List Of Heisman Trophy Winners: Travis Hunter Joins The Ranks Of College Football Legends
The Heisman Trophy has been a symbol of greatness in college football since 1935. It is awarded annually to the best player in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Talent, dedication, and hard work make players stand out. Originally established by the Downtown Athletic Club, the award is now presented by the Heisman Trust at a highly anticipated ceremony every year.
In 2024, Travis Hunter, a standout player from Colorado, took home the Heisman Trophy. He’s a rare talent who excelled both as a cornerback and a wide receiver. Hunter beat out other top contenders like Cam Ward, Ashton Jeanty, and Dillon Gabriel with his incredible performances for the Buffaloes. His win demonstrates the growing importance of players who can dominate in multiple positions.
The History Of Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Trophy started out as the DAC Trophy back in 1935, created by New York’s Downtown Athletic Club to honor the best college football player “east of the Mississippi.” Jay Berwanger from the University of Chicago was the first winner, but instead of going pro, he chose a business career. After the death of John Heisman in 1936, the trophy was renamed in his honor and expanded to include players nationwide. TCU quarterback Davey O’Brien became the first winner from the western U.S. in 1938. Over the years, the Heisman Trophy has grown into one of the most iconic awards in sports, with Ohio State’s Archie Griffin standing out as the only player to win it twice.
The ceremony itself has moved around a lot. Originally held at the Downtown Athletic Club, it switched locations after the club went bankrupt in 2002 and has since been hosted in various New York City venues. Voting for the award is split into six regions across the U.S., with media members, former winners, and fans casting their votes. The award had its fair share of drama, too—like when Reggie Bush gave up his 2005 trophy due to NCAA violations. However, with new rules allowing player compensation, his honor was reinstated in 2024. Despite all the changes over the years, the Heisman still stands as the ultimate symbol of greatness in college football. Below is the full list of Heisman Trophy winners from 1935-2024.
Complete List Of Heisman Trophy Winners (1935–2024)
1935–1949
- 1935: Jay Berwanger, Chicago, HB
- 1936: Larry Kelley, Yale, End
- 1937: Clint Frank, Yale, HB
- 1938: Davey O’Brien, TCU, QB
- 1939: Nile Kinnick, Iowa, HB/QB
- 1940: Tom Harmon, Michigan, HB
- 1941: Bruce Smith, Minnesota, HB
- 1942: Frank Sinkwich, Georgia, HB
- 1943: Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame, QB
- 1944: Les Horvath, Ohio State, HB/QB
- 1945: Doc Blanchard, Army, FB
- 1946: Glenn Davis, Army, HB
- 1947: Johnny Lujack, Notre Dame, QB
- 1948: Doak Walker, SMU, HB
- 1949: Leon Hart, Notre Dame, End
1950–1969
- 1950: Vic Janowicz, Ohio State, HB/P
- 1951: Dick Kazmaier, Princeton, HB
- 1952: Billy Vessels, Oklahoma, HB
- 1953: Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame, HB
- 1954: Alan Ameche, Wisconsin, FB
- 1955: Howard Cassady, Ohio State, HB
- 1956: Paul Hornung, Notre Dame, QB
- 1957: John David Crow, Texas A&M, HB
- 1958: Pete Dawkins, Army, HB
- 1959: Billy Cannon, LSU, HB
- 1960: Joe Bellino, Navy, HB
- 1961: Ernie Davis, Syracuse, HB
- 1962: Terry Baker, Oregon State, QB
- 1963: Roger Staubach, Navy, QB
- 1964: John Huarte, Notre Dame, QB
- 1965: Mike Garrett, USC, HB
- 1966: Steve Spurrier, Florida, QB
- 1967: Gary Beban, UCLA, QB
- 1968: O.J. Simpson, USC, HB
- 1969: Steve Owens, Oklahoma, FB
1970–1989
- 1970: Jim Plunkett, Stanford, QB
- 1971: Pat Sullivan, Auburn, QB
- 1972: Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska, WR/RB
- 1973: John Cappelletti, Penn State, RB
- 1974: Archie Griffin, Ohio State, RB
- 1975: Archie Griffin, Ohio State, RB
- 1976: Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh, RB
- 1977: Earl Campbell, Texas, RB
- 1978: Billy Sims, Oklahoma, RB
- 1979: Charles White, USC, RB
- 1980: George Rogers, South Carolina, RB
- 1981: Marcus Allen, USC, RB
- 1982: Herschel Walker, Georgia, RB
- 1983: Mike Rozier, Nebraska, RB
- 1984: Doug Flutie, Boston College, QB
- 1985: Bo Jackson, Auburn, RB
- 1986: Vinny Testaverde, Miami (FL), QB
- 1987: Tim Brown, Notre Dame, WR
- 1988: Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State, RB
- 1989: Andre Ware, Houston, QB
1990–2009
- 1990: Ty Detmer, BYU, QB
- 1991: Desmond Howard, Michigan, WR/PR
- 1992: Gino Torretta, Miami (FL), QB
- 1993: Charlie Ward, Florida State, QB
- 1994: Rashaan Salaam, Colorado, RB
- 1995: Eddie George, Ohio State, RB
- 1996: Danny Wuerffel, Florida, QB
- 1997: Charles Woodson, Michigan, CB/PR
- 1998: Ricky Williams, Texas, RB
- 1999: Ron Dayne, Wisconsin, RB
- 2000: Chris Weinke, Florida State, QB
- 2001: Eric Crouch, Nebraska, QB/WR
- 2002: Carson Palmer, USC, QB
- 2003: Jason White, Oklahoma, QB
- 2004: Matt Leinart, USC, QB
- 2005: Reggie Bush, USC, RB (Vacated)
- 2006: Troy Smith, Ohio State, QB
- 2007: Tim Tebow, Florida, QB
- 2008: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, QB
- 2009: Mark Ingram Jr., Alabama, RB
2010–2024
- 2010: Cam Newton, Auburn, QB
- 2011: Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB
- 2012: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, QB
- 2013: Jameis Winston, Florida State, QB
- 2014: Marcus Mariota, Oregon, QB
- 2015: Derrick Henry, Alabama, RB
- 2016: Lamar Jackson, Louisville, QB
- 2017: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, QB
- 2018: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma, QB
- 2019: Joe Burrow, LSU, QB
- 2020: DeVonta Smith, Alabama, WR
- 2021: Bryce Young, Alabama, QB
- 2022: Caleb Williams, USC, QB
- 2023: Jayden Daniels, LSU, QB
- 2024: Travis Hunter, Colorado, CB/WR
Iconic Heisman Winners And Trends That Have Defined The Award Over The Years
Archie Griffin is the only guy to win the Heisman twice, back in 1974 and 1975 at Ohio State. Then there’s Charles Woodson, who made history in 1997 as the only defensive player to win it. On the school side, USC leads the pack with 8 Heisman winners, but Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Ohio State are close behind with 7 each.
Lately, quarterbacks have been pretty much dominating the Heisman. Out of the last 21 winners, 17 have been QBs. It’s crazy how much their role in the game has grown. The Heisman is still the biggest prize, though, and every winner just adds to its legendary history.
