College football: Ranking every Heisman Trophy winner

77. Ranking every Heisman Trophy Winner: Mark Ingram, Alabama Crimson Tide football

It did not take long for Mark Ingram to make his mark on the Alabama Crimson Tide football program, setting a freshman record by scoring 12 touchdowns. While Ingram dominated as a freshman in 2008, the following season he would put the Tide on his back all season long, leading them to an undefeated record, and a BCS national title victory over the University of Texas.

In that game, the Ingram took home the Most Valuable Player award, capping off his sophomore season with over 1,500 yards rushing, 18 touchdowns total, 15 on the ground, and three through the air. For his efforts, Ingram became the third sophomore in a row to win the Heisman Trophy, winning the award by the closest margin in the 75-year history of the voting.

At the time, Ingram became the youngest player in college football history to win the Heisman, a mark that was later passed by Florida State star quarterback Jameis Winston. Ingram became the first player in the storied history of Alabama to win the Heisman Trophy, as he set the school’s single-season rushing record, and became the first running back to take home the coveted award since Wisconsin’s Ron Daye did it back in 1999.

76. Ranking every Heisman Trophy Winner: Troy Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes football

Matt Leinart went from a kid born with an eye issue, one that required surgery when he was three-years-old, to one of the best college quarterbacks of all-time. In fact, as the signal-caller for the USC Trojans, Leinart was the consummate winner, leading the team to national titles, and picking up the 2004 Heisman Trophy along the way.

Leinart got his career at USC off to a hot start, throwing a touchdown pass on his very first throw against the Auburn Tigers. From there, he became one of the more decorated passers in the history of the program, and in 2004, he led the Trojans wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country, culminating in them winning a national title, one that was later vacated due to Reggie Bush.

Still, the 2004 season was an outstanding one for Leinart, who followed up throwing for a Pac-12 record 38 touchdown passes the year before, by throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns against only eight interceptions. He capped off his magical campaign by throwing for over 300 yards and five touchdowns in the national title game, and with his win, he became the sixth Heisman Trophy winner in USC history, edging out an incredible field that included Bush, Adrian Peterson, Jason White, and Alex Smith.

75. Ranking every Heisman Trophy Winner: Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame football

Originally, Notre Dame star Johnny Lattner was planning on going to the University of Michigan, as they ran the same offense that he did at Fenwick High School in Chicago, Illinois. Instead, he chose Notre Dame to get a Catholic education, and fans of the Irish are sure happy he picked them over the hated Wolverines, as he would go on to dominate in South Bend.

Looking for a rise back to glory, Notre Dame head coach Frank Leahy put his trust in Lattner, and return to glory the Irish did, going 9-0-1 in 1953, the season that Lattner would take home Notre Dame’s fourth Heisman Trophy. For the season, Lattner did a little bit of everything for the Irish, rushing for nearly five yards per carry while scoring nine times, intercepting four balls on defense, and returning multiple kicks for a score.

While Notre Dame would end up finishing second behind Maryland, Lattner would end up taking home his second straight Maxwell Award. In addition, Lattner was named an All-American for the second straight season, and not only did he win the Heisman, but he won it by the second-closest margin in the history of the award over Paul Giel from the University of Minnesota by 56 points.