Which Schools Have The Most Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time?
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Which Schools Have The Most Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time?
The Heisman Memorial Trophy is the most esteemed honor in college football. 20 of the past 25 Heisman winners have been signal-callers. The most recent winner was Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter. Which schools have produced the most Heisman winners? FOX Sports Research compiled the list. The list is broken down into six categories: quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, defensive backs and defensive backs. The winner of the Heisman will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on July 26, 2025. For more information on the Heisman Trophy, go to heist.org/heisman. For the full list of winners, visit Fox Sports Research. The full list is available at foxsportsresearch.com/heist-trophy-trophies-all-time-list-2023-25-2025-2323-2324-2024-2325/2023/2323/2024/2324/2025/2326/2026/2327/2028/2029/2030/2031/2032/2033/2034/2035/2036/2037/2038/2039/2040/2041/2042/
The Heisman Memorial Trophy is the most esteemed honor in college football and among the most honorable awards in any sport.
It has been a quarterback-dominated award as of late, with 20 of the past 25 Heisman winners being signal-callers.
The most recent winner, however, was Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter, who earned the prestigious honor after a standout season in 2024 and became just the second Buffaloes player to win the award and first since 1994.
That said, which schools have produced the most Heisman winners? FOX Sports Research compiled the list.
Schools With The Most Heisman Trophy Winners
T-6. Army: Three
Doc Blanchard and Glen Davis on the bench during an Army-Villanova matchup.
FB/WR Doc Blanchard (1945): Three-time All-American
RB/WR/QB Glenn Davis (1946): Three-time All-American
RB Pete Dawkins (1958): One-time All-American
T-6. Michigan: Three
Charles Woodson occasionally played both ways at Michigan. (Photo by Chuck Solomon /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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QB Tom Harmon (1940): Two-time All-American
WR/KR/PR Desmond Howard (1991): 1991 1991 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
DB/WR/PR Charles Woodson (1997): 1997 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 1997 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
T-6. Nebraska: Three
Mike Rozier was a two-time All-American at Nebraska. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
WR/RB Johnny Rodgers (1972): Two-time All-American
RB Mike Rozier (1983): Two-time All-American
QB Eric Crouch (2001): Two-time Two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year
T-6. Florida: Three
Tim Tebow was part of two Florida national championship teams. (Photo by Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
QB Steve Spurrier (1966): 1966 1966 SEC Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Danny Wuerffel (1996): Two-time SEC Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Tim Tebow (2007): 2008 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
T-6. Auburn: Three
Bo Jackson was a two-time All-American at Auburn. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
QB Pat Sullivan (1971): 1970 SEC Player of the Year, one-time All-American
RB Bo Jackson (1985): 1985 SEC Player of the Year, two-time All-American
QB Cam Newton (2010): 2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
T-6. Florida State: Three
Charlie Ward helped Florida State win the 1993 National Championship. (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
QB Charlie Ward (1993): Two-time Two-time ACC Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Chris Weinke (2000): 2000 ACC Player of the Year, 2000 ACC Offensive Player of the Year
QB Jameis Winston (2013): 2013 ACC Player of the Year, one-time All-American 2013 ACC Player of the Year, one-time All-American
T-6. LSU: Three
Joe Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 TDs in LSU’s 2019 championship season. (Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)
RB Billy Cannon (1959): Two-time SEC Player of the Year, two-time All-American
QB Joe Burrow (2019): 2019 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 2019 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Jayden Daniels (2023): 2023 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 2023 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
5. Alabama: Four
Three of Alabama’s four Heisman winners aren’t quarterbacks. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
RB Mark Ingram (2009): 2009 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 2009 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
RB Derrick Henry (2015): 2015 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 2015 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
WR DeVonta Smith (2020): 2020 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 2020 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Bryce Young (2021): 2021 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 2021 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
T-2. Notre Dame: Seven
Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame’s two-time All-American halfback, proudly displays the Heisman Trophy.
