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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TUSCALOOSA, AL – OCTOBER 16: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

24. Mark Ingram

While Ingram was indeed terrific during the Alabama Crimson Tide’s run to the national championship in 2009, his Heisman win is remembered more for controversy than dominance.

During his high school career in Michigan, Ingram piled up huge numbers as running back and defensive back to become a four-star athlete prospect. Ingram joined an Alabama team that was just starting to get rolling in the second year of the Nick Saban era in 2008, and was selected to the SEC All-Freshman team with 728 yards and 12 total touchdowns to set a school record for a first-year player.

After starting running back Glen Coffey graduated, Ingram became Alabama’s No. 1 running back in 2009, and immediately took advantage with a huge performance in the season opener against a top-10 Virginia Tech team. That set the tone for the entire season, as Ingram finished with 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground, plus an additional 334 yards and three scores as a receiver to help Alabama win the first title of the Saban dynasty.

Ingram expected to get tough Heisman competition from Stanford’s Toby Gerhart, who piled up 1,871 yards and 28 touchdowns. The 2009 Heisman vote was the closest in the history of the award, with Ingram narrowly topping Gerhart by 28 points to capture the trophy.

Like so many other Heisman runs throughout the years, Ingram likely got the necessary boost for being on a more high-profile team that won the national title. That shouldn’t discredit an excellent season from Ingram while splitting carries with Trent Richardson, but the closest win in Heisman history can’t exactly be categorized as dominant.

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