Heisman History

Oklahoma's impressive trophy case includes seven Heisman Trophies, tied with Notre Dame and Ohio State for the most Heisman awards won by a school. 

Here's a look at some of OU's rich Heisman history and the elite group of Sooners who have been named the most outstanding player in college football. 

Murray put together an incredible season while he guided the Sooners to a fourth straight Big 12 title and a third College Football Playoff appearance. Some of his statistical highlights included leading the nation in total yards (school-record 5,362), points responsible for (324), passing efficiency rating (199.2), yards per pass attempts (FBS record 11.6), and yards per completion (16.8).

Baker Mayfield, who wore jersey No. 6, became OU’s sixth Heisman winner in 2017. During his redshirt senior campaign, Mayfield put together an extensive list of accomplishments, including leading the FBS in completion percentage (.705), points responsible for (296), and yards per pass attempt (11.5). The Austin, Texas, native finished his collegiate career by tossing at least two touchdown passes in a FBS record 27 straight games.

In 2008, Sam Bradford led the most explosive offense in college football that season, completing 328 of his 483 pass attempts for 4,720 and a school-record 50 touchdowns with just eight interceptions. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native also led the nation in passing efficiency and scored five rushing touchdowns. 

Jason White and the 2003 Sooners scored 601 total points on the season, then a school record. The Tuttle, Okla., native put up an impressive four to one touchdown to interception ratio and set the program record at the time for touchdown passes with 40 and twice posted five touchdowns in one game.

As a junior, Billy Simms led the nation in rushing as he set a Big Eight single-season rushing record with 1,762 yards on 231 carries. In a school-record four games, the Hooks, Texas, native recorded at least 200 yards. He paced the Sooners to an 11-1 record and a third-place finish nationally.

In his Heisman season, Steve Owens tallied 1,523 yards on 358 carries and scored a then-school record 23 touchdowns. Owens, who was from Miami, Okla., carried the load for OU’s offense, posting two 200-plus yard games and helping the Sooners to an average of 28.5 points per game.  

OU’s first Heisman winner, Billy Vessels rushed for 1,072 yards on 167 carries and scored 17 touchdowns during his senior season en route to the trophy. Vessels, a Cleveland, Okla., native, was a versatile component of the Sooner offense, even connecting on seven passes for two touchdowns.