When picking your future college, you want to choose the very best. That can mean looking at academic success. But a college’s athletic success is important, too. Choosing a school with a winning football program is something to consider. A school with a history of Heisman trophy winners would be a great choice. But Which College Has The Most Heisman Trophy Winners?
Ohio State, Oklahoma University, and Notre Dame are tied for the most Heisman Trophy winners. Each school has had seven winners. Second place goes to the USC with six winners. There is a tie for third place between Army, Auburn, Florida State, Florida, Michigan, and Nebraska. They all have three winners.
The first Heisman Trophy was awarded in 1935. Manhattan’s Downtown Athletic Club created the award and named it after the club itself. John Heisman was the club’s athletic director. The award was named after him following his death in 1936. The athletic club wanted to acknowledge college football’s most valued player of the year. What are the types of players that have won the Heisman Trophy?
Common Positions and Ages of Winners
Quarterbacks and running backs are the usual Heisman winners. No defense-only player has ever won. Seniors are also generally the recipients. The first freshman to win was Johnny Manziel in 2012. It was in reality the Texas A&M quarterback’s second year in college. Lamar Jackson was 19 years old when he won in 2016. The University of Louisville quarterback became the youngest winner ever. These are the usual types of players that win. But how is the Heisman Trophy winner actually chosen?
How the Winner is Decided
The Heisman Trophy winner is decided by a voting system. Certain sports writers and presenters that cover college football cast their ballots. A certain number of past winners are also eligible to vote. There are almost a thousand voters in total. They choose three players and rank them. The winner is decided after the votes are counted.
Other awards for impressive college football players do exist. They only look at how well a player performed. A player’s performance is taken into consideration by Heisman voters. It’s not the only factor, though. The overall team’s performance is considered as well.
Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy Winners
Ohio State’s football team has been playing football since 1890. They have won many division championships, conference championships, and national championships. It is the highest valued football program worth between $1.5 and $2 billion. Seven Heisman Trophy winners have played for Ohio State.
- Les Horvath, winner 1944
- Vic Janowicz, winner 1950
- Howard “Hopalong” Cassidy, winner 1955
- Archie Griffin, winner 1974 and 1975
- Eddie George, winner 1995
- Troy Smith, winner 2006
Horvath and Janowicz played both offense and defense. Janowicz even played kicker. Archie Griffin is the only player in college football history to win the trophy twice. All of the Buckeyes’ Heisman winners went on to have NFL careers.
Oklahoma’s Heisman Trophy Winners
Oklahoma University’s football program is one of the most successful. It has the most wins and highest winning percentage of any team since 1945. The Sooners have had seven Heisman Trophy winners play for them.
- Billy Vessels, winner 1952
- Steve Owens, winner 1969
- Billy Sims, winner 1978
- Jason White, winner 2003
- Sam Bradford, winner 2008
- Baker Mayfield, winner 2017
- Kyler Murray, winner 2018
Sims was a rarity, being awarded the trophy during his junior year. Mayfield and Murray gave the Sooners back-to-back Heisman wins. Both players have been drafted by the NFL.
Notre Dame’s Heisman Trophy Winners
Notre Dame’s football program has a long and famous history. It’s been immortalized on screen several times. The Fighting Irish’s success in the early years is the stuff of legends. The team’s Heisman winners go back some ways too.
- Angelo Bartelli, winner 1943
- Johnny Lujack, winner 1947
- Leon Hart, winner 1949
- Johnny Lattner, winner 1953
- Paul Hornung, winner 1956
- John Huarte, winner 1964
- Tim Brown, winner 1987
Bartellie and Lujack had their college careers cut short due to WWII. They made their games count, though. Hornung’s Fighting Irish team actually played incredibly poorly that year. It wasn’t enough to stop his skill from shining through.
The University of Southern California’s Heisman Controversy
The University of Southern California has produced six Heisman Trophy winners. Technically, though, the Trojans have actually won seven times. Reggie Bush was the recipient in 2005. An investigation found that Bush had violated NCAA rules. He returned his trophy in 2010.
Conclusion
There is a three-way tie for the college football team with the most Heisman Trophy winners. Ohio State, Oklahoma University, and Notre Dame each have seven wins. The college with the second most Heisman winners is the University of Southern California with six wins. Army, Auburn, Florida State, Florida, Michigan, and Nebraska are next with three wins each.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Heisman Trophy winner decided?
The Heisman Trophy winner is determined by a voting system. The top three best players are ranked by voters. A first-place selection is worth three points. A second-place selection is worth two points. A third-place selection is worth one point. The winner is decided after the votes are tallied.
Who gets to vote?
There are almost a thousand voters in total. Most voters are members of sports media. People who have covered college football throughout the year. A certain number of past Heisman winners are also eligible to vote. There is also one fan vote run by Nissan, which is a large Heisman partner.
Who won the first Heisman Trophy?
The Heisman Trophy’s first winner was Jay Berwanger. He won the “Downtown Athletic Club Trophy” in 1935. The club’s athletic director John Heisman died shortly after. The trophy was named in his honor. Berwanger played for the University of Chicago. He excelled at most positions, both offense and defense.
Has there been a player who has won the Heisman more than once?
Archie Griffin won back-to-back Heisman Trophies. He played halfback and tailback for Ohio State. Griffin received the award in 1974 and 1975. There has been no other player who has won the Heisman twice.