QB Angelo Bertelli (1943): One-time All-American
QB Johnny Lujack (1947): Two-time All-American
WR Leon Hart (1949): Two-time All-American
RB Johnny Lattner (1953): Two-time All-American
QB Paul Hornung (1956): One-time All-American
QB John Huarte (1964): One-time All-American
WR/RB Tim Brown (1987): One-time All-American
T-2. Ohio State: Seven
Archie Griffin is the only Ohio State player to win two Heisman trophies. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
RB Les Horvath (1944): One-time All-American
RB Vic Janowicz (1950): One-time All-American
RB Howard Cassady (1955): Two-time All-American
RB Archie Griffin (1974): Two-time All-American
RB Archie Griffin (1975): Two-time All-American
RB Eddie George (1995): 1995 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Troy Smith (2006): 2006 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
T-2. Oklahoma: Seven
Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray won back-to-back Heisman trophies for Oklahoma from 2017-18. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
RB Bill Vessels (1952): One-time All-American
RB Steve Owens (1969): One-time All-American
RB Billy Sims (1978): Two-time All-American
QB Jason White (2003): Two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Sam Bradford (2008): 2008 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American 2008 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Baker Mayfield (2017): Two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American Two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Kyler Murray (2018): 2018 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year 2018 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year
1. USC: Eight
Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush won back-to-back Heismans for USC from 2004-05. (Photo by Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
RB Mike Garrett (1965): One-time All-American
RB O.J. Simpson (1968): Two-time All-American
RB Charles White (1979): Two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year, two-time All-American
RB Marcus Allen (1981): 1981 Pac-10 Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Carson Palmer (2002): 2002 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
QB Matt Leinart (2004): Two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American Two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
RB Reggie Bush (2005): Two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, two-time All-American Two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, two-time All-American
QB Caleb Williams (2022): 2022 2022 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, one-time All-American
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12 Schools With The Most Heisman Trophy Winners
The Heisman trophy is the most prestigious award in college football. It is given annually to the best player in the sport, recognizing individual achievement on the gridiron. The trophy has been awarded yearly dating back to 1935. In all, 90 trophies have been handed out to 89 winners, with Ohio State’s Archie Griffin being the lone two-time victor. Below are the 12 teams with the most Heisman trophy winners in school history. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on Saturday, September 14. The ceremony will be hosted by the University of Chicago and will be followed by a telecast of the game on Sunday, September 15. The event will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network from 8-10 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15 and 16. For more information on the Heisman trophy, visit the collegefootball.com/hemmotorshine. The Heisman Trophy has been given out annually since 1935 and has been won by 89 different players.
The Heisman trophy is the most prestigious award in college football. Given annually to the best player in the sport, it recognizes individual achievement on the gridiron.
The trophy has been awarded yearly dating back to 1935. The inaugural champion was halfback Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago, who also happened to be the first ever NFL Draft pick.
© Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
In all, 90 trophies have been handed out to 89 winners, with Ohio State’s Archie Griffin being the lone two-time victor.
Over those last nine decades, a handful of schools stand out in terms of producing success. Below are the 12 teams with the most Heisman trophy winners in college football history.
LSU Tigers
Jason Getz-Imagn Images
The Tigers have three Heisman trophy winners with the last being quarterback Jayden Daniels in 2023.
Four years earlier, Joe Burrow took home the hardware while the program’s first winner was Billy Cannon in 1959.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Nebraska has three all-time winners with the last being Eric Crouch. The dual threat quarterback threw for 1,510 yards and rushed for 1,115 more in 2001.
Johnny Rodgers was the Cornhuskers’ first Heisman winner in 1972 with Mike Rozier following in 1983.
Michigan Wolverines
© Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
Michigan, too, has three all-time Heisman trophy winners. Charles Woodson became the first victor to play predominantly on defense in 1997.
Before that, Desmond Howard earned the honor in 1991 while Tom Harmon was the first Wolverine to win in 1940.
