The Heisman Legacy: A Journey from 1935 to Today
In the realm of college football, there is no honor more prestigious than the Heisman Trophy. Since its inception in 1935, the Heisman Trophy has been awarded annually to the most outstanding player in collegiate football. Named after John Heisman, a pioneer in the sport, the trophy has become a symbol of excellence and a testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent of the athletes who receive it.
Heisman Trophy Highlights: Standout Winners and Milestones
- First Heisman Trophy awarded in 1935 to Jay Berwanger.
- Archie Griffin is the only two-time winner (1974, 1975).
- Youngest winner: Jameis Winston at 19 years old (2013).
- Oldest winner: Chris Weinke at 28 years old (2000).
- Reggie Bush forfeited his 2005 trophy due to NCAA violations.
- Schools with most wins: Ohio State, Notre Dame, USC, and Oklahoma each with 7.
- First defensive player to win: Charles Woodson in 1997.
- Bo Jackson won in 1985, later excelling in both NFL and MLB.
- Tim Tebow was the first sophomore to win in 2007.
- Caleb Williams is the most recent winner in 2022.
From Berwanger to Today: The Evolving Legacy of the Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Trophy has a rich history, with its roots extending back to the early days of American football. It was first awarded to Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago, in 1935. Since then, the trophy has been passed on to a new generation of athletes each year, each one leaving a unique mark on the sport.
The journey of the Heisman Trophy is a captivating tale of athletic prowess and personal achievement. It's a story that spans decades, featuring a diverse array of players from various colleges across the nation.
Join us as we delve into the history of the Heisman Trophy, exploring its origins, its winners, and the indelible impact it has had on the world of college football.
A list of all Heisman Trophy winners from 1935 to 2022
- - Jay Berwanger, Chicago (1935)
- - Larry Kelley, Yale (1936)
- - Clint Frank, Yale (1937)
- - Davey O'Brien, TCU (1938)
- - Nile Kinnick, Iowa (1939)
- - Tom Harmon, Michigan (1940)
- - Bruce Smith, Minnesota (1941)
- - Frank Sinkwich, Georgia (1942)
- - Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame (1943)
- - Les Horvath, Ohio State (1944)
- - Doc Blanchard, Army (1945)
- - Glenn Davis, Army (1946)
- - Johnny Lujack, Notre Dame (1947)
- - Doak Walker, SMU (1948)
- - Leon Hart, Notre Dame (1949)
- - Vic Janowicz, Ohio State (1950)
- - Dick Kazmaier, Princeton (1951)
- - Billy Vessels, Oklahoma (1952)
- - Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame (1953)
- - Alan Ameche, Wisconsin (1954)
- - Howard Cassady, Ohio State (1955)
- - Paul Hornung, Notre Dame (1956)
- - John David Crow, Texas A&M (1957)
- - Pete Dawkins, Army (1958)
- - Billy Cannon, LSU (1959)
- - Joe Bellino, Navy (1960)
- - Ernie Davis, Syracuse (1961)
- - Terry Baker, Oregon State (1962)
- - Roger Staubach, Navy (1963)
- - John Huarte, Notre Dame (1964)
- - Mike Garrett, USC (1965)
- - Steve Spurrier, Florida (1966)
- - Gary Beban, UCLA (1967)
- - O.J. Simpson, USC (1968)
- - Steve Owens, Oklahoma (1969)
- - Jim Plunkett, Stanford (1970)
- - Pat Sullivan, Auburn (1971)
- - Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska (1972)
- - John Cappelletti, Penn State (1973)
- - Archie Griffin, Ohio State (1974)
- - Archie Griffin, Ohio State (1975)
- - Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh (1976)
- - Earl Campbell, Texas (1977)
- - Billy Sims, Oklahoma (1978)
- - Charles White, USC (1979)
- - George Rogers, South Carolina (1980)
- - Marcus Allen, USC (1981)
- - Herschel Walker, Georgia (1982)
- - Mike Rozier, Nebraska (1983)
- - Doug Flutie, Boston College (1984)
- - Bo Jackson, Auburn (1985)
- - Vinny Testaverde, Miami (1986)
- - Tim Brown, Notre Dame (1987)
- - Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State (1988)
- - Andre Ware, Houston (1989)
- - Ty Detmer, BYU (1990)
- - Desmond Howard, Michigan (1991)
- - Gino Torretta, Miami (1992)
