Heisman Trophy Winners - Complete List & Records Since 1935

What School Has the Most Heisman Trophy Winners?

Since the award's inception in 1935, three schools share the top spot: Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma with seven winners each. Close behind are USC with six and Alabama with four.

Ohio State produced legends like Archie Griffin, the only two-time winner (1974-75), and modern stars like Troy Smith (2006). Notre Dame thrived early, winning its seven between 1943 and 1987, while Oklahoma became a Heisman factory in the 2000s with Jason White, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray. USC dominated the 2000s with Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush (vacated), and Alabama has surged recently with winners in 2015, 2020, and 2021.

School Comparison Tool

Heisman Trophy Winners by Position

Position Breakdown (All-Time)

Position	Total Winners	Percentage	Most Recent
Quarterback (QB)	37	41%	Jayden Daniels (2023)
Running Back (RB)	45	50%	Derrick Henry (2015)
Wide Receiver (WR)	4	5%	DeVonta Smith (2020)
Defensive / Two-Way	2	2%	Travis Hunter (2024)

The history of Heisman Trophy winners reflects not only great individual talent but also the evolution of college football offenses. From the ground-and-pound era that produced legendary running backs to the modern spread attack where quarterbacks dominate, each era tells a unique story about the sport.

Quarterbacks (Most Dominant in Modern Era)

Quarterbacks have become the defining face of Heisman winners. Out of 90 ceremonies, 37 quarterbacks have claimed the trophy, accounting for 41% of all winners. The shift toward a quarterback-driven era is clear: 18 of the last 24 awards have gone to QBs, reflecting the spread offense and national TV exposure. Legendary winners like Joe Burrow, Caleb Williams, and Jayden Daniels raised the bar for the position with video-game statistics and championship performances.

Running Backs (Historical Leaders)

For decades, running backs were the dominant Heisman Trophy winners. With 45 winners (50% of all trophies), RBs shaped the sport from the 1940s through the 1990s. Programs like Oklahoma and USC thrived during this golden era, producing back-to-back standouts. Archie Griffin's unmatched back-to-back wins in 1974-75 epitomize the RB dominance of that period. The last RB to win was Derrick Henry in 2015, proving just how rare it has become in today's quarterback-driven landscape.

Wide Receivers & Other Positions

Wide receivers rarely appear among Heisman winners, with only four in total. Tim Brown (1987), Desmond Howard (1991), and DeVonta Smith (2020) paved the way, while Travis Hunter's two-way dominance in 2024 gave Colorado its second winner. Each time a receiver cracks the Heisman voting, it challenges assumptions about who deserves the award most, enriching the award's diverse history.

Defensive Players

Defenders almost never win the Heisman. The only pure defensive winner remains Charles Woodson in 1997, whose coverage skills, return ability, and occasional offensive plays made him too dynamic to ignore. Travis Hunter's 2024 win partly echoed Woodson's feat, as he starred on both sides of the ball. Despite countless elite linebackers and linemen in history, Heisman voters traditionally favor offensive playmakers who generate highlight reels and gaudy statistics. This bias ensures defensive players will remain underdogs in future races.

Heisman Trophy Voting - Closest Races & Biggest Landslides

The voting process for the Heisman Trophy winners has often been as dramatic as the games themselves. Each year, over 900 media members, former winners, and a nationwide fan vote determine who joins this exclusive fraternity. The voting outcomes reveal fascinating patterns about regional biases, position preferences, and the evolving nature of what voters consider "outstanding."

Interactive Voting Simulator

Explore how close races might have turned out differently with adjusted regional voting. Select a year below and see the breakdown:

Notable Close Races in Heisman History

The closest race came in 2009, when Alabama running back Mark Ingram edged Stanford's Toby Gerhart by only 28 points. Ingram secured 1,304 total points, while Gerhart finished with 1,276. That margin remains the slimmest in history, reflecting how divided voters were across the country. Ingram's SEC schedule and Alabama's undefeated record likely swayed voters, while Gerhart's Pac-10 dominance made him equally deserving in many eyes.

Other historically tight races include Bo Jackson's 45-point victory over Chuck Long in 1985, and Kyler Murray's 296-point margin over Tua Tagovailoa in 2018. These close contests often feature multiple elite candidates from different conferences, making the regional voting patterns particularly influential in determining the outcome.

