What makes a college football team great?

Heck, what makes any football team — regardless of the level — great? Sure, coaching matters. Depth matters. Skill players matter.

But if your team doesn’t have a quarterback, everybody else on the roster better be special. Quarterbacks just mean that much. That’s what football has turned into.

On Wednesday, the Manning Award Watch List came out and this statement was released:

“We have another great group of quarterbacks coming back this season,” said Archie Manning. “For our Watch List, we aim to recognize players who have already been successful on the field for their teams, but every quarterback in the country remains eligible. We’ll make some midseason additions to the list as some of the younger quarterbacks and the transfers establish themselves. I’m really looking forward to getting the season started this weekend and keeping a close eye on everyone right through the national championship in New Orleans.”

Here are the three B1G QBs that made the list that is 30 deep:

  • Adrian Martinez, Nebraska
  • Shea Patterson, Michigan
  • Nate Stanley, Iowa

Martinez is a sophomore, while both Patterson and Stanley are seniors. The list of 10 finalists will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 28.

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The entire Manning Award Watch List can be found here.