Bryce Young trying to become 18th Heisman winner to win national title in same season

Bryce Young became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman in December. Now he is one win away from doing something the past two Heisman winners and three other winners in the past 11 years have done — pair the Heisman Trophy with a national championship trophy.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow in 2019 and Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith last season won national championships after winning the Heisman. Each of the three previous Alabama Heisman winners went to win the national title, too — running back Mark Ingram in 2009, running back Derrick Henry in 2015 and Smith last season. Henry and Smith won their national titles in the College Football Playoff; Ingram won his in the BCS national title game.

In all, 17 Heisman winners have won the national title in the same season. Six of those were pre-1950, when the final AP poll (the standard we are using) came out before the bowls were played. Here are the 17:

Year	Heisman winner	School
2020	WR DeVonta Smith	Alabama
2019	QB Joe Burrow	LSU
2015	RB Derrick Henry	Alabama
2013	QB Jameis Winston	Florida State
2010	QB Cam Newton	Auburn
2009	RB Mark Ingram	Alabama
2004	QB Matt Leinart	USC
1997	CB Charles Woodson	Michigan
1996	QB Danny Wuerffel	Florida
1993	QB Charlie Ward	Florida State
1976	RB Tony Dorsett	Pitt
1949	E Leon Hart	Notre Dame
1947	QB Johnny Lujack	Notre Dame
1945	RB Felix “Doc” Blanchard	Army
1943	QB Angelo Bertelli	Notre Dame
1941	HB Bruce Smith	Minnesota
1938	QB Davey O’Brien	TCU

Here is a look at how all the Heisman winners have fared in their postseason games since the award was introduced in 1935. (Note: Unless specified, “no bowl” means a player’s team either didn’t qualify for a bowl or didn’t accept a postseason bids. Remember that in the old days, generally only conference champs went to bowl games. And also remember that as recently as 1975, there were just 11 bowls — and that 20 bowls have been added this century.)

Heisman winners in past decade

2021: Alabama QB Bryce Young
BOWL RESULT: Young was 17-of-28 for 181 yards and three TDs in the Tide’s 27-6 win over Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl, which served as a CFP semifinal. It was the fewest completions and the lowest yardage total in a game this season as the Tide relied instead on RB Brian Robinson Jr.

2020: Alabama WR DeVonta Smith
BOWL RESULT: He played in two postseason games. Won 31-14 over Notre Dame in Rose Bowl in a CFP semifinal. Smith had seven receptions for 130 yards and three touchdowns. He also had one rush for minus-5 yards and one punt return for 20 yards. Won 52-24 over Ohio State in CFP championship game. Smith had 12 receptions for 215 yards and three TDs. He also had two punt returns for 18 yards and one kickoff return for 6 yards. In the two postseason games, Smith had 19 receptions for 345 yards and six touchdowns.

2019: LSU QB Joe Burrow
BOWL RESULT: He played in two postseason games. Won 63-28 over Oklahoma in Peach Bowl in a CFP semifinal. Burrow was 29-of-39 for 493 yards and seven TDs. He also rushed for 21 yards and another TD. Won 42-25 in the CFP championship game. Burrow was 31-of-49 for 463 yards and five TDs; he also ran for 58 yards and a touchdown. In the two postseason games, Burrow was 60-of-88 for 956 yards and 12 TDs; he also rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

2018: Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray
BOWL RESULT: Lost to Alabama 45-34 in Orange Bowl, which was a CFP semifinal. Murray was 19-of-37 for 308 yards and two TDs, and he also rushed 17 times for 109 yards and another score.

2017: Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield
BOWL RESULT: Lost to Georgia 54-48 in 2 OTs in Rose Bowl, which was a CFP semifinal. Mayfield was 23-of-35 for 287 yards, two TDs and an interception; he also rushed 12 times for 1 yard.

2016: Louisville QB Lamar Jackson
BOWL RESULT: Lost 29-9 to LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Jackson was 10-of-27 for 153 yards, and had just 33 yards on 26 carries as the Tigers’ defense dominated.

