All Heisman Trophy Winners: The Complete Historical Registry And Winners List (Updated For 2026)

The Heisman Memorial Trophy remains the most prestigious individual accolade in American sports. Awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football, the trophy has symbolized peak athletic achievement, historical dominance, and gridiron excellence since its inception in 1935.

With the conclusion of the 2025 college football season and the formal reinstatement of historic records—most notably the official restoration of Reggie Bush’s 2005 trophy by the Heisman Trust—the historical ledger of Heisman winners features a rich tapestry of legendary quarterbacks, dominant running backs, and generational multi-positional superstars. This comprehensive guide details the complete history, key positional trends, university leaderboards, and the definitive year-by-year list of all Heisman Trophy winners from 1935 through 2025.

The Historical Evolution of the Heisman Trophy

Originally established by the Downtown Athletic Club in 1935 as the DAC Trophy, the award was renamed the Heisman Memorial Trophy in 1936 following the death of legendary player and coach John W. Heisman. Over nearly a century, the profile of the typical Heisman winner has evolved alongside the strategic shifts in college football.

The Golden Era of Running Backs (1935–1999)

During the first six decades of the award, halfbacks, fullbacks, and tailbacks ruled the Heisman landscape. Legendary rushers like Tony Dorsett, Earl Campbell, Marcus Allen, and Bo Jackson dominated college football offenses. This era also produced the only two-time winner in Heisman history: Ohio State running back Archie Griffin, who claimed the award in consecutive years (1974 and 1975).

The Quarterback Revolution (2000–Present)

As college football transitioned to spread offenses, high-tempo passing schemes, and dual-threat systems, quarterbacks became the dominant force in Heisman voting. Since 2000, quarterbacks have captured the vast majority of the trophies, highlighted by historic campaigns from icons like Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow.

The Rare Outliers: Two-Way Stars and Wide Receivers

While offensive skill players dominate the historical registry, rare generational talents have broken the mold. Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson made history in 1997 as the only primarily defensive player to win the award. More recently, Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith captured the trophy in 2020 with a historic receiving campaign, and Colorado's two-way sensation Travis Hunter took the college football world by storm to win the award in 2024.

Complete List of All Heisman Trophy Winners (1935–2025)

The following table provides the complete, official registry of all Heisman Trophy winners. This includes the restored 2005 Heisman Trophy for Reggie Bush, official statistical positions, and the most recent winner from the 2025 season, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Top Programs and Conferences: Who Dominates the Heisman Landscape?

Certain college football programs and conferences have established long-standing dominance in developing Heisman-caliber players.

School Leaderboard: The Race for the Most Trophies

With Reggie Bush’s 2005 trophy reinstated in 2024, the battle for the school with the most Heisman winners has reached a historic tie.

The Elite Eight-Trophy Club

USC (8 Trophies): Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004), Reggie Bush (2005), and Caleb Williams (2022).

Following closely are three legendary programs tied with seven trophies won by individual players:

• Notre Dame (7): Angelo Bertelli (1943), Johnny Lujack (1947), Leon Hart (1949), Johnny Lattner (1953), Paul Hornung (1956), John Huarte (1964), and Tim Brown (1987).
• Ohio State (7): Les Horvath (1944), Vic Janowicz (1950), Howard Cassady (1955), Archie Griffin (1974, 1975), Eddie George (1995), and Troy Smith (2006). Note: Ohio State has seven trophies won by six players due to Griffin's historic repeat.
• Oklahoma (7): Billy Vessels (1952), Steve Owens (1969), Billy Sims (1978), Jason White (2003), Sam Bradford (2008), Baker Mayfield (2017), and Kyler Murray (2018).
• Alabama (4): Mark Ingram (2009), Derrick Henry (2015), DeVonta Smith (2020), and Bryce Young (2021).

