NCAA Single-Season Receiving Touchdowns Leaders

The world of college football has seen some incredible performances by wide receivers over the years. While individual statistics don't always guarantee team success, they do offer a glimpse into the exceptional talent and hard work of these athletes. This article explores the players who have achieved the pinnacle of single-season receiving touchdown production in NCAA history.

The introduction of the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024 has led to teams playing longer seasons than ever before. The fact that seasons are longer than ever could help top receivers rewrite the record books.

Top Single-Season TD Receptions in CFB History

Here's a look at the players who boast the most touchdown receptions in a single season, showcasing their remarkable achievements:

T-10. Jarett Dillard: 20 (2008)

Rice's Jarett Dillard had a dominant college career. A first-team All-American, Dillard's 1,310 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns helped Rice go 10-3 in 2008. He was also the first player from Rice to earn first-team All-Conference USA three times. Dillard set NCAA career records for most touchdown receptions (60) and games with a touchdown catch (38) as well as the single-season record for games with a touchdown reception and consecutive games with a touchdown reception (13) in 2006. Dillard led the Owls to their first bowl appearance and bowl victory in nearly five decades in 2006. He is on the 2026 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

T-10. Justin Blackmon: 20 (2010)

Justin Blackmon was one of the top receivers in college football in the early 2010s. Blackmon was one of the best wide receivers in the early 2010s, recording back-to-back seasons in which he had at least 110 receptions and 1,500 receiving yards. He won both the Biletnikoff Award (the most outstanding WR in college football) and the Warfield Trophy (the nation's top collegiate wide receiver) twice in back-to-back years (2010-11). Blackmon twice earned unanimous All-American honors with Oklahoma State and was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2010. He went on to become the fifth overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft.

T-10. Patrick Edwards: 20 (2011)

When Houston's Case Keenum had the then-best season of all time statistically for a quarterback in 2011, one of his wide receivers stood to benefit from it mightily. Edwards was that guy, logging 1,752 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns that year. Edwards signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

T-10. Corey Coleman: 20 (2015)

Corey Coleman had a strong college career at Baylor. Coleman was a pivotal piece in Baylor’s strong run of play in the mid-2010s. He had 74 receptions for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2015, helping him become an All-American. A two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, Coleman won the Biletnikoff Award in 2015 and went on to become the 15th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

T-10. Ja'Marr Chase: 20 (2019)

Ja'Marr Chase was just one of the many stars on LSU's offense in 2019. Chase was the biggest beneficiary of QB Joe Burrow’s legendary 2019 season at LSU. Chase, a first-team All-SEC selection, unanimous All-American and Biletnikoff Award winner, led LSU in receiving scores that year. Chase, Burrow and the Tigers went on to win the national championship that year before Chase was drafted fifth overall in 2021.

9. Jarett Dillard: 21 (2006)

Dillard, again! The former Rice star led the nation in receiving touchdowns twice over three years, posting at least 20 receiving scores on two occasions as well. He's the NCAA’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns as well (60).

T-6. Manny Hazard: 22 (1989)

Houston quarterback Andre Ware won the Heisman Trophy in 1989 thanks to the help of Hazard. The 5-foot-8 wide receiver recorded a then-record 142 receptions and 22 receiving scores that year. A first-team All-American and two-time first-team All-Southwest Conference selection, Hazard held the single-season record for most receptions until December 2009.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

T-6. Larry Fitzgerald: 22 (2003)

Before having an NFL Hall of Fame career, Fitzgerald had an elite season with Pitt in 2003. Fitzgerald’s 2003 season at Pitt was nearly enough for him to win the Heisman Trophy. He led the nation in receiving yards (1,672) and receiving touchdowns (22) that year, finishing second to Oklahoma quarterback Jason White. A unanimous All-American, first-team All-Big East selection and Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, Fitzgerald went on to win a slew of accolades that same year, including the Biletnikoff Award, Warfield Trophy and Walter Camp Award (most outstanding college football player in the United States), among others. His No. 1 jersey was officially retired by the University of Pittsburgh in 2013.

