Which College Has the Most Heisman Winners?

By

Chloe Appleby

Updated on December 16, 2024

Edited by

Lyss Welding

• Fact-checked by Marley Rose

Learn more about our editorial process

Eight players from the University of Southern California have won Heisman Trophies, making it the winningest program, but nearly 40 schools since 1935 have been home to the highest honor in college football.

Credit: Image Credit: Icon Sportswire / Contributor / Getty Images

• Syracuse running back Ernie Davis became the first African American player to win the Heisman in 1961.
• Ohio State’s Archie Griffin won the Heisman in back-to-back years in 1974 and 1975.
• Playing for Florida, Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman in 2007.
• Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel became the first redshirt freshman to win in 2012.

Colleges With the Most Heisman Trophy Winners

• Eight players from USC have won Heismans, making the school the winningest program.^{Note Reference [1]}
• The NCAA and The Heisman Trophy trust currently recognize seven of USC’s wins.^[3]
• Three other universities have had seven players win Heismans: Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma.^{Note Reference [1]}
• During the 87 years that the Heisman has been awarded, the top four universities have accounted for nearly one-third of winners (32%).^{Note Reference [1]}
• The most recent Heisman winner — Travis Hunter — plays for Colorado.^{Note Reference [1]}
• Army, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, and Nebraska have each had three players win the Heisman.^{Note Reference [1]}

Two-Time Heisman-Winning Programs

One-Time Heisman-Winning Programs

Which Field Position Has Won the Most Heisman Awards?

• Running backs make up nearly half of all Heisman winners. Since 1935, 43 running backs have won, including the first-ever Heisman winner.^{Note Reference [1]}
• Quarterbacks have received the second-most Heismans, with 38 wins. Eleven of the last 14 winners since 2010 have been quarterbacks.^{Note Reference [1]}
• Players in other offensive positions have won Heismans, including tight ends and wide receivers.^{Note Reference [1]}
• Only one defensive player has ever won the Heisman Trophy. Charles Woods, a cornerback, won in 1997 as a Michigan Wolverine.^{Note Reference [1]}
• Notably, 2024’s winner, Travis Hunter, was both a cornerback and wide receiver.^{Note Reference [1]}

Is the Heisman Only Won by Upperclassmen?

• Up until 2007, only upperclassmen had won the Heisman. Since then, eight underclassmen (sophomores and freshmen) have won, including redshirt freshmen Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013.^{Note Reference [1]}
• The vast majority of winners (69%) have been senior players. About 23% of the winners have been juniors.^{Note Reference [1]}
• The first junior won the Heisman in 1945, and since then, 19 other juniors have won.^{Note Reference [1]}
• All underclassmen recipients have been quarterbacks besides Mark Ingram, the winner from 2009, who played as a running back for the Crimson Tide.^{Note Reference [1]}

The Most Heisman-Winning Programs by the Decade

• Yale was the first program to dominate a decade, with two winners from 1935-1939.^{Note Reference [1]}
• Ohio State, Notre Dame, and USC have each been the majority winner or one of two majority winners in two different decades.^{Note Reference [1]}
• 1980-1989 saw the most widespread Heisman-winning programs, with no majority winner and players from nine separate teams winning.^{Note Reference [1]}

Frequently Asked Question About Which College Has the Most Heisman Winners

When is the Heisman Trophy awarded?

Has a freshman ever won the Heisman?

Can you win the Heisman twice?