The most exceptional player in college football is honored each year with the Heisman Memorial Trophy, most commonly referred to as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman. The Heisman Trophy Trust presents it in early December, just before the playoff bowl games.
The Downtown Athletic Club established the honor in 1935 to honor "the most valuable college football player east of the Mississippi" and awarded it to University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger, who became the first recipient. The award was established in John Heisman's honor and expanded to include athletes in the west of Mississippi after he passed away in October 1936 as the club's athletic director. Heisman had a long history in college athletics, having served as a football player, basketball and baseball coach, and athletic director.
One of the most prestigious individual awards in American college football, the Heisman Trophy, has been awarded 86 times since it was established in 1935. The Heisman Trust, which replaced the Downtown Athletic Club in presenting honors, presents the trophy each year to the best college football player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) at a ceremony.
Heisman Trophy Winners year-by-year
| Year | Winner of the Heisman Trophy | Team/School | Position |
| 2024 | Travis Hunter | Colorado | Wide Receiver |
| 2023 | Jayden Daniels | LSU | Quarterback |
| 2022 | Caleb Williams | USC | Quarterback |
| 2021 | Bryce Young | Alabama | Quarterback |
| 2020 | DeVonta Smith | Alabama | Wide Receiver |
| 2019 | Joe Burrow | LSU | Quarterback |
| 2018 | Kyler Murray | Oklahoma | Quarterback |
| 2017 | Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma | Quarterback |
| 2016 | Lamar Jackson | Louisville | Quarterback |
| 2015 | Derrick Henry | Alabama | Running Back |
| 2014 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon | Quarterback |
| 2013 | Jameis Winston | Florida State | Quarterback |
| 2012 | Johnny Manziel | Texas A&M | Quarterback |
| 2011 | Robert Griffin III | Baylor | Quarterback |
| 2010 | Cam Newton | Auburn | Quarterback |
| 2009 | Mark Ingram Jr. | Alabama | Running Back |
| 2008 | Sam Bradford | Oklahoma | Quarterback |
| 2007 | Tim Tebow | Florida | Quarterback |
| 2006 | Troy Smith | Ohio State | Quarterback |
| 2005 | Reggie Bush (Vacated) | USC | Running Back |
| 2004 | Mmatt Leinhart | USC | Quarterback |
| 2003 | Jason White | Oklahoma | Quarterback |
| 2002 | Carson Palmer | USC | Quarterback |
| 2001 | Eric Crouch | Nebraska | Quarterback |
| 2000 | Chris Wienke | Florida State | Quarterback |
| 1999 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin | Running Back |
| 1998 | Ricky Williams | Texas | Running Back |
| 1997 | Charles Woodson | Michigan | Wide Receiver |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel | Florida | Quarterback |
| 1995 | Eddie George | Ohio State | Running Back |
| 1994 | Rashaan Salaam | Colorado | Running Back |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward | Florida State | Quarterback |
| 1992 | Gino Torretta | Miami (FL) | Quarterback |
| 1991 | Desmond Howard | Michigan | Wide Receiver |
| 1990 | Ty Detmer | BYU | Quarterback |
| 1989 | Andre Ware | Houston | Quarterback |
| 1988 | Barry Sanders | Oklahoma | Running Back |
| 1987 | Tim Brown | Notre Dame | Wide Receiver |
| 1986 | Vinny Testaverde | Miami | Quarterback |
| 1985 | Bo Jackson | Auburn | Running Back |
| 1984 | Doug Flutie | Boston College | Quarterback |
| 1983 | Mike Rozier | Nebraska | Running Back |
| 1982 | Herschel Walker | Georgia | Running Back |
| 1981 | Marcus Allen | USC | Running Back |
| 1980 | George Rogers | South Carolina | Running Back |
| 1979 | Charles White | USC | Running Back |
| 1978 | Billy Sims | Oklahoma | Running Back |
| 1977 | Earl Campbell | Texas | Running Back |
| 1976 | Tony Dorsett | Pittsburgh | Running Back |
| 1975 | Archie Griffin | Ohio State | Running Back |
