Heisman Trophy winners by year and the contenders they beat

Heisman Trophy winner Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
Heisman Trophy winner Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Heisman Trophy winners go down as the most outstanding players in college football. Here’s a look at who got the trophy each year and who they beat.

The 2022 Heisman Trophy ceremony is coming up soon, which means a new member of the Heisman fraternity will be added.

Last year, it was Bryce Young giving Alabama back-to-back winners.

The finalists for the 2022 trophy include Georgia’s Stetson Bennett IV, TCU’s Max Duggan, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and USC’s Caleb Williams.

One of them will be crowned on Saturday night, joining a long list of Heisman Trophy winners going back to 1935.

Heisman Trophy winners by year and the contenders they beat

2021
Bryce Young – QB, Alabama
Aidan Hutchinson – DE, Michigan
Kenny Pickett – QB, Pittsburgh

2020
DeVonta Smith – WR, Alabama
Trevor Lawrence – QB, Clemson
Mac Jones – QB, Alabama

2019
Joe Burrow – QB, LSU
Jalen Hurts – QB, Oklahoma
Justin Fields – QB, Ohio State

2018
Kyler Murray – QB, Oklahoma
Tua Tagovailoa – QB, Alabama
Dwayne Haskins – QB, Ohio State

2017
Baker Mayfield – QB, Oklahoma
Bryce Love – RB, Stanford
Lamar Jackson – QB, Louisville

2016
Lamar Jackson – QB, Louisville
Deshaun Watson – QB, Clemson
Baker Mayfield – QB, Oklahoma

2015
Derrick Henry – RB, Alabama
Christian McCaffrey – RB, Stanford
Deshaun Watson – QB, Clemson

2014
Marcus Mariota – QB, Oregon
Melvin Gordon – RB, Wisconsin
Amari Cooper – WR, Alabama

2013
Jameis Winston – QB, Florida State
A.J. McCarron – QB, Alabama
Jordan Lynch – QB, Northern Illinois

2012
Johnny Manziel – QB, Texas A&M
Manti Te’o – LB, Notre Dame
Collin Klein – QB, Kansas State

2011
Robert Griffin III – QB, Baylor
Andrew Luck – QB, Stanford
Trent Richardson – RB, Alabama

2010
Cam Newton – QB, Auburn
Andrew Luck – QB, Stanford
LaMichael James – RB, Oregon

2009
Mark Ingram – RB, Alabama
Toby Gerhart – RB,Stanford
Colt McCoy – QB, Texas

2008
Sam Bradford – QB, Oklahoma
Colt McCoy – QB, Texas
Tim Tebow – QB, Florida

2007
Tim Tebow – QB, Florida
Darren McFadden – RB, Arkansas
Colt Brennan – QB, Hawaii

2006
Troy Smith – QB, Ohio State
Darren McFadden – RB, Arkansas
Brady Quinn – QB, Notre Dame

2005
Reggie Bush – RB, USC*
Vince Young – QB, Texas
Matt Leinart – QB, USC

2004
Matt Leinart – QB, USC
Adrian Peterson – RB, Oklahoma
Jason White – QB, Oklahoma

2003
Jason White – QB, Oklahoma
Larry Fitzgerald – WR, Pittsburgh
Eli Manning – QB, Ole Miss

2002
Carson Palmer – QB, USC
Brad Banks – QB, Iowa
Larry Johnson – RB, Penn State

2001
Eric Crouch – QB, Nebraska
Rex Grossman – QB, Florida
Ken Dorsey – QB, Miami (Fla.)

2000
Chris Weinke – QB,Florida State
Josh Heupel – QB, Oklahoma
Drew Brees – QB, Purdue

1999
Ron Dayne – RB, Wisconsin
Joe Hamilton – QB, Georgia Tech
Michael Vick – QB, Virginia Tech

1998
Ricky Williams – RB, Texas