Conference Realignment and Its Impact on Heisman History

The extensive conference realignments that culminated in the 2024–2026 seasons have radically altered conference-level Heisman tallies. With former Pac-12 giants like USC and Oregon joining the Big Ten, and Texas and Oklahoma officially competing in the SEC, the historical records show massive consolidation within these two super-conferences.

How the Heisman Winner Is Selected: Voting Process and Criteria

The Heisman winner is determined through a highly structured voting process managed by the Heisman Trophy Trust. The electorate consists of three distinct blocks:

1. Sports Journalists: 870 media members distributed equally across six geographic regions of the United States (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, Midwest, Southwest, and Far West).
2. Living Heisman Winners: Every living former Heisman Trophy winner is eligible to cast one official ballot.
3. The Public Fan Vote: A single collective ballot is submitted based on the results of a public fan poll sponsored by official Heisman partners.

The Ballot Structure

Voters select their top three choices in order of preference. Points are awarded as follows:

• First-Place Vote: 3 points
• Second-Place Vote: 2 points
• Third-Place Vote: 1 point

The player with the highest cumulative point total across all ballots is awarded the Heisman Trophy in December.

Early Outlook: The 2026 Heisman Trophy Race

As we look toward the 2026 college football season, the landscape is primed for another historic race. With elite talent emerging through the transfer portal and dominant recruits taking center stage, the early favorites for the 2026 Heisman Trophy include a mix of returning starting quarterbacks and highly versatile offensive weapons.

Key storylines for the 2026 race revolve around whether another dual-threat sensation can duplicate Nico Iamaleava's historic 2025 campaign, or if a defensive-offensive hybrid will emerge to capture the imagination of the voting public much like Travis Hunter did in 2024. Offensive systems in the newly expanded SEC and Big Ten will undoubtedly serve as the primary launching pads for the top contenders.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Heisman Trophy

Who is the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice?

Archie Griffin, a running back from Ohio State University, is the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice. He secured the prestigious award in back-to-back seasons in 1974 and 1975.

During his historic tenure with the Buckeyes, Griffin rushed for 5,589 yards, leading his team to four consecutive Rose Bowl appearances. His unique feat has stood unchallenged for half a century, cementing his status as one of college football's most enduring icons.

Was Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy officially reinstated?

Yes, the Heisman Trophy Trust officially reinstated Reggie Bush's 2005 Heisman Trophy in April 2024. The decision came after major structural shifts in college athletics, specifically the legalization of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensations.

With the reinstatement, the Heisman Trust returned the physical trophy to Bush and restored his name to all promotional materials, official registries, and voter rolls, ending a nearly 14-year vacancy of the 2005 award.

What position has won the most Heisman Trophies?

The quarterback position has won the most Heisman Trophies in history, largely due to a dominant run in the 21st century. Running backs led the historical count for decades, but modern offensive schemes have favored signal-callers.

Since the year 2000, quarterbacks have claimed nearly 80% of all Heisman Trophies, reflecting the evolution of college football into a highly passing-oriented, quarterback-driven sport.

Who is the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy?

Lamar Jackson of the University of Louisville is the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy, capturing the award in 2016 at 19 years and 338 days old.

Jackson edge-dated the previous record-holder, Jameis Winston, by just five days. His legendary 2016 campaign featured an astounding 5,114 yards of total offense and 51 touchdowns.

Can defensive players win the Heisman Trophy?

Yes, defensive players can win the Heisman Trophy, though it is exceptionally rare. Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson is the only primarily defensive player to win the award, securing it in 1997.

Woodson's win was aided by his explosive plays as a punt returner and occasional wide receiver. More recently, multi-positional stars like Colorado's Travis Hunter in 2024 have shown that playing elite defense in tandem with high-profile offensive snaps is a viable path to winning the trophy.

Whether you are looking to research the legacy of legendary gridiron icons or stay updated on the modern generation of college football stars, the Heisman Trophy remains the ultimate standard of individual success. As the 2026 college football season gets underway, a new class of elite athletes will begin their campaigns to join this exclusive fraternity of legends.