List of Outland Trophy Winner Year by Year

The third-oldest significant college football award is the Outland Trophy. Since its creation in 1946, when John Outland gave the FWAA a financial contribution to start the award, the Outland Trophy has been awarded to the top college football interior lineman. Following his time as an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, Outland settled in Kansas City. Being a passionate outdoor enthusiast, Outland thought linemen weren't given enough credit and wanted an award to honor them.

Each year, the FWAA All-America Team consists of three finalists who compete for the Outland Trophy. Following voting by all members, the FWAA All-America Committee chooses a 26-man first team and, in the end, the three Outland finalists.

Next, each committee member casts a separate ballot to choose the winner. The only players eligible for the award are interior linemen, either on defense or offense; ends are not.

The most significant accolades in college football are all part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which includes the Outland Trophy. Since 1935, over 800 recipients of the NCFAA's 25 awards have been recognized.

Outland Trophy History

The Football Writers Association of America selects the greatest college football interior lineman in the country to receive the Outland Trophy. It bears John H. Outland's name. Outland was one of the select few players in history to be awarded an All-America award in two positions. He was selected as a consensus All-America tackle in 1898 and a consensus halfback in 1899.

Since its establishment, Outland has maintained that football tackles and guards should be given more credit, and the Outland Trophy was created to do just that. The Outland Trophy's design and sculpture were commissioned by Jim Ridlon in 1988. The honor is now among college football's most coveted since it is a member of the National College Football Awards Association.

John Henry Outland was an American football player and coach who lived from March 17, 1871, to March 24, 1947. He was a football player at the University of Kansas, the University of Pennsylvania, and Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. While he was a member of the Penn Quakers, he was awarded an All-American twice.

Outland had a 21-15-2 career record as a college football player and coach at several universities after playing, including Washburn University from 1904 to 1905, Haskell Institute in 1902 and 1906, Franklin & Marshall College in 1900, and the University of Kansas in 1901. In 2001, Outland was inducted as a player into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Outland Trophy Winner Year by Year