Ranking the Heisman winners: Sanders still No. 1

In December 2003, just before Jason White won the Heisman Trophy, I ranked all 68 previous Heisman winners, in order of their seasons. I don’t know how I did. The top ones were easy, the bottom ones were easy, the middle 50 could probably be thrown in a hat. Anyway, OU has had two Heisman winners since (USC has had two, too) and I thought it was time to re-rank. I inserted the six winners since 2003 and rearranged a couple of guys. For instance, I think I had Angelo Bertelli (Notre Dame ’43) too high and Niles Kinnick (Iowa ’39) too low.

1. BARRY SANDERS, OSU 1988: The gold standard, 2,628 yards.

2. DAVEY O’BRIEN, TCU 1938: Amazing stats: 110 of 194 passing, 1,733 yards, 19 TDs.

3. MARCUS ALLEN, USC 1981: First 2,000-yard season.

COWBOYS / OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE FOOTBALL, OSU: Barry Sanders won the 54th Heisman trophy in 1988. He rushed for 2,628 yards in his junior season and had four games for more than 300 yards. Staff photo.

4. JIM PLUNKETT, STANFORD 1970: Beat deepest field: Joe Theismann, Archie Manning.

5. TOM HARMON, MICHIGAN 1940: Vs. Ohio State: 151 passing, 2 TDs; 139 rushing, 2 TDs.

6. CHARLIE WARD, FLORIDA STATE 1993: 32 TDs, 4 interceptions for a running QB.

7. TONY DORSETT, PITT 1976: 1,948 rushing yards & a national title.

8. LEON HART, NOTRE DAME 1949: AP athlete of the year, all sports.

9. TIM TEBOW, FLORIDA 2007: 32 touchdowns throwing, 23 touchdowns rushing.

10. MIKE ROZIER, NEBRASKA 1983: Second 2,000-yard season.

11. JOHN LATTNER, NOTRE DAME 1953: All-American on both offense and defense.

12. EARL CAMPBELL, TEXAS 1977: Finally moved to tailback and dominated.

13. DICK KAZMAIER, PRINCETON 1951: Led nation in total offense.

14. O.J. SIMPSON, USC 1968: Time was, O.J. was only a fabulous player.

15. ROGER STAUBACH, NAVY 1963: 40 years ago, they didn’t make QBs like this.

16. VINNY TESTAVERDE, MIAMI 1986: Switzer said best he’d ever seen.

17. CHARLES WHITE, USC 1979: Had to be good to beat Billy Sims.

18. JOHN HUARTE, NOTRE DAME 1964: Threw for 2,062 yards; big numbers in ’64.

19. SAM BRADFORD, OU 2008:  50 touchdown passes, eight interceptions.

20. RICKY WILLIAMS, TEXAS 1998: Set or tied 20 NCAA records.

21. GLENN DAVIS, ARMY 1946: Beat great field: reigning winner Blanchard, QB Charlie Trippi.

22. BILLY SIMS, OU 1978: 7.6 yards per carry.

23. MATT LEINART, USC 2004:  33 TD passes, six interceptions.

24. NILES KINNICK, IOWA 1939: AP athlete of the year, over Joe DiMaggio and Joe Louis.

25. CARSON PALMER, USC 2002: Three mediocre years, then a huge senior season.

26. RASHAAN SALAAM, COLORADO 1994: Another 2,000-yard man.

27. HOWARD CASSADY, OHIO STATE 1955: Legend — never let completed pass over him.

28.BILLY VESSELS, OU 1952: Rare 1,000-yard rusher in ’50s.

29. CHRIS WEINKE, FLORIDA STATE 2000: Monster season until Orange Bowl vs. OU.

30. DOAK WALKER, SMU 1948: 20 years ahead of his time in production.

31. DANNY WUERFFEL, FLORIDA 1996: 39 TD passes, just 13 interceptions.

32. RON DAYNE, WISCONSIN 1999: Broke NCAA career rushing record.

33. EDDIE GEORGE, OHIO STATE 1995: Buckeye tailbacks greatest Heisman tradition.

34. HERSCHEL WALKER, GEORGIA, 1982: Worst year out of three at Georgia.

35. REGGIE BUSH, USC 2005: Human highlight reel, with 1,740 yards on 200 carries.

36. TERRY BAKER, OREGON STATE 1962: Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year.

37. MIKE GARRETT, USC 1965: Started SC’s great tailback tradition.

38. DESMOND HOWARD, MICHIGAN 1991: 61 catches, 23 TDs, historic one vs. Notre Dame.

39. TY DETMER, BYU 1990: Not BYU’s best QB, but its only Heisman.

40.GEORGE ROGERS, SOUTH CAROLINA 1980: Underrated; 1,781 yards and 14 TDs.

41. JASON WHITE, OKLAHOMA 2003: 40 TDs, 10 interceptions. Numbers almost as good the next year, when he placed third.