SMQ: Stanford finishes runner-up in Heisman voting for sixth time in history
By Zach Bigalke
2 runner-up finishes
- SCHOOLS (9): Michigan, Nebraska, Texas, Georgia, Minnesota, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Tulsa, North Carolina
- MOST HEISMAN WINS: Michigan & Nebraska, 3
- SCHOOLS THAT HAVEN’T WON (4): Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Tulsa, North Carolina
- MOST TOP-3 FINISHES: Michigan, 8
Nine schools have finished second in the Heisman voting on two occasions. Some, like Nebraska and Michigan, can boast multiple winners of the award in addition to their close calls. Both the Cornhuskers and Wolverines have won the Heisman on three occasions.
Right behind them are Georgia and Texas. The Longhorns and Bulldogs have each won a pair of Heisman trophies. But the ones that got away might sting even more, especially the close defeat by Vince Young in 2005 that was avenged by Texas in the BCS national championship game against Reggie Bush and the USC Trojans.
Minnesota, a school with a historical tradition of excellence on the gridiron, does have one Heisman winner to its name to mitigate the pain of coming close on two other occasions. The Golden Gophers have also finished third on three different occasions, though, which accentuates the sting of coming close. Four teams in this group, however, would gladly trade spots with Minnesota.
Arkansas came close in back-to-back years when Darren McFadden finished behind Troy Smith in 2006 and Tim Tebow in 2007. Charlie Justice faced a similar fate at North Carolina, finishing behind SMU’s Doak Walker in 1948 and Notre Dame’s Leon Hart in 1949. Tulsa also finished as runner-up in back-to-back years, with quarterback Jerry Rhome taking second in 1964 and Howard Twilley coming in behind Mike Garrett in 1965.
Georgia Tech has the longest gap of this quartet. Billy Lothridge finishing behind Roger Staubach in 1963 and Joe Hamilton backing up Ron Dayne in 1999.