2015: Alabama RB Derrick Henry
BOWL RESULT: He played in two postseason games. Won 38-0 over Michigan State in Cotton Bowl in a CFP semifinal. Henry ran 20 times for 75 yards and two TDs. Won 45-40 over Clemson on the CFP championship game. Henry rushed for 158 yards and three TDs on 36 carries. In the two postseason games, Henry had 56 carries for 233 yards and five touchdowns.

2014: Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
BOWL RESULT: He played in two postseason games. Won 52-20 over Florida State in Rose Bowl in a CFP semifinal. Mariota was 26-of-36 for 338 yards, two TDs and one interception; he also rushed for 62 yards and a TD on eight carries. Lost 42-20 to Ohio State in CFP championship game. Mariota was 24-of-37 for 333 yards, two TDs and one interception; he also rushed for 39 yards on 10 carries. In the two postseason games, he was 50-of-73 for 671 yards, four TDs and two picks, and he had 101 yards and a TD on 18 carries.

2013: Florida State QB Jameis Winston
BOWL RESULT: Won 34-31 over Auburn in the BCS national championship game. Winston was 20-of-35 for 237 yards and two touchdowns; he also rushed for 26 yards on 11 carries. His 2-yard TD pass to Kelvin Benjamin with 13 seconds left was the game-winner. Winston drove the Seminoles 80 yards on seven plays and in 1:06 to win the game. He was 6-of-7 on the drive. Winston also rallied FSU from a 21-3 second-quarter deficit.

2012: Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel
BOWL RESULT: Won 41-13 over Oklahoma in Cotton Bowl. Manziel finished off his season with an epic performance. He rushed for 229 yards and two TDs on 17 carries, and also was 22-of-34 for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Manziel had 516 yards of total offense, his third game with 500-plus yards that season.

2011: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III
BOWL RESULT: Won 67-56 over Washington in Alamo Bowl. Griffin was 24-of-33 for 295 yards and a TD; he also rushed 18 times for 55 yards and another touchdown.

2010: Auburn QB Cam Newton
BOWL RESULT: Won 22-19 over Oregon in the BCS national championship game. Newton was 20-of-34 for 265 yards, two TDs and an interception; he also ran 22 times for 64 yards.

The 2000s

2009: Alabama RB Mark Ingram
BOWL RESULT: Won 37-21 over Texas in the BCS national championship game. Ingram ran for 116 yards and two scores on 22 carries; he also had two receptions for 12 yards. His first TD gave the Tide a 7-6 lead early in the second quarter, and Alabama cruised the rest of the way.

2008: Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford
BOWL RESULT: Lost 24-14 to Florida in the BCS national championship game. Bradford was 26-of-41 for 256 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked twice. His yardage total was his third-lowest of the season and the interception total tied his season-high in that category.

2007: Florida QB Tim Tebow
BOWL RESULT: Lost 41-35 to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl. Tebow was 17-of-33 for a season-low 154 yards but also three touchdowns; he also ran for 57 yards and a score. His 211 total yards were a season low.

2006: Ohio State QB Troy Smith
BOWL RESULT: Lost 41-14 to Florida in the BCS national championship game. Smith was 4-of-14 for 35 yards with one interception, and he also ran 10 times for minus-29 yards.

2005: USC RB Reggie Bush
BOWL RESULT: Lost 41-38 to Texas in Rose Bowl for the national title. Bush had 279 all-purpose yards and one TD. He ran for 82 yards and a TD on 13 carries, caught six passes for 95 yards and had 102 yards on five kickoff returns.

2004: USC QB Matt Leinart
BOWL RESULT: Won 55-19 over Oklahoma in Orange Bowl for the national title. Leinart was 18-of-35 for 332 yards and five TDs.

2003: Oklahoma QB Jason White
BOWL RESULT: Lost 21-14 to LSU in Sugar Bowl for the national title. White was 13-of-37 for 102 yards and two interceptions, including one returned for a TD.

2002: USC QB Carson Palmer
BOWL RESULT: Won 38-17 over Iowa in Orange Bowl. Palmer was 21-of-31 for 303 yards and one TD.

