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Ranking Heisman Trophy winners from 1-81

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Dec 14, 2013; New York, NY, USA; The Heisman Trophy is seen during a press conference before the announcement of the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2013; New York, NY, USA; The Heisman Trophy is seen during a press conference before the announcement of the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Troy Smith 2006 Season Statistics

  • Games: 13
  • Pass Completions: 203
  • Pass Attempts: 301
  • Completion Percentage: 65.3
  • Passing Yards: 2,542
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 195.5
  • Passing Touchdowns: 30
  • Interceptions: 6
  • Rushing Attempts: 72
  • Rushing Yards: 204
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 15.7
  • Yards Per Carry: 2.8
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 1

Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith completely dominated the Heisman Trophy race in 2006, and won the award by one of the largest margins in its history.

While leading the Buckeyes to a 12-0 record in the regular season, a Big Ten title, and a No. 1 ranking heading into the BCS National Championship Game against Florida, Smith threw for 2,507 yards and 30 touchdowns and was intercepted only five times.

Smith’s production and Ohio State’s terrific regular season performance earned the senior QB 801 first-place votes and 2,540 total points. Runner-up Darren McFadden earned just 45 first-place votes and 878 points. Only O.J. Simpson won by a larger margin and only Simpson and only Reggie Bush earned more No. 1 votes.

Smith racked up several other awards as well, including the AP Player of the Year Award, the Davey O’Brien Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He was also the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.

Including the championship game, which Ohio State lost 42-14, Smith finished with 2,542 passing yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 65.3 percent of his passes. One year after establishing himself as one of the top dual-threat QBs in the nation with 611 rushing yards and 11 TDs, Smith only gained 204 yards on the ground with one touchdown in his Heisman-winning campaign.

Danny Wuerffel 1996 Season Statistics

  • Games: 12
  • Pass Completions: 207
  • Pass Attempts: 360
  • Completion Percentage: 57.5
  • Passing Yards: 3,625
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 302.1
  • Passing Touchdowns: 39
  • Interceptions: 13
  • Rushing Attempts: 63
  • Rushing Yards: -100
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 8.3
  • Yards Per Carry: -1.6
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 2

Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel nearly won the Heisman Trophy as a junior in 1995 and finished third in the voting after throwing for 3,266 yards and leading the nation with 35 touchdown passes and a 178.4 QB rating. Instead, Wuerffel settled for the Davey O’Brien Award, the Sammy Baugh Trophy and was named SEC Player of the Year as the Gators finished 12-1 with a loss to Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl with the national championship on the line.

In 1996, Wuerffel not only led Florida to the first national championship in school history, he secured the program’s second Heisman Trophy under the direction of the man that won its first: head coach Steve Spurrier. Spurrier’s famed Fun ‘N Gun offense allowed Wuerffel to lead the nation in touchdowns (39) for the second straight season while passing for 3,625 yards and posting a 170.6 passer rating.

Wuerffel won the Heisman in a very close race with Iowa State running back Troy Davis, who gained 2,185 rushing yards and scored 21 touchdowns, and also won the O’Brien Award and the SEC Player of the Year Award for the second straight season. A consensus All-American for the first time, Wuerffel also took home the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

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