Ranking the most dominant Heisman campaigns of the last 25 years

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 13: Marcus Mariota, quarterback for the University of Oregon Ducks, hoist the trophy after being named the 80th Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winner during the 2014 Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Best Buy Theater on December 13, 2014 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for The Heisman) /

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MIAMI – JANUARY 08: Quarterback Sam Bradford #14 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts after Oklahoma was called fror a holding penalty which negated a first down against the Florida Gators during the FedEx BCS National Championship game at Dolphin Stadium on January 8, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /

15. Sam Bradford

Leading the highest-scoring offense in college football history led to some prolific numbers for Bradford in 2008, although he didn’t necessarily dominate the Heisman race with other quarterbacks around the nation putting up similarly huge numbers.

The Oklahoma City native was considered just a three-star recruit and ranked well behind several other signal callers in the class of 2006. Bradford passed on a potential professional hockey career and stuck with football, joining Bob Stoops’ Sooners and quickly rising up the depth chart prior to the 2007 season.

With Paul Thompson lost to graduation and Rhett Bomar dismissed, Bradford was the surprise starter in 2007, and tossed 36 touchdown passes during an impressive debut campaign. Bradford took things to a completely different level the next season, completing 328 of 483 passes for a whopping 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns.

Texas’ Colt McCoy and defending champion Tim Tebow also put up some massive numbers, leaving the Heisman race in doubt throughout the entire 2008 season. Tebow received the most first-place votes only to finish in third, with Bradford narrowly edging McCoy by 122 points in one of the most hotly contested races ever.

Bradford’s numbers are undoubtedly incredible and deserve standout recognition, but he certainly didn’t stand out to the same degree as other past Heisman winners.

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