2001: Nebraska QB Eric Crouch
BOWL RESULT: Lost 37-14 to Miami in Rose Bowl for the national title. Crouch ran for 114 yards on 22 carries and completed 5-of-15 passes for 62 yards and an interception that was returned for a TD.

2000: Florida State QB Chris Weinke
BOWL RESULT: Lost 13-2 to Oklahoma in Orange Bowl for the national title. Weinke was 25-of-51 for 274 yards and two interceptions.

The 1990s

1999: Wisconsin RB Ron Dayne
BOWL RESULT: Won 17-9 over Stanford in Rose Bowl. Dayne ran 34 times for 200 yards and a TD.

1998: Texas RB Ricky Williams
BOWL RESULT: Won 38-11 over Mississippi State in Cotton Bowl. Williams ran 30 times for 203 yards and two TDs.

1997: Michigan CB Charles Woodson
BOWL RESULT: Won 21-16 over Washington State in Rose Bowl; the Wolverines won a share of the national title. Woodson had an interception, and also had two carries for 6 yards and one catch for 7 yards.

1996: Florida QB Danny Wuerffel
BOWL RESULT: Won 52-20 over Florida State in Sugar Bowl for the national title. Wuerffel was 18-of-34 for 306 yards and three TDs, and he also ran for a 16-yard score. He finished with six carries for minus-10 yards.

1995: Ohio State RB Eddie George
BOWL RESULT: Lost 20-14 to Tennessee in Citrus Bowl. George rushed for 101 yards and a TD on 25 carries.

1994: Colorado RB Rashaan Salaam
BOWL RESULT: Won 41-24 over Notre Dame in Fiesta Bowl. Salaam ran 27 times for 83 yards and three TDs, on runs of 1, 1 and 5 yards.

1993: Florida State QB Charlie Ward
BOWL RESULT: Won 18-16 over Nebraska in Orange Bowl for the national title. Ward was 24-of-43 for 286 yards with no TDs or interceptions, and he also ran eight times for minus-3 yards.

1992: Miami QB Gino Torretta
BOWL RESULT: Lost 34-13 to Alabama in Sugar Bowl for the national title. Torretta was 24-of-56 for 278 yards, with no TDs and three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

1991: Michigan WR Desmond Howard
BOWL RESULT: Lost 34-14 to Washington in Rose Bowl. Howard had one catch for 35 yards and one carry for 15 yards.

1990: BYU QB Ty Detmer
BOWL RESULT: Lost 65-14 to Texas A&M in Holiday Bowl. Detmer was 11-of-23 for 120 yards, with one TD and one interception, before leaving with a shoulder injury in the third quarter.

The 1980s

1989: Houston QB Andre Ware
BOWL RESULT: No bowl because Houston was on probation.

1988: Oklahoma State RB Barry Sanders
BOWL RESULT: Won 62-14 over Wyoming in Holiday Bowl. Sanders carried 29 times for 222 yards and five TDs, and he also had two receptions for 36 yards.

1987: Notre Dame WR Tim Brown
BOWL RESULT: Lost 35-10 to Texas A&M in Cotton Bowl. Brown had six catches for 105 yards and a TD.

1986: Miami QB Vinny Testaverde
BOWL RESULT: Lost 14-10 to Penn State in Fiesta Bowl for the national championship. Testaverde was 26-of-50 for 285 yards, with no TDs and five interceptions. He also ran nine times for minus-10 yards. Testaverde had thrown nine picks during the regular season.

1985: Auburn RB Bo Jackson
BOWL RESULT: Lost 36-16 to Texas A&M in Cotton Bowl. Jackson ran for 129 yards and a TD on 31 carries

1984: Boston College QB Doug Flutie
BOWL RESULT: Won 45-28 over Houston in Cotton Bowl. Flutie was 13-of-37 for 180 yards, three TDs and two interceptions.

1983: Nebraska RB Mike Rozier
BOWL RESULT: Lost 31-30 to Miami in Orange Bowl for the national championship. Rozier ran for 147 yards on 25 carries.

