Fansided

30 biggest college football scandals of all time

By Ethan Lee

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o (5) fights his emotions as he leaves the field after a 42-14 loss against Alabama in the BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on Monday, January 7, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o (5) fights his emotions as he leaves the field after a 42-14 loss against Alabama in the BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on Monday, January 7, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) /
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USC junior tailback Reggie Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, announces his decision to make himself eligible for the NFL draft at press conference at Heritage Hall on the campus of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif. on Thursday, January 12, 2006. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
USC junior tailback Reggie Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, announces his decision to make himself eligible for the NFL draft at press conference at Heritage Hall on the campus of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif. on Thursday, January 12, 2006. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) /

Reggie Bush forfeits his Heisman trophy

Reggie Bush will forever be one of the most talented running backs to play college football. But, Bush doesn’t have the award that recognized just how truly great he was during his final season of college football.

In 2005, Bush won the Heisman Trophy, the annual award given to the most outstanding player in college. The star running back claimed the award over his fellow USC Trojan Matt Leinart and Texas quarterback Vince Young. The impact Bush had is nearly incomparable as he ran for 1740 yards and 16 touchdowns while catching 37 passes for 478 yards and a couple of touchdowns.

His excellent play guided Southern California to the BCS national championship game against the University of Texas. But unfortunately, Bush’s 2005 season is no longer acknowledged for his athletic success.

Southern California was ultimately hammered by the NCAA as the organization busted Bush and USC for the running back allegedly receiving impermissible benefits.

Bush handed back his Heisman. His accomplishments are not officially recognized by the NCAA. His name isn’t in USC’s record book. More or less, it seems like the NCAA wants to pretend like Bush’s phenomenal career never happened.

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