Heisman Trophy winners list: All 86 players to take home college football’s most prestigious award

The Heisman Trophy ceremony is Saturday, Dec. 11, and unlike last year the finalists are invited to New York for the festivities. COVID-19 forced the 2020 event to go virtual.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett were named Heisman finalists on Monday and are all vying for the 87th trophy. 

The three-to-one quarterback ratio isn’t surprising given the Heisman’s history. Quarterbacks have won the trophy 18 times over the last 21 years. 

What is surprising, however, is the quarterbacks’ experience. Young would be the fifth sophomore to win a Heisman – and first since Lamar Jackson in 2016 – while Stroud would join Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston as the only freshmen to do so.

Another rarity – to say the least – would be a defensive player in Hutchinson winning the Heisman. Only one defender has won the Heisman, and, coincidentally, it was another Wolverine. Defensive back Charles Woodson won the trophy in 1997, but he also returned punts and played offensive snaps that season. 

A Heisman win for Stroud or Young would also be historically significant for their programs. Ohio State would pass Oklahoma and Notre Dame for the most Heisman winners ever with eight, and Alabama would hold sole possession of fifth place with four winners – all of which will have come since Mark Ingram in 2009. 

The Heisman Trophy ceremony will take place Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, and you can stream the ceremony on fuboTV (try for free). Here’s a list of the previous winners to study before the fun begins.  

• 2020: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

• 2019: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

• 2018: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

• 2017: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

• 2016: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

• 2015: Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama

• 2014: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

• 2013: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

• 2012: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

• 2011: Robert Griffin III, Baylor

• 2010: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

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• 2009: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

• 2008: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

• 2007: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

• 2006: Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State

• 2005: Reggie Bush, RB, USC (award vacated and trophy returned 2010)

• 2004: Matt Leinart, QB, USC

• 2003: Jason White, QB, Oklahoma

• 2002: Carson Palmer, QB, USC

• 2001: Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska

• 2000: Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State

• 1999: Ron Dayne, RB, Wisconsin

• 1998: Ricky Williams, RB, Texas

• 1997: Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan

• 1996: Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida

• 1995: Eddie George, RB, Ohio State

• 1994: Rashaan Salaam, RB, Colorado

• 1993: Charlie Ward, QB, Florida State

• 1992: Gino Torretta, QB, Miami

• 1991: Desmond Howard, WR, Michigan

• 1990: Ty Detmer, QB, BYU

• 1989: Andre Ware, QB, Houston

• 1988: Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State

• 1987: Tim Brown, WR, Notre Dame

• 1986: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami

• 1985: Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn

• 1984: Doug Flutie, QB, Boston College

• 1983: Mike Rozier, RB, Nebraska

• 1982: Herschel Walker, RB, Georgia

• 1981: Marcus Allen, RB, USC

• 1980: George Rogers, RB, South Carolina

• 1979: Charles White, RB, USC

• 1978: Billy Sims, RB, Oklahoma

• 1977: Earl Campbell, RB, Texas

• 1976: Tony Dorsett, RB, Pitt

• 1975: Archie Griffin, RB, Ohio State

• 1974: Archie Griffin, RB, Ohio State

• 1973: John Cappelletti, RB, Penn State

• 1972: Johnny Rodgers, WR, Nebraska

• 1971: Pat Sullivan, QB, Auburn

• 1970: Jim Plunkett, QB, Stanford

• 1969: Steve Owens, RB, Oklahoma

• 1968: O.J. Simpson, RB, USC

• 1967: Gary Beban, QB, UCLA

• 1966: Steve Spurrier, QB, Florida

• 1965: Mike Garrett, RB, USC

• 1964: John Huarte, QB, Notre Dame

• 1963: Roger Staubach, QB, Navy

• 1962: Terry Baker, QB, Oregon State

• 1961: Ernie Davis, RB, Syracuse

• 1960: Joe Bellino, RB, Navy

• 1959: Billy Cannon, RB, LSU

• 1958: Pete Dawkins, RB, Army

• 1957: John David Crow, RB, Texas A&M

• 1956: Paul Hornung, QB, Notre Dame

• 1955: Howard Cassady, RB, Ohio State

• 1954: Alan Ameche, FB, Wisconsin

• 1953: John Lattner, RB, Notre Dame

• 1952: Billy Vessels, RB, Oklahoma

• 1951: Dick Kazmaier, RB, Princeton

• 1950: Vic Janowicz, RB, Ohio State

• 1949: Leon Hart, E, Notre Dame

• 1948: Doak Walker, RB, SMU

• 1947: Johnny Lujack, QB, Notre Dame

• 1946: Glenn Davis, RB, Army

• 1945: Doc Blanchard, FB, Army

• 1944: Les Horvath, HB, Ohio State

• 1943: Angelo Bertelli, QB, Notre Dame

• 1942: Frank Sinkwich, RB, Georgia

• 1941: Bruce Smith, RB Minnesota

• 1940: Tom Harmon, RB, Michigan

• 1939: Nile Kinnick, RB, Iowa

• 1938: Davey O’Brien, QB, TCU

• 1937: Clint Frank, HB, Yale

• 1936: Larry Kelley, E, Yale

• 1935: Jay Berwanger, RB, Chicago