1982: Georgia RB Herschel Walker
BOWL RESULT: Lost 27-23 to Penn State in Sugar Bowl for national title. Walker ran 28 times for 103 yards and a TD.

1981: USC RB Marcus Allen
BOWL RESULT: Lost 26-10 to Penn State in Fiesta Bowl. Allen ran for 85 yards on 30 carries, and he fumbled once.

1980: South Carolina RB George Rogers
BOWL RESULT: Lost 37-9 to Pitt in Gator Bowl. Rogers had 27 carries for 113 yards, and lost two fumbles.

The 1970s

1979: USC RB Charles White
BOWL RESULT: Won 17-16 over Ohio State in Rose Bowl. White ran for 247 yards and the game-winning TD on 39 carries. On the game-winning drive, White carried six times for 71 yards, including a 32-yarder and a 28-yarder; his 1-yard TD run, with FB Marcus Allen leading the way, came with 1:32 left.

1978: Oklahoma RB Billy Sims
BOWL RESULT: Won 31-24 over Nebraska in Orange Bowl; the Huskers had won their regular-season meeting. Sims ran for 134 yards and two TDs on 25 carries. The Huskers took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but Sims and OU dominated for the next two quarters and built a 31-10 lead early in the fourth period.

1977: Texas RB Earl Campbell
BOWL RESULT: Lost 38-10 to Notre Dame in Cotton Bowl. Campbell ran 29 times for 116 yards.

1976: Pitt RB Tony Dorsett
BOWL RESULT: Won 27-3 over Georgia in Sugar Bowl. Dorsett ran for 202 yards and a TD on 32 carries as the Panthers clinched the national championship.

1975: Ohio State RB Archie Griffin
BOWL RESULT: Lost 23-10 to UCLA in Rose Bowl. Griffin, who played with a broken wrist for much of the day, finished with 93 yards on 17 carries. Ohio State had beaten the Bruins 41-20 on October 4, 1975, with Griffin rushing for 160 yards and a TD.

1974: Ohio State RB Archie Griffin
BOWL RESULT: Lost 18-17 to USC in Rose Bowl. Griffin was held to 75 yards on 20 carries — snapping his streak of 100-yard games at 23 in a row — and didn’t score. He did lose two fumbles, though.

1973: Penn State RB John Capelletti
BOWL RESULT: Won 16-9 over LSU in Orange Bowl. Playing on a sprained ankle suffered in a bowl-week practice, Capelletti rushed for 50 yards and a TD on 26 carries.

1972: Nebraska WR Johnny Rodgers
BOWL RESULT: Won 40-6 over Notre Dame in Orange Bowl. Rodgers put on a show. He played mostly tailback against the Irish and ran for 81 yards and three TDs on 15 carries, passed 52 yards for a TD and had three receptions for 71 yards and another score.

1971: Auburn QB Pat Sullivan
BOWL RESULT: Lost 40-22 to Oklahoma in Sugar Bowl. Sullivan was 20-of-44 for 250 yards, a TD and an interception. The Sooners led 31-0 at halftime and finished the game with 439 rushing yards.

1970: Stanford QB Jim Plunkett
BOWL RESULT: Won 27-17 over Ohio State in Rose Bowl. Plunkett was 20-of-30 for 265 yards, a TD and an interception. He also ran nine times for 26 yards as Stanford upset the unbeaten and top-ranked Buckeyes. Plunkett led Stanford to 14 fourth-quarter points for the stunning win.

The 1960s

1969: Oklahoma RB Steve Owens
BOWL RESULT: No bowl.

1968: USC RB O.J. Simpson
BOWL RESULT: Lost 27-16 to Ohio State in Rose Bowl for the national championship. Simpson rushed for 171 yards on 28 carries and scored on an 80-yard run in the second quarter.

1967: UCLA QB Gary Beban
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1966: Florida QB Steve Spurrier
BOWL RESULT: Won 27-12 over Georgia Tech in Orange Bowl. Spurrier was 14-of-30 for 160 yards, and he also ran four times for 14 yards.