Florida State Seminoles
© Melina Myers-Imagn Images
The Seminoles have three Heisman trophy winners in program history. All are quarterbacks who also won national titles.
Jameis Winston landed his award in 2013. Charlie Ward (1993) and Chris Weinke (2000) preceded him.
Florida Gators
Kim Klement-Imagn Images
The Gators have three Heisman trophy winners. Like the rival Seminoles, each is a quarterback.
Steve Spurrier won the program’s first in 1966. He then coached the next winner, Danny Wuerffel, in 1996. Tim Tebow won the most recent trophy in 2007.
Army Black Knights
Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Army has three award winners in its storied history. Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis went back-to-back in 1945 and 1946.
Pete Dawkins was the last Black Knight to claim a Heisman trophy in 1958.
Auburn Tigers
Manny Rubio-Imagn Images
Auburn has three all-time winners with the first being Pat Sullivan in 1971. Bo Jackson followed in 1985.
Cam Newton was the last Tiger to win during his national championship season in 2010.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Alabama has four Heisman trophy winners, all of which have come since the 2009 season.
Running back Mark Ingram won the first. Derrick Henry followed in 2015. Devonta Smith became the fourth wideout to win in 2020 before quarterback Bryce Young won the next year.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Notre Dame has seven Heisman trophy winners in school history, though none have come in the last 35 years.
Tim Brown is the most recent winner (1987). Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, and Leon Hart won in the 1940s, followed by John Lattner (1953), Paul Hornung (1956), and John Huarte (1964).
Oklahoma Sooners
John Reed-Imagn Images
Oklahoma has seen seven players win the prestigious award with Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray going back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
Billy Vessels (1952) was the school’s first winner. Steve Owens (1969), Billy Sims (1978), Jason White (2003), and Sam Bradford (2008) complete the list.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes technically have six winning players, but they boast seven trophies. Archie Griffin is a two-time winner (’74, ’75).
Les Horvath (1944) was Ohio State’s first winner. Vic Janowicz (1950), Howard Cassady (1955), Eddie George (1995), and Troy Smith (2006) followed.
USC Trojans
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
USC is the school with the most Heisman winners. The Trojans claim eight trophies with the last being Caleb Williams in 2022.
Reggie Bush won in 2005 after teammate Matt Leinart in 2004. Carson Palmer (2002), Marcus Allen (1981), Charles White (1979), OJ Simpson (1968), and Mike Garrett (1965) round out the lengthy list.
Most Heisman Trophy winners from college football’s elite schools: Colorado Buffaloes land school’s second Heisman winner
Heisman Trophy winners have been collecting college football’s most prestigious individual award since 1935. Only 11 powerhouse programs in NCAA football have three or more Heisman Trophy winners. Alabama Crimson Tide added to their incredible history with a fourth Heisman Trophy winner thanks to quarterback Bryce Young. But who has the all-time bragging rights as of now? Read on to find out which program has the most Heisman Trophy winning players in college football history, with all stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com. The list starts with the Auburn Tigers, followed by the Florida Gators, the Army Black Knights and the Florida Seminoles. The winner of the Heisman Trophy is the oldest player ever to win the award, Johnny Manziel, who was 28 years old when he took home the trophy in 2007. The award is given to the college football player with the most touchdowns scored in a single season, and it is given out every year until the end of the NFL season. For more information on the Heisman, go to www.heismantrophy.org.
Only 11 powerhouse programs in NCAA football have three or more Heisman Trophy winners, and the most dominant team in the country nowadays, the Alabama Crimson Tide, added to their incredible history with a fourth Heisman Trophy winner thanks to quarterback Bryce Young.
But who has the all-time bragging rights as of now? Believe it or not, several other schools trump Alabama’s total. Read on to find out which program has the most Heisman Trophy winners, with all stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.