T-6. Michael Crabtree: 22 (2007)

Michael Crabtree was a key reason why Texas Tech nearly reached the national championship game during his time in Lubbock. Many fans might remember Crabtree’s 2008 season more as he nearly helped Texas Tech reach the title game that year. However, he was statistically better as a redshirt freshman in 2007, leading the nation in receptions (134), receiving yards (1,962) and receiving touchdowns (22). A two-time Biletnikoff Award winner, two-time Warfield Trophy winner and two-time unanimous All-American, Crabtree went on to be the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

5. DeVonta Smith: 23 (2020)

DeVonta Smith's 20 receiving touchdowns helped him win the Heisman in 2020. History says that it takes a special season for a wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy. Smith did that in 2020, becoming just the fourth wideout to accomplish such a feat after he recorded 20 scores in just 13 games for Alabama. A two-time CFP national champion with the Crimson Tide, Smith also won the Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award and the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player in college football). A two-time first-team All-SEC selection, Smith was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and SEC Male Athlete of the Year in 2021.

4. Davante Adams: 24 (2013)

Davante Adams was a star at Fresno State before becoming one in the NFL. There’s a reason why Adams is so fond of Derek Carr. The quarterback fed him well during their time together at Fresno State, especially in their final season in 2013. Adams had 131 receptions for 1,719 yards and 24 touchdowns that year en route to his second first-team All-Mountain West selection and winning the Warfield Trophy. His No. 15 jersey was officially retired by Fresno State in 2022.

T-2. Stedman Bailey: 25 (2012)

Steadman Bailey formed a strong 1-2 punch alongside WR Tavon Austin during their time together at WVU. While Tavon Austin garnered more buzz among West Virginia’s wide receivers in the early 2010s, Bailey was statistically superior. His 2012 season was one for the ages, recording 1,622 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns for a Mountaineers team that went 7-6. After a stellar college career, Bailey, a first-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 selection, was taken in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

T-2. Randy Moss: 25 (1997)

Randy Moss was a Heisman finalist thanks to the dominant year he had at Marshall. In many other seasons, Moss’ 1997 campaign might have been enough to win the Heisman Trophy. He recorded 90 receptions for 1,647 yards and 25 touchdowns that year, dominating in an era where the passing game still wasn’t as prevalent. Marshall went 10-3 as a result of Moss’ play, while he finished fourth in Heisman voting in one of the greatest all-time races for the award.

1. Troy Edwards: 27 (1998)

Troy Edwards had one of the best seasons ever for a wide receiver in 1998. A year after Moss put up monster stats at Marshall, Edwards had slightly superior numbers at Louisiana Tech. He recorded an astonishing 140 receptions for 1,996 yards and 27 touchdowns in 1998, putting up arguably the greatest statistical season for a wide receiver in college football history.

Other Notable Records and Statistics

Beyond single-season touchdowns, numerous other receiving records highlight exceptional performances:

Career Receiving Touchdowns: Jarett Dillard of Rice holds the NCAA record for career receiving touchdowns with 60.
Single-Game Receiving Touchdowns: Rashaun Woods of Oklahoma State caught 7 touchdown passes in a 2003 game against SMU, setting the single-game record.
Career Receptions: Zay Jones from East Carolina broke his former teammate Justin Hardy's record in 2016 for career receptions.
Single-Game Receptions: Randy Gatewood of UNLV and Tyler Jones of Eastern Michigan share the single-game record with 23 receptions.
Single-Season Receiving Yards: While not directly related to touchdowns, Trevor Insley at Nevada holds the single-season record as the only player to ever catch for more than 2,000 yards in a season.
Single-Game Receiving Yards: J. R. Edwards holds the single-game record for 405 receiving yards.

Factors Influencing Receiving Touchdowns

Several factors can influence a receiver's touchdown production:

Quarterback Play: A strong and accurate quarterback is essential for a receiver to get opportunities in the end zone, as demonstrated by Ja'Marr Chase's success with Joe Burrow at LSU and Davante Adams' connection with Derek Carr at Fresno State.
Offensive Scheme: Teams with pass-heavy offenses or those that prioritize throwing in the red zone will naturally create more touchdown opportunities for their receivers.
Defensive Matchups: A receiver's ability to exploit favorable matchups against opposing defenses can lead to increased touchdown production.
Team Success: Teams that frequently reach the red zone due to overall offensive success will provide more scoring chances for their receivers.

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