Dominant Landslide Victories

At the other extreme, some results have been complete blowouts. The most famous landslide came in 1968, when USC's O.J. Simpson captured 2,853 points compared to Purdue's Leroy Keyes at 1,103, a margin of 1,750. Simpson's overwhelming majority of first-place votes left no doubt about his supremacy that season.

More recently, Joe Burrow delivered a historic landslide in 2019, earning over 90% of first-place ballots, the highest percentage ever recorded. His 2,608 total points dwarfed runner-up Jalen Hurts' 762 points by a margin of 1,846. Bryce Young's 1,357-point victory in 2021 also ranks among the most dominant performances in Heisman voting history.

Regional Voting Patterns

Regional voting bias has long shaped outcomes. For decades, East Coast and Midwest voters favored local players, often putting West Coast stars at a disadvantage. This partly explains why players like Jim Plunkett and Marcus Allen needed extraordinary seasons to secure wins despite playing in less-covered time zones.

Today, national broadcasts have reduced but not eliminated these patterns. SEC candidates still tend to benefit from media saturation, with networks featuring their games in prime-time slots throughout the season. The Big Ten and Big 12 have also maintained strong regional voting blocs, while Pac-12 players occasionally struggle for visibility due to late kickoff times.

Controversies and Disputed Outcomes

Controversies have also marked the voting process. In 2005, Reggie Bush had his trophy vacated due to NCAA sanctions, leaving the year without an official winner (though it was reinstated in 2024). Defensive standouts such as Hugh Green (1980) and Ndamukong Suh (2009) were viewed by many as more deserving than the eventual winners, raising questions about whether offensive players receive unfair preference.

Runner-up stories add another fascinating dimension. Peyton Manning never won a Heisman yet became an NFL legend, while Andrew Luck twice finished second and still forged a standout pro career. These examples prove that the Heisman race is not always about identifying the best long-term talent, but rather about capturing a singular moment of college football excellence.

Last 30 Heisman Trophy Winners (1995-2024)

The legacy of Heisman Trophy winners does not end on college campuses. Many transition into the NFL where their success varies widely. Some live up to the hype, becoming Hall of Famers, league MVPs, and Super Bowl winners, while others struggle to find their place.

Hall of Fame Success

Seventeen Heisman winners have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Legends such as Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen, Earl Campbell, and Tony Dorsett translated collegiate dominance into sustained NFL excellence.

Busts and Disappointments

Busts are an undeniable part of the Heisman-to-NFL pipeline. Highly decorated college stars like Matt Leinart, Rashaan Salaam, and Johnny Manziel were unable to replicate their dominance professionally.

Heisman Trophy Statistical Records and Milestones

The Heisman Trophy has produced remarkable statistical achievements over its 90-year history. From unprecedented back-to-back victories to record-breaking voting margins, these milestones showcase the exceptional talent that has defined college football's most prestigious individual award.

Has Any Player Ever Won 2 Heismans?

Only one man in history has achieved the extraordinary: winning the Heisman Trophy twice. Ohio State running back Archie Griffin captured the award in back-to-back seasons, 1974 and 1975, securing his place as the most unique member of the fraternity of Heisman Trophy winners.

Griffin's statistical dominance tells the story. In 1974, he rushed for 1,695 yards and 12 touchdowns, showing remarkable consistency and durability. The following year, he added 1,450 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, again carrying Ohio State to a Big Ten title. His ability to deliver elite production in consecutive seasons reflected not just talent but also an unmatched work ethic.

Why No One Has Repeated Since 1975

The reason no player has repeated Griffin's feat lies in a combination of factors. Elite underclassmen often leave early for the NFL after winning, missing the opportunity for a second campaign. Injuries can derail promising seasons, and voter fatigue makes back-to-back wins psychologically difficult. Additionally, modern football has become more specialized, making it harder for any single player to dominate two consecutive seasons the way Griffin did.

Notable Heisman Statistical Records

Interactive Heisman Timeline

Explore Heisman winners by decade, position, and conference using the filters below:

Voting Trends Over Time

The Heisman voting process has evolved significantly since 1935. Early winners often received fewer than 1,000 total votes, while modern winners regularly exceed 2,000 points. The introduction of the fan vote in 1999 and expansion of the voter pool to over 900 media members has democratized the process, though regional biases still occasionally influence outcomes.