Heisman winners by school: List of college football teams with the most Heisman trophies originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Heisman Memorial Trophy stands as the single most prestigious individual prize in college football, its annual awarding in New York City instantly elevating its recipient to immortal status within the sport’s history.

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A chronological review of its winners reveals a clear lineage of excellence dominated by college football’s most legendary powerhouses, schools like Alabama, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame, which have each claimed the award seven or more times across multiple generations. These institutions — fueled by unmatched recruiting success and decades of national attention — have cemented their superiority by consistently producing Heisman-caliber athletes, from USC’s long line of dominant running backs like O.J. Simpson and Marcus Allen to the only two-time winner, Ohio State’s Archie Griffin.

However, the narrative of the Heisman Trophy is far richer than a mere list of elite programs. The award also celebrates the storybook seasons born from unexpected sources, capturing the imagination of the public when a single, transcendent talent emerges from a non-traditional football school to defy the dominance of the giants. These cherished victories include quarterback Ty Detmer from BYU in 1990, whose prolific passing offense demanded national recognition, Andre Ware of Houston in 1989, who took home the prize with record-setting statistics in an unconventional offense, and quarterback Lamar Jackson of Louisville in 2016, whose electrifying, one-man show of highlights was simply too undeniable for voters to overlook.

Most recent was Colorado’s two-way superstar Travis Hunter, who took home the trophy in 2024 after tallying over 1,000 receiving yards and playing cornerback at the same time, and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman in 2025 as the first-ever Hoosiers victor. Wins like these prove that while the established powerhouses lay claim to the bulk of the trophies, the Heisman remains a pure meritocracy, allowing individual excellence to occasionally triumph over institutional history.

The list of winners tells a dual story: one dominated by elite programs that consistently cultivate generational talent, and another defined by singular accomplishments from stars at non-powerhouse schools. This balance ensures the Heisman not only reflects the storied history of college football’s giants but also captures the spirit of the sport through unexpected, storybook campaigns.

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Which program has won the Heisman Trophy the most? Here’s a look at the schools with the most winners.

MORE: Full list of Heisman Trophy winners by year

What school has the most Heisman winners?

USC has the most Heisman winners with eight, thanks to Reggie Bush’s recently restored 2005 victory. While his award was vacated due to an improper benefits scandal, the former Trojans running back had his trophy reinstated in April 2024.

Caleb Williams became the Trojans’ most recent Heisman Trophy winner in 2022.

There is a three-way tie for the school with the second-most Heisman winners at seven each: Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma.

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The Sooners saw quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray win back-to-back trophies in 2017 and 2018. Ohio State’s most recent win came courtesy of Troy Smith in 2006.

Notre Dame has not seen a player win the Heisman since 1987, when wide receiver Tim Brown won the award.

Heisman Trophy winners by school

MORE: Why is Notre Dame not in a conference?

How many schools have multiple Heisman winners?

There are currently 20 different schools that have had multiple players win the Heisman Trophy, from USC to Colorado, who joined the list in 2024.

While there have been winners from 40 different universities overall, exactly half of those programs have had more than one player claim the prestigious award.

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USC Heisman winners

Williams’ win in 2022 gave the Trojans eight Heisman winners. The Trojans began the 2000s with two Heisman winners. Carson Palmer won the 2002 Heisman, two years before Leinart would become the second USC QB to win the award in 2004.

Before Palmer and Leinart, USC had produced four running backs that won the Heisman Trophy. Mike Garrett (1965) was the first Trojan to win the award, followed by O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979) and Marcus Allen (1981). Reggie Bush added to that history in 2005.

Ohio State Heisman winners

Ohio State is the only team that has the distinction of having more trophies than different Heisman winners. There are six different Buckeyes to win the Heisman Trophy: Les Horvath (1944), Vic Janowicz (1950), Archie Griffin (1974), Archie Griffin (1975), Eddie George (1995) and Troy Smith (2006).

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Yes, Griffin has won the Heisman Trophy twice. He is the only player to have done so, winning it in back-to-back years from 1974-75.

Of Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy winners, Smith is the only one to primarily play at quarterback.

MORE: The greatest Ohio State players ever

Notre Dame Heisman winners

The Fighting Irish rolled in the Heisman Trophy winners during the 1940s and 1950s.