| 1974 | Archie Griffin | Ohio State | Running Back |
| 1973 | John Cappelletti | Penn State | Running Back |
| 1972 | Johnny Rodgers | Nebraska | Wingback |
| 1971 | Pat Sullivan | Auburn | Quarterback |
| 1970 | Jim Plunkett | Stanford | Quarterback |
| 1969 | Steve Owens | Oklahoma | Fullback |
| 1968 | O. J. Simpson | USC | Halfback |
| 1967 | Gary Beban | UCLA | Quarterback |
| 1966 | Steve Spurrier | Florida | Quarterback |
| 1965 | Mike Garrett | USC | Halfback |
| 1964 | John Huarte | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1963 | Roger Staubach | Navy | Quarterback |
| 1962 | Terry Baker | Oregon State | Quarterback |
| 1961 | Ernie Davis | Syracuse | Halfback |
| 1960 | Joe Bellino | Navy | Halfback |
| 1959 | Billy Cannon | LSU | Halfback |
| 1958 | Pete Dawkins | Army | Halfback |
| 1957 | John David Crow | Texas A&M | Halfback |
| 1956 | Paul Hornung | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1955 | Howard “Hopalong” Cassady | Ohio State | Halfback |
| 1954 | Alan Ameche | Wisconsin | Fullback |
| 1953 | John Lattner | Notre Dame | Halfback |
| 1952 | Billy Vessels | Oklahoma | Halfback |
| 1951 | Dick Kazmaier | Princeton | Halfback |
| 1950 | Vic Janowicz | Ohio State | Halfback |
| 1949 | Leon Hart | Notre Dame | Tight End |
| 1948 | Doak Walker | SMU | Halfback |
| 1947 | Johnny Lujack | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1946 | Glenn Davis | Army | Halfback |
| 1945 | Felix “Doc” Blanchard | Army | Quarterback |
| 1944 | Les Horvath | Ohio State | Halfback |
| 1943 | Angelo Bertelli | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1942 | Frank Sinkwich | Georgia | Halfback |
| 1941 | Bruce Smith | Minnesota | Halfback |
| 1940 | Tom Harmon | Michigan | Halfback |
| 1939 | Nile Kinnick | Iowa | Halfback |
| 1938 | Davey O’Brien | TCU | Quarterback |
| 1937 | Clint Frank | Yale | Halfback |
| 1936 | Larry Kelley | Yale | Tight End |
| 1935 | Jay Berwanger | Chicago | Halfback |
Who is the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner?
Travis Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy. Hunter plays as a Wide Receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Heisman Trophy Finalists for the 2024-2025 season
The four Heisman Trophy finalists for the 2024-2025 season are, Dillion Gabriel, a senior quarterback for the Oregon Ducks, Travis Hunter, a cornerback and wide receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes, Ashton Jeanty, a running back for the Boise State Broncos, and Cam Ward, a quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes.
When is the Heisman ceremony?
The Heisman Trophy ceremony will be held on 14th December 2024. The ceremony will take place at Lincoln Center in New York and will start at 8 PM (ET).
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 14
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: New York
Heisman Trophy Time
The College Football Heisman Trophy will start at 8 PM (ET).
Heisman Trophy Date
The College Football Heisman Trophy will be held on 14th December 2024.
College Football Heisman Watch: Where to watch
College Football Heisman Trophy 2024 will be broadcast on ESPN TV. People can also livestream the ceremony on ESPN+ and Fubo.
- TV Broadcast: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo
FAQ's on Heisman Trophy Winners
A. The Heisman Trophy was established by the Downtown Athletic Club in 1935.
A. The Heisman Trophy is an annual award honoring the best player in college football.
A. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner was Jayden Daniels, a Quarterback from the LSU Tigers.
A. The Heisman Trophy has been awarded 87 times since its inception in 1935.
A. The Heisman Trophy was won twice by Archie Griffin, in 1974 and 1975, making him the only athlete to ever accomplish this feat.
A. The Heisman trophy winner will be announced on 14th December 2024. This is usually announced at the same time of the year.