- - Charlie Ward, Florida State (1993)
- - Rashaan Salaam, Colorado (1994)
- - Eddie George, Ohio State (1995)
- - Danny Wuerffel, Florida (1996)
- - Charles Woodson, Michigan (1997)
- - Ricky Williams, Texas (1998)
- - Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (1999)
- - Chris Weinke, Florida State (2000)
- - Eric Crouch, Nebraska (2001)
- - Carson Palmer, USC (2002)
- - Jason White, Oklahoma (2003)
- - Matt Leinart, USC (2004)
- - Reggie Bush, USC (later forfeited) (2005)
- Troy Smith, Ohio State (2006)
- - Tim Tebow, Florida (2007)
- - Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (2008)
- - Mark Ingram Jr., Alabama (2009)
- - Cam Newton, Auburn (2010)
- - Robert Griffin III, Baylor (2011)
- - Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (2012)
- - Jameis Winston, Florida State (2013)
- - Marcus Mariota, Oregon (2014)
- - Derrick Henry, Alabama (2015)
- - Lamar Jackson, Louisville (2016)
- - Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (2017)
- - Kyler Murray, Oklahoma (2018)
- - Joe Burrow, LSU (2019)
- - DeVonta Smith, Alabama (2020)
- - Bryce Young, Alabama (2021)
- - Caleb Williams, USC (2022)
How many times has each team won the Heisman Trophy?
Here is the list of teams with the most Heisman Trophy winners, starting from the most:
1. Ohio State: 7 times
2. Notre Dame: 7 times
3. USC: 7 times
4. Oklahoma: 7 times
5. Alabama: 4 times
6. Michigan: 3 times
7. Army: 3 times
8. Florida: 3 times
9. Florida State: 3 times
10. Auburn: 3 times
11. Nebraska: 3 times
12. Yale: 2 times
13. Georgia: 2 times
14. Wisconsin: 2 times
15. Texas A&M: 2 times
16. LSU: 2 times
17. Navy: 2 times
18. Miami: 2 times
19. Texas: 2 times
20. Chicago: 1 time
21. TCU: 1 time
22. Iowa: 1 time
23. Minnesota: 1 time
24. SMU: 1 time
25. Princeton: 1 time
26. Syracuse: 1 time
27. Oregon State: 1 time
28. UCLA: 1 time
29. Stanford: 1 time
30. Penn State: 1 time
31. Pittsburgh: 1 time
32. South Carolina: 1 time
33. Boston College: 1 time
34. Oklahoma State: 1 time
35. Houston: 1 time
36. BYU: 1 time
37. Colorado: 1 time
38. Baylor: 1 time
39. Oregon: 1 time
40. Louisville: 1 time
The Only Player that has Won the Heisman Trophy More than Once.
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The Singular Feat of Archie Griffin: A Two-Time Heisman Trophy Winner
In the illustrious history of college football, many players have left their mark, but only one has achieved a feat that remains unmatched to this day. Archie Griffin, the legendary running back from Ohio State, stands alone as the only player to have won the Heisman Trophy twice.
Griffin's back-to-back wins in 1974 and 1975 are a testament to his exceptional talent, consistency, and impact on the game. His performances during these seasons were nothing short of extraordinary, and they earned him a place in the annals of college football that no other player has been able to reach.
Archie Griffin's story is not just about his individual achievements, but also about the spirit of perseverance and excellence that he embodied. His record-setting accomplishment underscores the fact that the Heisman Trophy is not just about recognizing a single season's worth of excellence, but also about honoring sustained performance and contribution to the team and the sport.
As we look back on the history of Heisman Trophy winners, Archie Griffin's unique achievement serves as a reminder of the heights that can be reached when talent meets hard work and determination. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of players who dream of etching their names in Heisman history.
A closer look at Each Teams Heisman Trophy Winners.
| Team | Heisman Winners |
|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 4 |
| Oklahoma Sooners | 7 |
| USC Trojans | 6 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 2 |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 7 |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 1 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 7 |
| Florida State Seminoles | 3 |
| Texas Aggies | 2 |