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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Michelle R. Martinelli

What school has the most Heisman Trophy winners? It’s a four-way tie for first

Editor’s note: This story was originally published Sept. 2, 2023 and has been updated.

At the end of each college football regular season, the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the sport’s most outstanding player. But a few schools have produced more winners than everyone else.

In fact, there’s a four-way tie at the top for most Heisman winners in history: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma and USC — the latter being the most recent school to tie the record thanks to Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams winning in 2022.

College football’s most sought-after individual award has been given to players from those schools seven times each. However, the Sooners have the advantage when it comes to more recent winners.

Here’s a breakdown of the programs with at least two Heisman Trophy winners in the past, starting with the Fighting Irish, the Buckeyes, the Sooners and the Trojans.

MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

Notre Dame: 7 Heisman winners

Tim Brown at Notre Dame in 1987. (AP Photo)

Angelo Bertelli, 1943

John Lujack, 1947

Leon Hart, 1949

John Lattner, 1953

Paul Hornung, 1956

John Huarte, 1964

Tim Brown, 1987

Ohio State: 7 Heisman winners

Ohio State’s Eddie George runs for a touchdown against Notre Dame in 1995 in Columbus. (AP Photo/Mark Hall)

Les Horvath, 1944

Vic Janowicz, 1950

Howard Cassady, 1955

Archie Griffin, 1974

Archie Griffin, 1975

Eddie George, 1995

Troy Smith, 2006

Oklahoma: 7 Heisman winners

Kyler Murray scrambles in the 2018 Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game against Alabama. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

Billy Vessels, 1952

Steve Owens, 1969

Billy Sims, 1978

Jason White, 2003

Sam Bradford, 2008

Baker Mayfield, 2017

Kyler Murray, 2018

USC: 7 Heisman winners

Caleb Williams runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Aiden Gobaira in 2022. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Mike Garrett, 1965

O.J. Simpson, 1968

Charles White, 1979

Marcus Allen, 1981

Carson Palmer, 2002

Matt Leinart, 2004

Caleb Williams, 2022

It’s worth noting here that USC should technically have the lead with eight winners instead of a four-way tie with Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma. Reggie Bush was named the 2005 Heisman winner, but when the NCAA sanctioned USC for rule violations, his win was vacated.

Alabama: 4 Heisman winners

Bryce Young scrambles against Mississippi during the second half of game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2021. (Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports)

Mark Ingram, 2009

Derrick Henry, 2015

DeVonta Smith, 2020

Bryce Young, 2021

Army: 3 Heisman winners

Felix Blanchard (35) weaves away as three Michigan men close in to tackle him after a 3-yard first-period gain in a college football game in New York in 1945. (AP Photo)

Felix “Doc” Blanchard, 1945

Glenn Davis, 1946

Pete Dawkins, 1958

Auburn: 3 Heisman winners

Bo Jackson celebrates with Cam Newton during the second half of Auburn’s 56-17 win over South Carolina in the SEC championship game in Atlanta in 2010. (AP Photo/The Decatur Daily, Gary Cosby, Jr.)

Pat Sullivan, 1971

Bo Jackson, 1985

Cam Newton, 2010

Florida: 3 Heisman winners

Tim Tebow runs away from LSU defenders during first-half college football action in Baton Rouge, La., in this Oct. 6, 2007 photo. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Steve Spurrier, 1966

Danny Wuerffel, 1996

Tim Tebow, 2007

Florida State: 3 Heisman winners

Charlie Ward in 1993. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Charlie Ward, 1993

Chris Weinke, 2000

Jameis Winston, 2013

Michigan: 3 Heisman winners

Charles Woodson breaks into the end zone for a touchdown against Minnesota at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor in 1997. (AP Photo/Jeff Kowalsky)

Tom Harmon, 1940

Desmond Howard, 1991

Charles Woodson, 1997

Nebraska: 3 Heisman winners

Eric Crouch warmups before playing Miami in the BCS 2002 Rose Bowl in Pasadena. (Robert Hanashiro)

Johnny Rodgers, 1972

Mike Rozier, 1983

Eric Crouch, 2001

LSU: 3 Heisman winners

Joe Burrow celebrates defeating Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2019. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Billy Cannon, 1959

Joe Burrow, 2019

Jayden Daniels, 2023

Georgia: 2 Heisman winners

Herschel Walker on the sidelines in 2012 before a game against Tennessee at Sanford Stadium. (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)

Frank Sinkwich, 1942

Herschel Walker, 1982

Miami (Fla.): 2 Heisman winners

Gino Torretta in Miami before playing San Diego in 1992. (Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)

Vinny Testaverde, 1986

Gino Torretta, 1992

Navy: 2 Heisman winners

Roger Staubach looks to throw in Navy’s win over Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1963. (Malcolm Emmons-US PRESSWIRE)

Joe Bellino, 1960

Roger Staubach, 1963

Texas: 2 Heisman winners

Ricky Williams eludes Rutgers linebacker Brian Sheridan for a seven-yard gain in 1997 in Austin. (AP Photo/George Bridges)

Earl Campbell, 1977

Ricky Williams, 1998

Texas A&M: 2 Heisman winners

Johnny Manziel throws against Arkansas at Kyle Field in 2012. (Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE)

John David Crow, 1957

Johnny Manziel, 2012

Wisconsin: 2 Heisman winners

Ron Dayne breaks away from Indiana’s James Atkins for a 57-yard touchdown in 1999 in Madison. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Alan Ameche, 1954

Ron Dayne, 1999

Yale: 2 Heisman winners

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