LSU Tigers – 3 Heisman Trophy winners
Billy Cannon, running back , 1959
, Joe Burrow, quarterback, 2019
Jayden Daniels, quarterback, 2023
Jayden Daniels became the third Heisman Trophy winner in LSU history. Despite the Tigers losing three games, Heisman voters recognized that Daniels had one of the best statistical seasons in college football history, earning him the most Heisman votes. LSU went more than a decade between its first and second Heisman winners (Billy Cannon and Joe Burrow). Now, it has two in the last five years.
Auburn Tigers – 3 Heisman Trophy winners
Pat Sullivan, quarterback, 1979
Bo Jackson, running back, 1985
Cam Newton, quarterback, 2010
How awesome is Bo Jackson? Beyond being a Tecmo Bowl video game legend, Jackson lived up to the hype in real life. He was a two-sport professional star in football and baseball, but when he had the ball in his hands on the gridiron, there was nothing quite like it.
Cam Newton’s story is just epic, too. Off-field issues at Florida forced Newton to transfer to Blinn College. In his one year at Auburn thereafter, he led the Tigers to a national championship. Newton accounted for 50 total touchdowns (30 passing, 20 rushing) in 2010, carrying Auburn to a perfect 14-0 record in one of the greatest individual seasons ever. Despite just one season of production, Newton became the NFL’s No. 1 overall pick in 2011.
Related: Longest field goal in college football history
Army Black Knights – 3 Heisman Trophy winners
Doc Blanchard, fullback, 1945
Glenn Davis, running back, 1946
Pete Dawkins running back, 1958
You’d hardly think of Army as a college football powerhouse, but the Black Knights had an amazing run with three of their players picking up Heisman Trophy honors in a two-decade span.
Under head coach Earl Blaik, Army posted an exceptional 121-33-10 record and won three national championships in a row. Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard were the key players in that three-peat run. Davis had 3,099 career yards from scrimmage and 48 touchdowns, while Blanchard posted totals of 2,098 and 35 in those categories.
Related: College football games today: NCAA college football schedule
Florida Gators – 3 Heisman Trophy winners
Steve Spurrier, quarterback, 1966
Danny Wuerffel, quarterback, 1996
Tim Tebow, quarterback, 2007
It’s all about the quarterback for the Florida Gators, and even more interesting about this list is that Steve Spurrier was actually Wuerffel’s head coach when they combined to help the Gators to a national championship in 1996.
Spurrier and Wuerffel were starkly different players from Tim Tebow, though. The lightning rod that Tebow proved to be was unlike anything college football had ever seen before. Tebow accounted for 3,286 yards and 32 TDs through the air to go with 895 yards and 23 TDs on the ground when he rightfully seized the Heisman in 2007.
Florida State Seminoles – 3 Heisman Trophy winners
Charlie Ward, quarterback, 1993
Chris Weinke, quarterback, 2000
Jameis Winston, quarterback, 2013
There’s a theme of two-sport stars when it comes to the Seminoles’ Heisman Trophy winners.
It’s crazy to think that Charlie Ward also played basketball at Florida State and still received the Heisman as a senior. Ward went on to play in the NBA, as dual-threat QBs were few and far between when he was intending to enter the NFL, but he was electrifying for the Seminoles as a two-year starter.
Chris Weinke tried to play baseball professionally before a strong career in college football. He was the oldest player ever to win the Heisman at age 28.
Finally, Jameis Winston played baseball for the Seminoles but wisely stuck to football in the end. Matching Johnny Manziel’s groundbreaking achievement as the only other freshman Heisman recipient, Winston went even further by delivering a national championship victory that year, too.
Michigan Wolverines – 3 Heisman Trophy winners
Tom Harmon, running back, 1940
Desmond Howard, wide receiver/punt returner, 1991
Charles Woodson, cornerback/punt returner, 1997
The Wolverines have one of college football’s richest traditions, period. Their history stretches back to the 19th century, and Tom Harmon’s three years as a tailback-quarterback hybrid helped pull Michigan out of a relative slump from the mid-1930s.
