Ranking the most dominant Heisman campaigns of the last 25 years

7. Ron Dayne 

The NCAA’s all-time rushing leader had little trouble in the 1999 Heisman race, putting together one of the most impressive campaigns of the last quarter-century.

As a 270-pound athlete coming out of high school in New Jersey, many believed that Dayne would have to make a position change from running back when he reached the collegiate level. Barry Alvarez was one of the few head coaches that promised Dayne a position in the backfield, and he immediately blossomed into a star running back with 2,109 yards and 21 touchdowns as a true freshman in 1996.

Dayne was the starter all four seasons in Madison, and put up nearly a combined 3,000 yards over the next two years. During the last game of his senior season, Dayne broke Ricky Williams’ career rushing yards record as part of a 2,034-yard, 20-touchdown campaign to help the Badgers reach the Rose Bowl.

While that wasn’t quite as productive as his freshman season, Dayne had little competition in the Heisman Trophy throughout the entire season. Dayne picked up 586 first place votes compared to 96 for Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton, easily winning the Heisman Trophy by a 1,050 point margin.

Dayne finished his career with 7,125 rushing yards when Wisconsin’s three bowl games are included, a record that still stands over San Diego State’s Donnell Pumphrey, including 446 combined yards in two Rose Bowl victories. Leaving little doubt in the Heisman race for nearly the entire season is a rare feat, making Dayne’s run in 1999 one of the most dominant campaigns in recent memory.