1965: USC RB Mike Garrett
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1964: Notre Dame QB John Huarte
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1963: Navy QB Roger Staubach
BOWL RESULT: Lost 28-6 to Texas in Cotton Bowl. Staubach was 21-of-31 for 228 yards and an interception, and ran 2 yards for a score. In all, Staubach rushed 12 times for minus-47 yards as the Midshipmen finished with minus-14 rushing yards.

1962: Oregon State QB Terry Baker
BOWL RESULT: Won 6-0 over Villanova in Liberty Bowl. Baker scored the only touchdown on a 99-yard run early in the first quarter. He ran 13 times for 137 yards and also was 9-of-21 for 123 passing yards. A few months later, Baker helped Oregon State get to the Final Four. He remains the lone Heisman winner to play in the Final Four. Baker also was the first West Coast player to win the Heisman.

1961: Syracuse RB Ernie Davis
BOWL RESULT: Won 15-14 over Miami in Liberty Bowl. Davis ran 30 times for 140 yards and a touchdown, and he also caught a two-point conversion pass after his TD, which made it 14-8. He carried four times for 24 yards on Syracuse’s game-winning 51-yard TD drive in the fourth period. It was the penultimate football game of Davis’ life. He played in the East-West Shrine Game two weeks later, then was diagnosed with leukemia in the summer of 1962 and died May 18, 1963.

1960: Navy RB Joe Bellino
BOWL RESULT: Lost 21-14 to Missouri in Orange Bowl. Bellino was held to 4 yards on eight carries as the Midshipmen rushed 24 times for minus-8 yards, but he did catch a 28-yard TD pass.

The 1950s

1959: LSU RB Billy Cannon
BOWL RESULT: Lost 21-0 to Ole Miss in Sugar Bowl. Cannon rushed for 8 yards on six carries as the Tigers were held to one first down and minus-15 rushing yards. Cannon also had three receptions for 39 yards. Coincidentally, Cannon probably clinched the 1959 Heisman with his 89-yard punt return on Halloween night against Ole Miss in the regular season.

1958: Army RB Pete Dawkins
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1957: Texas A&M RB John David Crow
BOWL RESULT: Lost 3-0 to Tennessee on a fourth-quarter field goal in Gator Bowl. Crow ran for 46 yards on 14 carries. At the time, Crow was just the fourth Heisman winner to play in a bowl. He also was the first of those four to lose in his bowl.

1956: Notre Dame RB Paul Hornung
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1955: Ohio State RB Howard Cassady
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1954: Wisconsin RB Alan Ameche
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1953: Notre Dame RB John Lattner
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1952: Oklahoma RB Billy Vessels
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1951: Princeton RB Dick Kazmaier
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1950: Ohio State RB Vic Janowicz
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

Heisman winners, pre-1950

1949: Notre Dame E Leon Hart
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1948: SMU RB Doak Walker
BOWL RESULT: Won 21-13 over Oregon in Cotton Bowl. Walker ran for 66 yards and one TD on 14 carries, completed 6-of-10 passes for 79 yards and also kicked two extra points.

1947: Notre Dame QB John Lujack
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1946: Army RB Glenn Davis
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1945: Army RB Felix “Doc” Blanchard
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1944: Ohio State QB Les Horvath
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1943: Notre Dame QB Angelo Bertelli
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1942: Georgia RB Frank Sinkwich
BOWL RESULT: Beat UCLA 9-0 in Rose Bowl. Sinkwich, playing with two injured and heavily taped ankles, rushed 11 times for 34 yards and scored the game’s only TD on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter. He also lost a fumble at UCLA’s 1 in the third quarter.

1941: Minnesota RB Bruce Smith
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1940: Michigan RB Tom Harmon
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1939: Iowa RB Nile Kinnick
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1938: TCU QB Davey O’Brien
BOWL RESULT: Won 15-7 over Carnegie Tech in Sugar Bowl. The 5-foot-7, 150-pound O’Brien was 17-of-27 for 225 yards and also kicked a field goal.

1937: Yale RB Clint Frank
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1936: Yale E Larry Kelley
BOWL RESULT: No bowl

1935: Chicago RB Jay Berwanger
BOWL RESULT: No bowl.