College football duos: Ranking the 32 best dynamic duos in modern history

9. Matt Leinart and Mike Williams, USC

This won’t be the only duo from this era USC on this list, but don’t let the dominance of one take away from the other. Matt Leinart was one of the best quarterbacks of this era. It all started thanks to one of the most dynamic receivers that ever stepped foot on a field in Pasadena. That’s how these two turned into one of the best dynamic duos in the history of the sport.

Mike Williams was already one of the best receivers in the country when Leinart became the quarterback. His freshman season coincided with Carson Palmer’s Heisman season. He put up more than 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns. So, how could he have a sequel to his Pac 10 Freshman of the Year season? He put up even better numbers with a quarterback who would be even better than Palmer (at least in college). That’s how he got ranked as one of the best wide receivers of his era.

Leinart took the reigns in 2003. Rankings were bullish on their prospects going into the season, ranking them eighth in the country. It turns out, that was too low. This is one of the teams that started the “playoff” conversation since they were wrongfully left out of the BCS Championship Game.

Williams led his team to a historic season. He had 16 touchdowns thanks to five games with more than one touchdown. Leinart was always looking for Williams, who ended up as a Heisman finalist and a Biletnikoff finalist. He lost the Biletnikoff to the ridiculous Larry Fitzgerald year at Pitt.

Leinart went on to do great things after Williams decided to try and change NCAA rules and head to the NFL. That saga did not work out and he flamed out in the NFL. Leinart flamed out in the pros as well, but looking back at their short college career, it was incredible. If Williams was able to follow NCAA rules and he stays in school one more season, they might be the number one duo on this list.