Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 1 — Marcus Mariota

USA Today

5 days ago

Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century.
Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft.
It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely.
To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way.
But who is the best of the best?
That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success.
Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks.
If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings:
No. 25 — Bucky Irving
No. 24 — TJ Ward
No. 23 — Tez Johnson
No. 22 — Troy Dye
No. 21 — Samie Parker
No. 20 — Patrick Chung
No. 19 — Kayvon Thibodeaux
No. 18 — Troy Franklin
No. 17 — Nick Reed
No. 16 — Jairus Byrd
No. 15 — Jeff Maehl
No. 14 — Walter Thurmond III
No. 13 — Bo Nix
No. 12 — Penei Sewell
No. 11 — DeForest Buckner
No. 10 — Joey Harrington
No. 9 — Dennis Dixon
No. 8 — Jonathan Stewart
No. 7 — De'Anthony Thomas
No. 6 — Kenjon Barner
No. 5 — Haloti Ngata
No. 4 — Royce Freeman
No. 3 — Justin Herbert
No. 2 — LaMichael James
Today, let's continue with No. 1 — the Flyin' Hawaiian, Marcus Mariota
Player Overview
Let's be real, when we announced a little bit less than a month ago that we would be counting down the greatest Oregon Ducks of the 21st century, there was no question about who was going to hold the No. 1 spot. We could have counted down the best Ducks in Oregon history, and Mariota still would have been the top Duck. As the only Oregon player to ever win the Heisman Trophy, Mariota stands alone in Oregon lore, and what he was able to accomplish in his four years in Eugene will live on forever. He holds numerous school records, has an entire performance center named after him on campus, and has inspired a generation of players, demonstrating the allure of playing at Oregon. There was never any other choice for the best Duck in the 21st century.
Marcus Mariota Career Stats
41 Games — 10,796 yards, 105 TD, 14 INT // 337 rushes, 2,237 yards, 29 TDs // 2 catches, 28 yards, 2 TDs
Marcus Mariota's Single Best Season
2014: 15 Games — 4,454 yards, 42 TDs, 4 INTs // 770 rushing yards, 15 TDs // 1 receiving TD
There are few QB seasons in the history of college football that were better than Mariota's 2014. He had 58 total touchdowns, four turnovers, and won the Heisman Trophy before going to lead the Oregon Ducks to the national championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, which they ultimately lost. Mariota was Oregon's second unanimous All-American in program history, while also winning Player of the Year by the Associated Press, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, and the Maxwell Award.
Marcus Mariota Historical Stats and Records
Marcus Mariota's NFL Draft
The Tennessee Titans selected Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
Marcus Mariota NFL Success
Mariota's NFL career did not pan out as you might have expected following the Heisman season in 2014, unfortunately. Plagued by injuries, including nerve damage in his throwing arm, Mariota saw his time with the Tennessee Titans come to an unceremonious end after four years with the team. He has since bounced around a bit, spending time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, and, most recently, the Washington Commanders, mainly serving as a backup. At this point, there isn't much hope for Mariota to earn a starting spot, but he has moved into a valuable role as a veteran QB capable of stepping in and running an offense when called upon.
Marcus Mariota's Lasting Oregon Legacy
There has never been an Oregon Duck as good, or as dominant as Marcus Mariota, and chances are that there never will be. He only spent three years in the program, but with his passing and rushing abilities, Mariota put up jaw-dropping stats and will forever be known as the first man to win the Heisman Trophy. In a time when the Ducks were gaining national attention and starting to compete at a higher level, Mariota pushed them over the edge, making them not only one of the most electric and fun teams in the nation but also one of the best. The success that has been built since then can be attributed in a large part to what Mariota was able to accomplish with Oregon.
While the Ducks are operating on a high level under Dan Lanning, and there will likely be championships and more Heisman Trophies to come in the future, Mariota will always be the first and the best to do it in Eugene.
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