Passing Drew Brees, among others, Boise State’s Rypien moves up all-time NCAA rankings
No current Football Bowl Subdivision quarterback has been more prolific than Boise State senior Brett Rypien, and as his productive senior season rolls on, he’s moving up the all-time NCAA ranks.
Rypien has thrown for 12,042 yards in his career, good for 32nd in FBS history. In recent weeks, he’s passed the likes of USC’s Carson Palmer (11,818), Purdue’s Drew Brees (11,792) and NC State/Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson (11,720).
“Great players that have had long career in the NFL, guys I look up to, for sure, and hopefully want to be like some day as far as their success at the next level,” Rypien said.
At his current clip of 309.4 yards per game this season, Rypien could wind up at approximately 14,200 career yards passing, should the Broncos make the Mountain West championship and a bowl. That would place him in the top 10 in FBS history.
Former Boise State great Kellen Moore threw for 14,667 yards from 2008 to 2011, which ranks No. 6 all-time. Only Houston, Hawaii, Texas Tech, Central Michigan and Louisiana Tech have two or more players who have thrown for more than 12,000 yards at that school, which Boise State has in Rypien and Moore.
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said of Rypien, “he’s a guy that will play beyond this year.” The Broncos face Calhoun’s Falcons on Saturday, and Rypien is coming off “probably one of the best games he’s played here,” offensive coordinator Zak Hill said. Rypien threw for 308 yards last Friday against Colorado State and had four touchdowns with just four incompletions.
No Boise State quarterback has ever been drafted, and Moore was the only one to play in an NFL game. On Wednesday, Rypien was named to the top 15 for the Unitas Golden Arm Award, which honors the nation’s top senior quarterback.
Though he hopes to move on to the NFL next season, Rypien may appreciate his place in the record books down the road.
“I’m just trying to take it one day at a time, enjoy this last year as much as I can,” he said.
MOVING UP THE RECORD BOOKS
Boise State senior QB Brett Rypien’s passing total ranks among the all-time best.
28. Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech (1999-2002): 12,429
29. Matt Barkley, USC (2009-12): 12,327
30. Jared Goff, Cal (2013-15): 12,195
31. Zach Terrell, Western Michigan (2013-16): 12,100
32. Brett Rypien, Boise State (2015-): 12,042
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BOISE STATE AT AIR FORCE
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Falcon Stadium (46,692; FieldTurf)
TV: CBS Sports Network (Rich Waltz, Steve Beuerlein, Cassie McKinney); Cable One ch. 139/1139, DirecTV ch. 221, Dish Network ch. 158
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KTIK 93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: BSU 5-2, 3-1 (won 56-28 over Colorado State on Friday); Air Force 3-4, 1-3 (won 41-35 at UNLV on Friday)
Series: Tied 3-3 (Boise State won 44-19 on Nov. 18, 2017 in Boise last meeting)
Vegas line: Boise State by 9 1/2
Weather: Mid 60s, clear