Every year, the best college football player is given the Heisman Trophy. The most notable testaments to winners combine exceptional talent with determination, diligence, and hard work. Since 1936, all college football players nationwide who compete in any division are eligible for the honor; however, winners typically come from institutions in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
The three categories of people who are eligible to vote for the Heisman Trophy are sports journalists, previous Heisman winners, and fans. The voting is based on positional voting, in which each voter nominates three choices and ranks them in order, with the exception of the one vote based on fan voting. Voters must choose three choices, and they may not make the same choice twice; otherwise, the ballot is void and none of the choices are valid.
Each selection that comes in first gets three points, each selection that comes in second gets two points, and each selection that comes in third gets one point.
Heisman Candidates for 2024-25 Season
The Heisman Trophy nominees for the 2024-25 season are Colorado's Travis Hunter, Oregon Ducks' Dillon Gabriel, Miami's Cam Ward, and Boise State's Ashton Jeanty.
Who won the Heisman Trophy in 2023?
Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy in 2023. The LSU quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. won it on 9th December 2023 after playing a brilliant season for his team.
The List of Heisman Trophy Finalists Year-By-Year
| Year | Finalist |
| 1982 | Herschel Walker, Georgia John Elway, Stanford Eric Dickerson, Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
| 1983 | Mike Rozier, Nebraska Steve Young, Brigham Young University (BYU) Doug Flutie, Boston College |
| 1984 | Doug Flutie, Boston College Keith Byars, Ohio State Robbie Bosco, Brigham Young University (BYU) Bernie Kosar, Miami |
| 1985 | Bo Jackson, Auburn Chuck Long, Iowa Robbie Bosco, Brigham Young University (BYU) Lorenzo White, Michigan State Vinny Testaverde, Miami |
| 1986 | Vinny Testaverde, Miami Paul Palmer, Temple Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma D.J. Dozier, Penn State |
| 1987 | Tim Brown, Notre Dame Don McPherson, Syracuse Gordon Lockbaum, Holy Cross Lorenzo White, Michigan State Craig Heyward, Pittsburgh |
| 1988 | Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State Rodney Peete, University of South California (USC) Troy Aikman, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Steve Walsh, Miami Major Harris, West Virginia |
| 1989 | Andre Ware, Houston Anthony Thompson, Indiana Major Harris, West Virginia Tony Rice, Notre Dame Darian Hagan, Colorado Dee Dowis, Air Force Emmitt Smith, Florida Blair Thomas, Penn State |
| 1990 | Ty Detmer, Birgham Young University (BYU) Raghib Ismail, Notre Dame Eric Bieniemy, Colorado Shawn Moore, Virginia David Klingler, Houston |
| 1991 | Desmond Howard, Michigan Casey Weldon, Florida State Ty Detmer, Birgham Young University (BYU) Steve Emtman, Washington |
| 1992 | Gino Torretta, Miami Marshall Faulk, San Diego State Garrison Hearst, Georgia |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward, Florida State Heath Shuler, Tennessee David Palmer, Alabama |
| 1994 | Rashaan Salaam, Colorado Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State Steve McNair, Alcorn State Kerry Collins, Penn State Jay Barker, Alabama Warren Sapp, Miami |
| 1995 | Eddie George, Ohio State Tommie Frazier, Nebraska Danny Wuerffel, Florida Darnell Autry, Northwestern Troy Davis, Iowa State |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel, Florida Troy Davis, Iowa State Jake Plummer, Arizona State Orlando Pace, Ohio State |
| 1997 | Charles Woodson, Michigan Peyton Manning, Tennessee Ryan Leaf, Washington State Randy Moss, Marshall |
| 1998 | Ricky Williams, Texas Michael Bishop, Kansas State Cade McNown, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Tim Couch, Kentucky |
| 1999 | Ron Dayne, Wisconsin Joe Hamilton, Georgia Tech Michael Vick, Virginia Tech Drew Brees, Purdue Chad Pennington, Marshall |