Michael Bishop – QB, Kansas State
Cade McNown – QB, UCLA

1997
Charles Woodson – CB, Michigan
Peyton Manning – QB, Tennessee
Ryan Leaf – QB, Washington State

1996
Danny Wuerffel – QB, Florida
Troy Davis – RB, Iowa State
Jake Plummer – QB, Arizona State

1995
Eddie George – RB, Ohio State
Tommie Frazier – QB, Nebraska
Danny Wuerffel – QB, Florida

1994
Rashaan Salaam – RB, Colorado
Ki-Jana Carter – RB, Penn State
Steve McNair – QB, Alcorn State

1993
Charlie Ward – QB, Florida State
Heath Shuler – QB, Tennessee
David Palmer – WR, Alabama

1992
Gino Torretta – QB,Miami (Fla.)
Marshall Faulk – RB, San Diego State
Garrison Hearst – RB, Georgia

1991
Desmond Howard – WR, Michigan
Casey Weldon – QB, Florida State
Ty Detmer – QB, BYU

1990
Ty Detmer – QB, Brigham Young
Raghib Ismail – WR, Notre Dame
Eric Bieniemy – RB, Colorado

1989
Andre Ware – QB, Houston
Anthony Thompson – RB, Indiana
Major Harris – QB, West Virginia

1988
Barry Sanders – RB, Oklahoma State
Rodney Peete – QB, USC
Troy Aikman – QB, UCLA

1987
Tim Brown – WR, Notre Dame
Don McPherson – QB, Syracuse
Gordie Lockbaum – RB, Holy Cross

1986
Vinny Testaverde – QB, Miami (Fla.)
Paul Palmer – RB, Temple
Jim Harbaugh – QB, Michigan

1985
Bo Jackson – RB, Auburn
Chuck Long – QB, Iowa
Robbie Bosco – QB,BYU

1984
Doug Flutie – QB, Boston College
Keith Byars – RB, Ohio State
Robbie Bosco – QB, BYU

1983
Mike Rozier – RB,Nebraska
Steve Young – QB, BYU
Doug Flutie – QB, Boston College

1982
Herschel Walker – RB, Georgia
John Elway – QB, Stanford
Eric Dickerson – RB, SMU

1981
Marcus Allen – RB, USC
Herschel Walker – RB, Georgia
Jim McMahon – QB, BYU

1980
George Rogers – RB, South Carolina
Hugh Green – DL, Pittsburgh
Herschel Walker – RB, Georgia

1979
Charles White – RB, USC
Billy Sims – RB, Oklahoma
Marc Wilson – QB, BYU

1978
Billy Sims – RB, Oklahoma
Chuck Fusina – QB, Penn State
Rich Leach – QB, Michigan

1977
Earl Campbell – RB, Texas
Terry Miller – RB, Oklahoma State
Ken MacAfee – TE, Notre Dame

1976
Tony Dorsett – RB, Pittsburgh
Ricky Bell – RB, USC
Rob Lytle – RB, Michigan

1975
Archie Griffin – RB, Ohio State
Chuck Muncie – RB, California
Ricky Bell – RB, USC

1974
Archie Griffin – RB, Ohio State
Anthony Davis – RB, USC
Joe Washington – RB, Oklahoma

1973
John Cappelletti – RB,Penn State
John Hicks – OL, Ohio State
Roosevelt Leaks – RB, Texas

1972
Johnny Rodgers – WR, Nebraska
Greg Pruitt – RB, Oklahoma
Rich Glover – DL, Nebraska

1971
Pat Sullivan – QB, Auburn
Ed Marinaro – RB,Cornell
Greg Pruitt – RB, Oklahoma

1970
Jim Plunkett – QB,Stanford
Joe Theismann – QB,Notre Dame
Archie Manning – QB, Ole Miss

1969
Steve Owens – RB, Oklahoma
Mike Phipps – QB, Purdue
Rex Kern – QB,Ohio State

1968
O.J. Simpson – RB, USC
Leroy Keyes – RB, Purdue
Terry Hanratty – QB, Notre Dame

1967
Gary Beban – QB, UCLA
O.J. Simpson – RB, USC
Leroy Keyes – RB, Purdue

1966
Steve Spurrier – QB, Florida
Bob Griese – QB, Purdue
Nick Eddy – RB, Notre Dame

1965
Mike Garrett – RB, USC
Howard Twilley – WR, Tulsa
Jim Grabowski – RB,Illinois

1964
