his iconic 2019 season and a broader reflection on what greatness means in the context of college football—dominance, leadership, stats, team success, and unforgettable moments. In all categories, Joe Burrow checks every box.
The GOAT Bracket: A College Football Fan’s Dream
ESPN’s GOAT Bracket featured 64 of the greatest names in college football history, spanning multiple eras, conferences, and playing styles. The goal was simple: let fans determine the single most dominant player to ever step on the college gridiron. Each round saw fierce debate and passionate support across social media and ESPN’s studio programming. The final four included:
- Joe Montana, the icy-eyed leader of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish who engineered some of the most legendary comebacks in college football history.
- Herschel Walker, Georgia’s bulldozing backfield phenom who won the 1982 Heisman and broke records with each snap.
- Michael Crabtree, the Texas Tech receiver whose 2007 and 2008 seasons changed the way fans viewed wide receiver dominance and clutch performance.
- Joe Burrow, LSU’s gunslinger who rewrote the record books in 2019.
In the semifinals, Burrow faced Herschel Walker and came out victorious with a 62% fan vote margin. The final round showdown between Burrow and Joe Montana was closer—Burrow ultimately claimed the crown with 54% of the vote in a dramatic digital finale televised live.
Why Joe Burrow? The Case for the GOAT
Joe Burrow’s 2019 season wasn’t just the best in LSU history. It wasn’t even just the best in SEC history. Many now agree—it was the greatest individual season by any college football player in the modern era.
Undefeated. Unstoppable. Unforgettable.
In 2019, Burrow led LSU to a 15-0 record and a national title, defeating seven top-10 teams in the process, including Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Clemson. The Tigers didn’t merely win—they dominated. LSU averaged 48.4 points per game, and Burrow set numerous NCAA records including:
- 5,671 passing yards
- 60 passing touchdowns (a single-season FBS record)
- 76.3% completion rate
- 202.0 passer rating (best in FBS history at the time)
More impressively, Burrow performed better as the stakes rose. His performances in the College Football Playoff alone were jaw-dropping:
- Against Oklahoma (Peach Bowl): 493 yards, 7 TDs in the first half.
- Against Clemson (National Championship): 463 yards, 5 total TDs.
Analysts marveled not just at the stats, but the control, poise, and swagger Burrow brought to every snap. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit said it best: “He didn’t just beat teams, he broke them.”
Comparing the Final Four
Joe Montana: Clutch Gene vs. Career Domination
Joe Montana’s supporters leaned heavily on the legacy of “The Comeback Kid.” He led Notre Dame to a national title in 1977 and orchestrated a legendary win in the 1979 Cotton Bowl despite hypothermia. His cool under pressure became the template for future quarterbacks.
But even Montana’s fiercest fans conceded that Burrow’s statistical dominance, higher level of competition, and offensive firepower set him apart.
Herschel Walker: The Bulldog Beast
Herschel Walker’s college career remains iconic. Over three seasons, he rushed for 5,259 yards and 49 touchdowns, finishing top-3 in Heisman voting each year and winning the award in 1982. His 1980 season helped Georgia win a national title. Walker was the embodiment of athletic supremacy.
Still, voters leaned toward Burrow’s peak season and versatility. While Walker was a three-year force, Burrow’s 2019 campaign was seen as otherworldly—a perfect confluence of scheme, talent, and execution.
Michael Crabtree: Receiver Royalty
Michael Crabtree revolutionized the wide receiver position in Mike Leach’s air raid at Texas Tech. His 134 catches for 1,962 yards and 22 TDs in his redshirt freshman year (2007) is one of the greatest WR seasons ever. The image of Crabtree’s game-winning touchdown against Texas in 2008 is immortalized in Red Raiders lore.
Crabtree brought style and swagger, but the quarterback position’s importance and Burrow’s national title run gave the LSU legend the edge.
The Legacy of 2019 LSU: Best Team Ever?
Many believe that the 2019 LSU Tigers are the greatest team in college football history. Featuring stars like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Derek Stingley Jr., the team was a juggernaut that blended elite coaching with unstoppable talent.
Burrow was the conductor of that symphony.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady and head coach Ed Orgeron unleashed Burrow in a modern spread system that fully utilized his intelligence and precision. LSU’s offense was unrelenting, and Burrow’s leadership kept it humming.
After their 42-25 dismantling of Clemson in the national title game, even opposing coaches admitted LSU’s offense was the best they’d ever faced.
Beyond the Numbers: The Burrow Effect
Part of what makes Burrow’s GOAT status resonate is his personal story. Originally a backup at Ohio State, Burrow transferred to LSU and, in just two years, went from anonymous backup to the face of college football.
His toughness was never in question—whether playing through injuries or taking huge hits and bouncing back—but it was his swagger, that rare combination of humility and confidence, that endeared him to LSU fans and beyond.
He was the “Baton Rouge Baller”, known for walking into games in custom suits and sunglasses and then slicing defenses with surgical efficiency. He smoked a cigar after winning the national title—a moment forever frozen in Tiger lore.
Burrow also embraced Louisiana culture, even celebrating his Heisman win by highlighting poverty in his hometown of Athens, Ohio. That humility and connection to fans deepened his legend.
Critics and Controversies: What the Detractors Say
Some critics argue that one season should not define a player’s entire legacy. While Burrow’s 2018 season was solid, it was a far cry from his 2019 performance. Compared to three- or four-year legends like Tim Tebow, Herschel Walker, or even Baker Mayfield, Burrow’s body of work is relatively short.
Others point out that the evolution of the game, particularly offensive systems, benefits modern quarterbacks disproportionately. But ESPN’s GOAT Bracket was clear: this was not merely about longevity, but dominance—and in 2019, Burrow was peerless.
Reaction Across the College Football World
The announcement of Burrow’s GOAT status drew reactions from past legends:
- Tim Tebow: “Joe earned every bit of it. That 2019 season? Unreal. I’ve never seen a quarterback dominate every level of competition like that.”
- Desmond Howard: “He made it look effortless, even when the pressure was enormous. You couldn’t design a better season.”
- Nick Saban: “We faced him at his best. And believe me, that was a nightmare to scheme against.”
LSU’s official football Twitter posted: “The GOAT resides in Baton Rouge. Forever #9.”
What It Means for LSU and College Football History
Joe Burrow’s victory as the GOAT cements LSU’s 2019 season in the annals of sports history—not just college football. It’s rare that one player, one season, and one team define an entire era.
LSU has had legends before—Billy Cannon, Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson—but Burrow stands alone. His statue will inevitably stand outside Tiger Stadium, cigar in hand, eternal king of Death Valley.