| 2000 | Chris Weinke, Florida State Josh Heupel, Oklahoma Drew Brees, Purdue LaDainian Tomlinson, Texas Christian University (TCU) |
| 2001 | Eric Crouch, Nebraska Rex Grossman, Florida Ken Dorsey, Miami Joey Harrington, Oregon |
| 2002 | Carson Palmer, University of South California (USC) Brad Banks, Iowa Larry Johnson, Penn State Willis McGahee, Miami Ken Dorsey, Miami |
| 2003 | Jason White, Oklahoma Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh Eli Manning, Mississippi Chris Perry, Michigan |
| 2004 | Matt Leinart, University of South California (USC) Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma Jason White, Oklahoma Alex Smith, Utah Reggie Bush, University of South California (USC) |
| 2005 | Vince Young, Texas Matt Leinart, University of South California (USC) |
| 2006 | Troy Smith, Ohio State Darren McFadden, Arkansas Brady Quinn, Notre Dame |
| 2007 | Tim Tebow, Florida Darren McFadden, Arkansas Colt Brennan, Hawaii Chase Daniel, Missouri |
| 2008 | Sam Bradford, Oklahoma Colt McCoy, Texas Tim Tebow, Florida |
| 2009 | Mark Ingram, Alabama Toby Gerhart, Stanford Colt McCoy, Texas Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska Tim Tebow, Florida |
| 2010 | Cam Newton, Auburn Andrew Luck, Stanford LaMichael James, Oregon Kellen Moore, Boise State |
| 2011 | Robert Griffin III Andrew Luck, Stanford Trent Richardson, Alabama Montee Ball, Wisconsin Tyrann Mathieu, Louisiana State University (LSU) |
| 2012 | Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M Manti Te’o, Notre Dame Collin Klein, Kansas State |
| 2013 | Jameis Winston, Florida State AJ McCarron, Alabama Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois Andre Williams, Boston College Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M Tre Mason, Auburn |
| 2014 | Marcus Mariota, Oregon Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin Amari Cooper, Alabama |
| 2015 | Derrick Henry, Alabama Christian McCaffrey, Stanford Deshaun Watson, Clemson |
| 2016 | Lamar Jackson, Louisville Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma Jabrill Peppers, Michigan Deshaun Watson, Clemson Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma |
| 2017 | Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma Bryce Love, Stanford Lamar Jackson, Louisville |
| 2018 | Kyler Murray, Oklahoma Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State |
| 2019 | Joe Burrow, Louisiana State University (LSU) Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma Justin Fields, Ohio State Chase Young, Ohio State |
| 2020 | Mac Jones, Alabama Trevor Lawrence, Clemson DeVonta Smith, Alabama Kyle Trask, Florida |
| 2021 | Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Kenny Pickett, Pitt C.J. Stroud, Ohio State Bryce Young, Alabama |
| 2022 | Stetson Bennett, Georgia Max Duggan, Texas Christian University (TCU) C.J. Stroud, Ohio State Caleb Williams, University of South California (USC) |
| 2023 | Jayden Daniels (LSU), Marvin Harrison Jr.( Ohio), Bo Nix, (Oregon), and Michael Penix (Washington). |
| 2024 | Travis Hunter(Colorado), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Cam Ward (Miami) and Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) |
FAQs on Heisman Trophy Finalists
A. College football players from all divisions nationwide are eligible, with a focus on Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institutions.
A. Sports journalists, previous Heisman winners, and fans are eligible to vote. Fans have one vote, while others put in three choices.
A. Voters rank three choices. First place receives three points; second place gets two points; and third place earns one point.
A. The Heisman Trophy has been awarded annually since 1935 to the best college football player, combining talent and hard work.
A. Notable finalists include Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie, Bo Jackson, Tim Brown, Barry Sanders, Desmond Howard, Eddie George, and many more.