John Huarte – QB,Notre Dame
Jerry Rhome – QB, Tulsa
Dick Butkus – LB, Illinois

1963
Roger Staubach – QB,Navy
Billy Lothridge – QB, Georgia Tech
Sherman Lewis – RB, Michigan State

1962
Terry Baker – QB, Oregon State
Jerry Stovall – RB,LSU
Bob Bell – DL, Minnesota

1961
Ernie Davis – RB, Syracuse
Bob Ferguson – RB, Ohio State
Jimmy Saxton – RB, Texas

1960
Joe Bellino – RB, Navy
Tom Brown – OL, Minnesota
Jake Gibbs – QB, Ole Miss

1959
Billy Cannon – RB, LSU
Richie Lucas – QB, Penn State
Don Meredith – QB, SMU

1958
Pete Dawkins – RB, Army
Randy Duncan – QB, Iowa
Billy Cannon- RB, LSU

1957
John David Crow – RB, Texas A&M
Alex Karras – DL, Iowa
Walt Kowalczyk – RB,Michigan State

1956
Paul Hornung – QB,Notre Dame
Johnny Majors – RB, Tennessee
Tommy McDonald – RB, Oklahoma

1955
Howard Cassady – RB, Ohio State
Jim Swink – RB, TCU
George Welsh – QB, Navy

1954
Alan Ameche – FB, Wisconsin
Kurt Burris – OL, Oklahoma
Howard Cassady – RB, Ohio State

1953
John Lattner – RB,Notre Dame
Paul Giel – RB, Minnesota
Paul Cameron – RB,UCLA

1952
Billy Vessels – RB, Oklahoma
Jack Scarbath – QB, Maryland
Paul Giel – RB, Minnesota

1951
Dick Kazmaier – RB, Princeton
Hank Lauricella – RB, Tennessee
Babe Parilli – QB, Kentucky

1950
Vic Janowicz – RB,Ohio State
Kyle Rote – RB, SMU
Reds Bagnell – RB, Pennsylvania

1949
Leon Hart – TE,Notre Dame
Charlie Justice – RB, North Carolina
Doak Walker – RB, SMU

1948
Doak Walker – RB, SMU
Charlie Justice – RB, North Carolina
Chuck Bednarik – OL/LB, Pennsylvania

1947
John Lujack – QB,Notre Dame
Bob Chappuis – RB,Michigan
Doak Walker – RB, SMU

1946
Glenn Davis – RB, Army
Charley Trippi – RB, Georgia
Johnny Lujack – QB, Notre Dame

1945
Doc Blanchard – FB, Army
Glenn Davis – RB, Army
Rob Fenimore – RB, Oklahoma State

1944
Les Horvath – HB, Ohio State
Glenn Davis – RB, Army
Doc Blanchard – FB, Army

1943
Angelo Bertelli – QB,Notre Dame
Bob Odell – RB, Pennsylvania
Otto Graham – QB, Northwestern

1942
Frank Sinkwich – RB,Georgia
Paul Governali – QB, Columbia
Clint Castleberry – RB, Georgia Tech

1941
Bruce Smith – RB, Minnesota
Angelo Bertelli – QB,Notre Dame
Frankie Albert – QB,Stanford

1940
Tom Harmon – RB, Michigan
John Kimbrough – RB, Texas A&M
George Franck – RB, Minnesota

1939
Nile Kinnick – RB,Iowa
Tom Harmon – RB, Michigan
Paul Christman – QB, Missouri

1938
Davey O’Brien – QB, TCU
Marshall Goldberg – RB, Pittsburgh
Sid Luckman – QB, Columbia

1937
Clinton Frank – HB, Yale
Byron White – RB, Colorado
Marshall Goldberg – RB, Pittsburgh

1936
Larry Kelley – TE, Yale
Sam Francis – RB, Nebraska
Ray Buivid – RB, Marquette

1935
Jay Berwanger – RB,Chicago
Monk Meyer – RB, Army
Bill Shakespeare – RB, Notre Dame

Heisman Trophy winners are awarded by a national wide panel of voters. The award is given to the most outstanding player in college football each year. The ceremony in New York is the pinnacle of CFB awards each year.

Next. Heisman Trophy Power Rankings for the 4 finalists. dark

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