During that time, Angelo Bertelli (1943), Johnny Lujack (1947), Leon Hart (1949), Johnny Lattner (1953) and Pual Hornung (1956) all ended the year winning the Heisman Trophy.

Since 1956, only two Notre Dame players have won the award: quarterback John Huarte in 1964 and wide receiver Tim Brown in 1987.

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Oklahoma Heisman winners

The Sooners have seven Heisman Trophy winners, tying them with Ohio State and Notre Dame for the third-most Heisman wins by a school.

Oklahoma’s Heisman legacy was forged in the running game, beginning with Billy Vessels (1952), the versatile halfback who became the program’s first winner by rushing for over 1,000 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns in the era of the single-wing offense. This tradition was carried forward by two powerhouse running backs: Steve Owens (1969), who claimed the award as a senior workhorse, leading the nation with over 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns on a staggering 358 carries; and Billy Sims (1978), a dynamic junior in the wishbone offense who ran for 1,762 yards while averaging over seven yards per carry.

The 21st century saw Oklahoma pivot dramatically to quarterback-driven offense. Jason White (2003) won the award as a triumphant comeback story after multiple severe knee injuries, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in a highly efficient season that beat out historically dominant non-quarterback candidates. Five years later, Sam Bradford (2008) set new national standards for production, winning the Heisman as a sophomore by leading the highest-scoring offense in NCAA history with 4,720 passing yards and 50 touchdowns against only eight interceptions.

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Oklahoma made Heisman history by becoming the only school to produce back-to-back winners at the same position, doing so with two exceptional players who started their careers elsewhere. Baker Mayfield (2017), a former walk-on, won with record-breaking efficiency, leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff before passing the torch. The very next year, Kyler Murray threw for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for nearly 900 yards and 11 scores, combining an electric passing game with unmatched mobility to secure a second consecutive Heisman for the Sooner program.

Alabama Heisman winners

Alabama has four Heisman Trophy winners. All four players won the award during the Nick Saban era, with the program achieving the rare feat of winning the Heisman in back-to-back years (2020 and 2021).

Mark Ingram II was the first player in Alabama history to win the Heisman Trophy, doing so in a very close vote in 2009. Ingram became Alabama’s first Heisman winner during his sophomore season, setting a then-school record with 1,658 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. Then came Derrick Henry a few years later; Henry’s Heisman season saw him destroy SEC and school records by rushing for an immense 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns.

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At the start of the decade, Alabama achieved the rare feat of having two Heisman winners in consecutive years. First was wide receiver Devonta Smith, made history as the first wide receiver in 29 years to win the Heisman. In the 2020 season, he led the nation with 117 receptions, 1,856 yards, and 23 receiving touchdowns. Smith was a clear game-changer, highlighted by his incredible performance in the National Championship Game, where he had over 200 yards in the first half.

The next season, Bryce Young secured back-to-back Heismans for Alabama as the program’s first quarterback winner. The sophomore set school records for passing yards (4,872) and touchdowns (47).

MORE: The greatest Alabama players ever

Michigan Heisman winners

Michigan’s Heisman history began with Tom Harmon in 1940, a dynamic halfback whose singular dominance became the gold standard for the award in the early era of college football. Known as “Old 98,” Harmon excelled in every facet of the game, leading the nation in scoring in both 1939 and 1940. His performance, which included rushing for 852 yards and throwing seven touchdowns in his Heisman season, was so overwhelming that his legendary final game against Ohio State earned him a standing ovation from the rival crowd.

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The second chapter in Michigan’s Heisman saga belonged to Desmond Howard in 1991, an electrifying wide receiver who won the trophy by showcasing unmatched athleticism and versatility. Howard’s season was defined by explosive plays, as he led the nation with 19 receiving touchdowns and scored 23 total touchdowns through rushing and returns. He won he trophy by the second-largest margin in its history at the time.

Though, Michigan’s most unique Heisman winner is Charles Woodson in 1997, who accomplished the extraordinary feat of winning the award as the first and only primarily defensive player until 2024. Woodson was a true two-way star, excelling at cornerback, where he had seven interceptions, while also contributing on offense and special teams.

MORE: The 16 greatest Michigan players, ranked