The quest for three Heismans in a row
Oklahoma’s two consecutive Heisman winners puts it in elite company. Only Yale (’36-’37), Army (’45-’46) and Ohio State (’74-’75) have managed to pull off the back-to-back feat.*
No school has ever won three Heismans in a row, but as OU embarks on another Heisman campaign with its quarterback Jalen Hurts, it’s worth checking to see just how close we’ve come to seeing it happen.
- Army – The Knights came the closest to winning three in a row during their dominant period in the 1940s. In addition to Doc Blanchard’s win in 1945 and Glenn Davis‘ 1946 victory, Army came awfully close to pulling off a third Heisman in 1944, when sophomores Davis and Blanchard finished second and third, respectively, to Les Horvath of Ohio State.
- Ohio State – Before Archie Griffin won his back-to-back Heismans in 1974 and 1975, he finished fifth in the 1973 Heisman vote behind John Cappelletti of Penn State.
- USC – Carson Palmer won the Heisman in 2002, then Matt Leinart finished sixth in the 2003 Heisman vote before winning his own Heisman in 2004.
- Georgia – Herschel Walker finished third in the 1980 vote, second in 1981 and then won the Heisman in 1982.
- Florida – Tim Tebow won the Heisman in 2007 and finished third in 2008 (while receiving the most first place votes), and fifth in 2009.
*- USC also did so in 2004-2005, but Reggie Bush’s Heisman award was later vacated.