Versatility is a common thread that links these Michigan men, in fact. When it comes to Desmond Howard, he was as dangerous on offense as he was on special teams to take it to the house — Big House, pun intended.
Charles Woodson was one-of-a-kind. He’d take snaps at receiver and running back on offense, excelled as a punt return man, but most impressively, shut down the opposition as the extremely rare defensive player to join the Heisman fraternity. Woodson was just too good to be denied in 1997 when he hauled in seven of his 16 interceptions.
Nebraska Cornhuskers – 3 Heisman Trophy winners
Johnny Rodgers, running back/wide receiver, 1972
Mike Rozier, running back, 1983
Eric Crouch, quarterback, 2001
It’s been tough sledding for the Cornhuskers for the most part since Tom Osborne went out on top with a perfect 12-0 mark in 1997. Not long after that, however, Eric Crouch came along and hoisted the Heisman Trophy, largely thanks to his rushing prowess, as he racked up 1,115 yards on the ground and 18 touchdowns in 2001.
But let’s not forget Mike Rozier’s 2,148-yard rushing campaign in 1983 on 7.8 yards per carry and 29 TDs. How about them apples? Also, Johnny Rodgers ran for 10 scores while going over 1,000 yards receiving in 1972. That’s an incredible feat in its own right.
Related: Check out Sportsnaut’s own College Football rankings
Alabama Crimson Tide – 4 Heisman Trophy winners
Mark Ingram, running back, 2009
Derrick Henry, running back, 2015
DeVonta Smith, wide receiver, 2020
Bryce Young, quarterback, 2021
Here’s a fun fact: Since the dawn of the new millennium, every single Heisman Trophy recipient has been a quarterback. That is, except for the epic triumvirate from Tuscaloosa listed above.
Yes, the Crimson Tide carry that distinction because USC’s Reggie Bush saw his award vacated in 2005 due to NCAA violations. We can still fondly remember Bush for his playmaking prowess, but let’s keep the focus on Alabama here.
Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry have gone on to successful NFL careers, defying the so-called Heisman curse. Ingram is a shorter back with a stout build whose decisive running style and power helped him thrive in college. Meanwhile, Henry is just a size-speed freak of nature who even NFL defenders want no part of tackling.
Smith’s 2020 campaign was phenomenal, as he had 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns. He rightfully beat out his quarterback and fellow first-round pick, Mac Jones, for the award.
Given what quarterback Bryce Young accomplished in 2021, it’s no surprise he became Alabama’s latest Heisman Trophy winner. They also join Oklahoma with consecutive Heisman Trophy winners.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 7 Heisman Trophy winners
Angelo Bertelli, quarterback, 1943
Johnny Lujack, quarterback, 1947
Leon Hart, tight end, 1949
Johnny Lattner, running back, 1953
Paul Hornung, quarterback, 1956
John Huarte, quarterback, 1964
Tim Brown, wide receiver, 1987
It’s a rich lineage of quarterbacks in South Bend, Indiana, when it comes to Notre Dame’s multitude of Heisman Trophy winners. Before it was trendy for field generals to win the voting, the Fighting Irish had plenty of QBs get the job done.
Given how hard it is for non-quarterbacks to win, especially of late, let’s appreciate what Tim Brown did in 1987. Coming off a 5-6 season, Notre Dame needed to get things moving in the right direction under second-year head coach Lou Holtz. Brown would prove instrumental to that cause.
In helping the Irish to an 8-4 record, Brown had 34 carries for 144 yards and a score, three punt return TDs, and 846 yards receiving on only 39 receptions (21.7 yards per catch). The next year, Notre Dame had a perfect record and won the national championship.
