| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Year | Winner | School | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Jay Berwanger | Chicago | Halfback |
| 1936 | Larry Kelley | Yale | End |
| 1937 | Clint Frank | Yale | Halfback |
| 1938 | Davey O'Brien | TCU | Quarterback |
| 1939 | Nile Kinnick | IowaThe University of Iowa is a university in Iowa City, Iowa. The university was founded in 1847 as the State University of Iowa only 59 days after Iowa became a state. In spite of its original name, it is not to be confused with Iowa State University. In 18 | Halfback |
| 1940 | Tom Harmon | MichiganThe University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a public coeducational university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the oldest and main campus of the University of Michigan, which also includes branches University of Michigan-Dearborn and University of Michi | Halfback |
| 1941 | Bruce SmithSmith ( February 8 1920 August 28 1967), nicknamed "Boo", was an American football player best known for winning the Heisman Trophy in 1941. Smith was born in Faribault, Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota. He played halfback for the back t | MinnesotaThe University of Minnesota is a large university with several campuses spread throughout the state of Minnesota, USA. There are four primary campuses: Twin Cities, Duluth, Crookston, and Morris. In addition, University services are available in Rochester | Halfback |
| 1942 | Frank Sinkwich | GeorgiaLocated 60 miles northeast of Atlanta in Athens, Georgia, the University of Georgia was the first state- chartered university in the United States, making it the birthplace of the American system of public higher education. It was incorporated January 27, | Halfback |
| 1943 | Angelo Bartelli | Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame du Lac Motto Vita, Dulcedo, Spes ( life, sweetness, and hope) Established 1842 School type Private President Edward A. Malloy, CSC Location Notre Dame, Indiana, USA Campus Suburban 1,250 acres (5 kmē) Enrollment 8,261 undergraduat | Quarterback |
| 1944 | Les Horvath | Ohio State | Quarterback/Halfback |
| 1945 | Doc Blanchard | ArmyAlternate meanings: West Point (disambiguation). The United States Military Academy also known as West Point and USMA is a U. military academy and former Army fort. It is located in West Point, New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River about 50 miles | Fullback |
| 1946 | Glenn Davis | Army | Halfback |
| 1947 | Johnny Lujack | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1948 | Doak Walker | SMU | Halfback |
| 1949 | Leon Hart | Notre Dame | End |
| 1950 | Vic Janowicz | Ohio State | Halfback |
| 1951 | Dick Kazmaier | Princeton | Halfback |
| 1952 | Billy Vessels | Oklahoma | Halfback |
| 1953 | Johnny Lattner | Notre Dame | Halfback |
| 1954 | Alan Ameche | Wisconsin | Fullback |
| 1955 | Howard Cassady | Ohio State | Halfback |
| 1956 | Paul Hornung | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1957 | John David Crow | Texas A&M | Halfback |
| 1958 | Pete Dawkins | Army | Halfback |
| 1959 | Billy Cannon | LSU | Halfback |
| 1960 | Joe Bellino | Navy | Halfback |
| 1961 | Ernie Davis | Syracuse | Halfback |
| 1962 | Terry Baker | Oregon State | Quarterback |
| 1963 | Roger Staubach | Navy | Quarterback |
| 1964 | John Huarte | Notre Dame | Quarterback |
| 1965 | Mike Garrett | USC | Halfback |
| 1966 | Steve Spurrier | Florida | Quarterback |
| 1967 | Gary Beban | UCLA | Quarterback |
| 1968 | O. J. Simpson | USC | Halfback |
| 1969 | Steve Owens | Oklahoma | Halfback |
| 1970 | Jim Plunkett | Stanford | Quarterback |
| 1971 | Pat Sullivan | Auburn | Quarterback |
| 1972 | Johnny Rodgers | Nebraska | Wide Receiver |
| 1973 | John Cappelletti | Penn State | Running Back |
| 1974 | Archie Griffin | Ohio State | Running Back |
| 1975 | Archie Griffin | Ohio State | Running Back |
| 1976 | Tony Dorsett | Pitt | Running Back |
| 1977 | Earl Campbell | Texas | Running Back |
| 1978 | Billy Sims | Oklahoma | Running Back |
| 1979 | Charles White | USC | Running Back |
| 1980 | George Rogers | South Carolina | Running Back |
| 1981 | Marcus Allen | USC | Running Back |
| 1982 | Herschel Walker | Georgia | Running Back |
| 1983 | Mike Rozier | Nebraska | Running Back |
| 1984 | Doug Flutie | Boston College | Quarterback |
| 1985 | Bo Jackson | Auburn | Running Back |
| 1986 | Vinny Testaverde | Miami (FL) | Quarterback |
| 1987 | Tim Brown | Notre Dame | Wide Receiver |
| 1988 | Barry Sanders | Oklahoma State | Running Back |
| 1989 | Andre Ware | Houston | Quarterback |
| 1990 | Ty Detmer | BYU | Quarterback |
| 1991 | Desmond Howard | Michigan | Wide Receiver |
| 1992 | Gino Torretta | Miami (FL) | Quarterback |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward | Florida State | Quarterback |
| 1994 | Rashaan Salaam | Colorado | Running Back |
| 1995 | Eddie George | Ohio State | Running Back |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel | Florida | Quarterback |
| 1997 | Charles Woodson | Michigan | Defensive Back |
| 1998 | Ricky Williams | Texas | Running Back |
| 1999 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin | Running Back |
| 2000 | Chris Weinke | Florida State | Quarterback |
| 2001 | Eric Crouch | Nebraska | Quarterback |
| 2002 | Carson Palmer | USC | Quarterback |
| 2003 | Jason White | Oklahoma | Quarterback |