The Heisman Memorial Trophy, aka the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman, is given annually to the most outstanding college football player. The award was created by the Downtown Athletic Club in 1935 to honor the "most valuable college football player east of the Mississippi." The first recipient of the award was University of Chicago halfback, Jay Berwanger. John Heisman, the club's athletic director, passed away in October 1936, and the honorary award was established in his memory.
Most College Football Team with Heisman Trophy Winners
| Team/School | Trophies Won | Names of Heisman Trophy Winners |
| Ohio State | 8 | Les Horvath (1944), Vic Janowicz (1950), Howard Cassady (1955), Archie Griffin (1974 & 1975), Eddie George (1995), Troy Smith (2006), Caleb Williams (2022) |
| Oklahoma | 7 | Billy Vessels (1952), Steve Owens (1969), Billy Sims (1978), Jason White (2003), Sam Bradford (2008), Baker Mayfield (2017), and Kyler Murray (2018) |
| Notre Dame | 7 | Angelo Bertelli (1943), John Lujack (1947), Leon Hart (1949), John Lattner (1953), Paul Hornung (1956), John Huarte (1964), and Tim Brown (1987) |
| USC | 7 | Mike Garrett (1965), O. J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004), and Caleb Williams (2022) |
| Alabama | 4 | Mark Ingram (2009), Derrick Henry (2015), Devonta Smith (2020), and Bryce Young (2021) |
| Army | 3 | Pat Sullivan (1971), Bo Jackson (1985), and Cam Newton (2010) |
| Auburn | 3 | Felix "Doc" Blanchard (1945), Glenn Davis (1946), and Pete Dawkins (1958) |
| Florida | 3 | Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), and Tim Tebow (2007) |
| Florida State | 3 | Charlie Ward (1993), Chris Weinke (2000), and Jameis Winston (2013) |
| LSU | 3 | Billy Cannon (1959), Joe Burrow (2019) and Jayden Daniels (2023) |
| Michigan | 3 | Tom Harmon (1940), Desmond Howard (1991), and Charles Woodson (1997) |
| Nebraska | 3 | Johnny Rodgers (1972), Mike Rozier (1983), and Eric Crouch (2001) |
The team with the most awards is the University of South California (USC). Reggie Bush of USC earned the award in 2005, making it USC's seventh overall win at the time.
Archie Griffin, an Ohio State alumnus, holds the distinction of being the only two-time winner. The Heisman Trophy has been won by athletes from 40 different colleges, and 19 of those institutions have taken home multiple honors.
The following are the 40 colleges with the most Heisman Trophy winners:
- USC - 8
Ohio State - 7
Oklahoma - 7
Notre Dame - 7
Alabama - 4
Army - 3
Auburn - 3
Florida - 3
Florida State - 3
- LSU - 3
Michigan - 3
Nebraska -3
Georgia - 2
Miami (FL) - 2
Navy - 2
Texas - 2
Texas A&M - 2
Wisconsin - 2
Yale - 2
Baylor - 1
BYU - 1
Boston College - 1
Colorado - 1
Chicago - 1
Houston - 1
Iowa - 1
Louisville - 1
Minnesota - 1
Oklahoma State - 1
Oregon - 1
Oregon State - 1
Penn State - 1
Pittsburgh - 1
Princeton - 1
South Carolina - 1
SMU - 1
Stanford - 1
Syracuse - 1
TCU - 1
UCLA - 1
How many Heisman Trophy winners have come from USC?
The Heisman Trophy has been won by eight athletes from the University of South California (USC). The Heisman trophy winners are: Caleb Williams (2022), Matt Leinart (2004), Carson Palmer (2002), Marcus Allen (1981), Charles White (1979), O.J. Simpson (1968), and Mike Garrett (1965).
Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005, but he had to return it due to an NCAA rule breach. With seven each, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, and Notre Dame are tied for the most Heisman winners ever.
Who won the 2023 Heisman Trophy?
Jayden Daniels was the winner of the 2023 Heisman Trophy. In the 2023-24 campaign with the program, Daniels became the third player in USC's history to win the Heisman trophy.
In 2023, he was named National Player of the Year and SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He concluded the 2023/24 campaign with 3,812 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. Daniels was selected as the No.2 overall player in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders.
FAQs on Heisman Trophy
A. The Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the top college football player who displays exceptional ability, dedication, and hard work.
A. Four teams—Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and USC—have each won the Heisman Trophy seven times.
A. Jayden Daniels from LSU won the 2023 Heisman Trophy for his outstanding performance during the season.
A. Eight Heisman Trophy winners have come from USC.
A. The 2024 Heisman Trophy event will be held on December 14, with the candidates announced on December 9.
