Northwestern Wildcats · All-time career leaders
Northwestern Football Career Passing Yards Leaders
Clayton Thorson holds Northwestern's career passing yards record with 10,731 yards (2015–2018). Brett Basanez (10,580) and Len Williams (7,487) round out the top three. 8 of the top 20 played since 2000; the most recent is Preston Stone (2025), No. 20 on the list.
Northwestern WildcatsUpdated Jul 6, 2026
| Rank | Player | Years | Passing Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clayton Thorson | 2015–2018 | 10,731 |
| 2 | Brett Basanez | 2002–2005 | 10,580 |
| 3 | Len Williams | 1990–1993 | 7,487 |
| 4 | C.J. Bacher | 2005–2008 | 7,319 |
| 5 | Trevor Siemian | 2011–2014 | 5,931 |
| 6 | Mike Greenfield | 1984–1987 | 5,803 |
| 7 | Zak Kustok | 1999–2001 | 5,684 |
| 8 | Sandy Schwab | 1982–1985 | 5,679 |
| 9 | Dan Persa | 2008–2011 | 5,181 |
| 10 | Steve Schnur | 1993–1996 | 5,048 |
| 11 | Mike Kafka | 2006–2009 | 4,265 |
| 12 | Maurie Daigneau | 1969–1971 | 4,237 |
| 13 | Mike Kerrigan | 1979–1981 | 4,094 |
| 14 | Mitch Anderson | 1972–1974 | 3,841 |
| 15 | Tom Myers | 1962–1964 | 3,836 |
| 16 | Ryan Hilinski | 2021–2024 | 2,831 |
| 17 | Randy Dean | 1974–1976 | 2,699 |
| 18 | Tim Hughes | 1994–1997 | 2,656 |
| 19 | Tim O'Brien | 1988–1989 | 2,422 |
| 20 | Preston Stone | 2025 | 2,400 |
Keep exploring
More Northwestern records
Sources & notes
- CFB Clipboard — Career leaderboards researched and compiled by CFB Clipboard.
- Career totals cover a player’s games at Northwestern only.
Last updated Jul 6, 2026.