Related: Top 10 college football quarterbacks
Ohio State Buckeyes – 7 Heisman Trophy winners
Les Horvath, running back/quarterback, 1944
Vic Janowicz, running back/punter, 1950
Howard Cassady, running back, 1955
Archie Griffin, running back, 1974 & 1975
Eddie George, running back, 1995
Troy Smith, quarterback, 2006
Similar to USC, it’s a rich running back history at Ohio State. The man who stands out from the crowd of accomplished runners, though, is obviously Archie Griffin. The Scarlet and Gray have bragging rights in the sense that the Buckeyes are the only program to produce someone who’s earned this prestigious accolade twice.
To go over more recent history, Eddie George made the most of his final season in Columbus, rushing for 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns to go with 47 receptions for 417 yards. That blend of hard-nosed running and pass-catching prowess made George a threat to score any time he touched the ball.
After finishing as the runner-up in 2021, C.J. Stroud has a chance to give this program their eighth Heisman Trophy winner, which would be more than any other college football team has achieved. While he’s one of four Heisman finalists, no longer having a perfect record after losing to Michigan, the QB’s odds to win don’t look great.
Oklahoma Sooners – 7 Heisman Trophy winners
Billy Vessels, running back, 1952
Steve Owens, fullback, 1969
Billy Sims, running back, 1978
Jason White, quarterback, 2003
Sam Bradford, quarterback, 2008
Baker Mayfield, quarterback, 2017
Kyler Murray, quarterback, 2018
Thanks to the spread offense, Oklahoma has been a catalyst for changing the landscape of college football. Bob Stoops oversaw the Heisman-winning efforts of Jason White and Sam Bradford, but Stoops’ successor, Lincoln Riley, took everything to another level, producing two award winners who went on to be No. 1 overall draft picks.
Baker Mayfield played with a mountain-sized chip on his shoulder as a Texas Tech transfer. He thrived in Stoops’ final year but took his game to that next Heisman level with Riley at the helm in 2017, throwing for 4,627 yards, 43 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Who would’ve thought that another Lone Star State transfer from Texas A&M, Kyler Murray, would actually top Mayfield’s prolific production the next year?
Murray was a top-10 pick in the MLB Draft but dropped a chance to pursue that path with the Oakland Athletics and in his one full season as a starter for the Sooners? Well, you know. He won the Heisman, throwing for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns, with 1,001 rushing yards and 12 more TDs on the ground.
And that caps off our full list of the elite college football programs that have produced three or more Heisman Trophy winners. Stay tuned to see who wins this year. Chances are, it’ll be a quarterback.
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USC Trojans – 8 Heisman Trophy winners
Mike Garrett, running back, 1965
O.J. Simpson, running back, 1968
Charles White, running back, 1979
Marcus Allen, running back, 1981
Carson Palmer, quarterback, 2002
Matt Leinart, quarterback, 2004
Reggie Bush, running back, 2005
Caleb Williams, quarterback, 2022
Mike Garrett broke through in 1965 as USC’s first player to take home the Heisman, pioneering the tradition of tailback greatness in the first place. O.J. Simpson is infamous for his off-field life, but he nearly won back-to-back Heismans, finishing second in the 1967 voting. His two-year college career consisted of 3,423 yards rushing and 36 touchdowns.
Matt Leinart greatly benefited from Reggie Bush’s presence yet did well in his own right to guide the Trojans to consecutive national titles in a truly epic three-year starting tenure.
Carson Palmer is probably known more for what he did in the NFL than how he fared in college. He showed how sticking with the program as a fifth-year senior could pay huge dividends when he claimed his Heisman in 2002.
The most impressive campaign of all has to go to Marcus Allen, though. In 1981, he ran for 2,427 yards and 22 touchdowns on 433 carries. Those are just mind-boggling numbers and a testament to Allen’s toughness to take on that historic workload.
Thanks to Caleb Williams winning the Heisman in 2022, the USC Trojans have eight Heisman Trophy winners. However, the NCAA and Heisman Trust only recognizes them as having seven because Reggie Bush was stripped of the 2005 Heisman Trophy. After the start Williams has had this season, he could become the first repeat Heisman winner since Archie Griffin accomplished the feat in 1974-75.
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