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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BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Former player Ricky Williams of the Texas Longhorns stands on the sideline before a game against the California Golden Bears on September 17, 2016 at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. Cal won 50-43. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

3. Ricky Williams

Williams shattered records and blew away the competition in the 1998 Heisman Trophy race, turning in a season that will live forever in college football history.

An outstanding multi-sport athlete out of the San Diego area, Williams put up huge numbers as a high school running back and accepted a scholarship to play for John Mackovic and Texas ahead of the 1995 season. The Longhorns gave Williams immediate playing time as a freshman and he piled up just shy of 1,000 yards, adding another 1,272 yards as a sophomore.

Despite a poor 4-7 campaign that resulted in Mackovic’s dismissal, Williams was once again terrific and finished fifth in the 1997 Heisman Trophy voting. Williams made Mack Brown’s first season in Austin a memorable one, piling up 2,124 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns on 27 carries.

With nine touchdowns in Texas’ first two games, Williams controlled the 1998 Heisman Trophy race throughout, and breaking the NCAA record for career rushing yards in the Thanksgiving game against Texas A&M sealed any doubt. Kansas State’s Michael Bishop and UCLA’s Cade McNown didn’t have much of a chance, as Williams cruised to a 1,563-point victory, the third-largest margin of the past quarter-century.

Williams’ incredible 1998 numbers and huge margin of victory gives him one the most dominant Heisman Trophy campaigns of all time.

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