ESPN's annual quarterback rankings featured another tight race between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
Kansas City Chiefs superstar and Texas Tech product Patrick Mahomes was overtaken by the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen in this year's quarterback rankings by ESPN.
A year ago, Mahomes was atop the list once again, but an ACL tear late in the 2025 season - and questionable timeline to return in 2026 - allows Allen to surpass the three-time Super Bowl winner for the first time in three straight seasons.
"No quarterback has garnered more respect in the post-Brady era," reporter Jeremy Fowler said. "His 267 touchdown passes tie for second all-time for a quarterback's first nine seasons, trailing Peyton Manning (275). And he's third in passing yards (35,939) for any nine-year start."
In 2025, Mahomes' age-30 season was unkind to him in more ways than his Week 15 injury. Kansas City was just 6-8 in games he started, and Mahomes threw for 256.2 yards per game. For other quarterbacks, that's a number worth aiming for, but it's Mahomes' second-lowest average in his nine-year career.
However, teams across the league surely haven't forgotten ... after all, he remained very close to returning to the top after leading the field in first-place votes.
"He still puts fear in people like no other quarterback - gives you a shot in every game," said an NFL quarterbacks coach. "His skill set combined with his will to win puts him at the top."
Of course, that all began to come into realization during Mahomes' time in Lubbock, though the Red Raiders' pedestal was a far cry from where it is now as a conference champion and CFP contender.
Texas Tech has become a major player in the NIL and transfer portal spaces - largely off the backs of generous donations from wealthy alums such as Pat, who is the namesake of Tech's quarterbacks meeting room and the walk-through area, which features a state-of-the-art video board in the Womble Football Center.
Mahomes spent three seasons with the Red Raiders, and twice led the Big 12 in passing yards and touchdowns in one of the nation's most pass-heavy offenses.
He landed at No. 10 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, and since taken over starting duties in 2018, has cemented himself as a future Hall of Famer.
That foundation was laid in Lubbock before Mahomes was even a Red Raider. Patrick's mother, Randi, recently shared how the family once owned land in West Texas where the Texas Tech University campus would be built.
"Fun fact, did you guys know that Patrick and my family once owned some of the land that Texas Tech is on now before he ever went there," Randi said on social media. "Our roots with Texas Tech go real deep…"
And so, too, does Patrick Mahomes' reputation as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL ... but while he's not voted the best this year, he's out to show it in Year 10.
