Heisman finalist vs. Heisman finalist
When Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry and Alabama take on Clemson and Heisman finalist Deshaun Watson on Monday, Jan. 11., it will mark the 16th time that Heisman finalists have squared off against each other in a bowl game.
Heisman winners have been involved in nine of those games, winning five of them, with four wins securing national titles. Third place finishers (such as Watson) are 4-5 in such match ups, with all the wins resulting in national titles.
Here’s a look back at the previous Heisman finalist matchups (with the Heisman finishes in parentheses):
1990 Orange Bowl — Tony Rice (4th) vs. Darian Hagan (5th)
Notre Dame quarterback Tony Rice led the Irish to a 21-6 victory over Colorado and quarterback Darian Hagan. Rice rushed for 50 yards and passed for 99, while Hagan threw for 65 yards and ran for 106. The loss cost Colorado the national championship.
1991 Orange Bowl — Eric Bieniemy (3rd) vs. Raghib Ismail (2nd)
Bienemy ran for 86 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries as Colorado squeaked by Ismail and Notre Dame, 10-9, to capture a share of the national title. Ismail caught 6 passes for 57 yards and had this potential game-winning touchdown called back by penalty:
1992 Rose Bowl — Steve Emtman (4th) vs. Desmond Howard (1st)
Michigan wide receiver Desmond Howard was held to a season-low one catch, which went for 35 yards, as Washington and defensive tackle Steve Emtman won a share of the 1991 national title with a 34-13 victory over the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl.
1996 Fiesta Bowl — Tommy Frazier (2nd) vs. Danny Wuerffel (3rd)
Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 105 and one more score as the Cornhuskers throttled Florida and quarterback Danny Wuerffel, 62-24, to win the national title. Wuerffel was 17 of 31 for 255 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions. Frazier’s most famous TD run was this 75-yarder in the fourth quarter to put an exclamation point on the rout:
1997 Rose Bowl — Orlando Pace (4th) vs. Jake Plummer (3rd)
Pace, the stud offensive tackle for Ohio State, helped the Buckeyes to a dramatic 20-17 win over Arizona State, which prevented the Sun Devils and quarterback Jake Plummer from winning the national title. Plummer was 19 of 35 for 201 yards and one touchdown (and one pick).
2001 BCS title — Josh Heupel (2nd) vs. Chris Weinke (1st)
Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel completed 25 of 39 passes for 214 yards as the Sooners shut down Florida State, 13-2, to win the national title. Seminole quarterback Chris Weinke was 25 of 51 with no touchdowns, two interceptions and a lost fumble against the Sooners’ defense.
2002 BCS title –Ken Dorsey (3rd) vs. Eric Crouch (1st)
Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey completed 22 of 35 passes for 362 yards and three first-half touchdowns as the Hurricanes routed Nebraska to win the national title. Husker quarterback Eric Crouch rushed for 114 yards on 22 carries and threw for 62 yards on 5 of 15 passing.
2003 Orange Bowl — Carson Palmer (1st) vs. Brad Banks (2nd)
USC quarterback Carson Palmer completed 21 of 31 passes for 303 yards and one touchdowns as the Trojans defeated Iowa and quarterback Brad Banks, 38-17. Banks was 15 of 36 for 204 yards and one touchdown.
2005 BCS title — Matt Leinart (1st) and Reggie Bush (5th) vs. Adrian Peterson (2nd) and Jason White (3rd)
The only time four Heisman finalists appeared together in a bowl game saw USC quarterback Matt Leinart throw for 332 yards and a Heisman-bowl-record five touchdown passes in the Trojans’ 55-19 walloping of Oklahoma to win the national title. Sooners tailback Adrian Peterson rushed for 82 yards on 25 carries while his teammate, quarterback Jason White, threw for 244 yards and two TDs (with three picks). Trojan tailback Reggie Bush added 75 yards on six carries.
2006 BCS — Vince Young (2nd) vs. Matt Leinart (3rd)
This classic matchup saw Texas quarterback Vince Young put in an epic performance to guide the Longhorns to a 41-38 victory over USC for the national title. Young threw for 267 yards and ran for 200 and three touchdowns, including the game winner on 4th and 5 with just 19 seconds to play. Leinart threw for 365 yards and a touchdown, with one pick. Here’s the game winner:
2009 BCS title — Tim Tebow (3rd) vs. Sam Bradford (1st)
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow threw for 231 yards two touchdowns and ran for 109 yards as the Gators beat Oklahoma, 24-14, to win the national title. Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford was 26 of 41 for 256 yards with two touchdowns (and two interceptions).
2010 BCS title — Mark Ingram (1st) vs. Colt McCoy (2nd)
Alabama running back Mark Ingram rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries to lead the Tide over Texas, 37-21, to win the national title. McCoy was hurt on the first series for Texas and did not return.
2011 BCS title — Cam Newton (1st) vs. LaMichael James (3rd)
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton completed 20 of 34 passes for 265 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception while also running for 64 yards as the Tigers edged Oregon, 22-19, for the national title. Ducks running back LaMichael James caught two touchdown passes but rushed for just 49 yards on 13 carries.
2012 BCS title — Trent Richardson (3rd) vs. Tyrann Mathieu (5th)
Alabama tailback Trent Richardson rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries as the Tide blanked LSU, 21-0, to win the national title. Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu had six tackles and a tackle for loss for the Tigers.
2014 BCS title — Jameis Winston (1st) vs. Tre Mason (6th)
FSU quarterback Jameis Winston threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 2-yard scoring pass with 13 seconds left to play, as the Seminoles edged Auburn, 34-31, to win the national title. Mason rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 42-yard reception.
