'Heisman U': The USC Trojans Are Restored to Their Rightful Position Atop the Heisman Leaderboard

Restoration of this title was necessary because of the controversial stripping of the Heisman Trophy awarded to Reggie Bush in 2005.

The Taking of Bush’s Heisman Was Controversial

After Reggie Bush graduated, and while he was playing in the NFL (he was the second overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft), the NCAA took extraordinarily harsh action that ultimately resulted in Bush being stripped of his Heisman and the imposition of sanctions which crippled the Trojans’ historic football program for years. The sanctions that were imposed also put the entire athletics’ program on four years’ probation, taking away over 30 football scholarships and stripped the team of every victory that Bush participated in from December 2004 through their 2005 season.

The NCAA sanctions were imposed in June 2010. As summarized in The Atlantic:

“Because the NCAA … concluded … Bush and his family had accepted money and perks—reportedly worth about $300,000—from two aspiring sports marketers, he received one of the most severe punishments in the history of college athletics. The records he set were stricken from the books. Bush carries the humiliating distinction of being the only player who ever had to return his Heisman. Not even O.J. Simpson, who famously was accused of double murder, was forced to give up his 1968 trophy.

“USC had to vacate 14 wins that Bush played in, including the Trojans’ national championship victory over Oklahoma in 2005. USC was also docked 30 scholarships and excluded from the postseason for two years. Bush became an outcast at the school. His jersey was even taken down at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Trojans’ home stadium. Imagine leading a program to 34 straight victories and then being treated as if you never existed….

“By exploiting players and cutting them completely out of the financial success of college sports, the NCAA created an underground economy that college athletes such as Bush took advantage of. Once those players were caught, the NCAA hypocritically punished them for partaking in the billion-dollar economy that they built.”

The NCAA’s sanctions against USC were roundly criticized by prominent sports journalists. including Ted Miller of ESPN, who wrote, “It’s become an accepted fact among informed college football observers that the NCAA sanctions against USC were a travesty of justice, and the NCAA’s refusal to revisit that travesty [is] a massive act of cowardice on the part of the organization.”

With Bush leading the way, USC won 34 straight games from 2003-2005. Although the NCAA doesn’t officially recognize Southern Cal for its true winning streak, athletes, fans, and sports journalists do.

As recently observed in Sports Illustrated (but before the reinstatement of Bush’s Heisman):

“It’s unfortunate that Bush’s Heisman is not recognized by the NCAA or the Heisman Trust, as Bush is one of the most electrifying college football players in the history of the sport.

“Bush earned 784 of the 892 possible first-place votes when he won the Heisman Trophy in 2005….

“Bush rushed for 1,740 yards on 8.7 yards per carry with 16 touchdowns that season. He also caught 37 passes for 478 yards and two scores, proving his worth as a dual-threat back en route to a Heisman rout.”

In the words of L.A. Times sports journalist, Bill Plaschke, “[T]he fact that arguably the best running back in college football history [did not] have his Heisman [was] just silly.” Plaschke concluded, “[T]he memories of [Bush’s] brilliance should once again be whole.”

Johnny Manziel has called for Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy to be returned. Manziel, who won the 2012 Heisman Trophy, tweeted:

1995 Heisman Trophy winner, Eddie George,  endorsed Manziel’s position and advocated for the return of the award to Bush in televised interviews.

Atlanta Falcons rookie running back Bijan Robinson “joined the chorus calling for the return of the Heisman Trophy. In Robinson’s words:

“You can’t take away what he did on the field. Everyone knows what he did. I don’t think you should take away the Heisman, especially for what he did that season. He took over college football.”

Furthermore, as reported by John Goldman of Gridiron Heroics, “USC alumnus Brian Kennedy, who owns Regency Outdoor Advertising, … display[ed] billboards with the demand ‘Give Reggie Bush his Heisman Back!'”

At Long Last, Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy Has Been Returned

On April 24, 2024, the Heisman Trust announced the reinstatement of Bush’s 2005 Heisman.

Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trophy Trust, said in the announcement:

“We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back.”

Bush was one of the most electrifying players in college football history.

The Eight Heisman Trophy Winners from Heisman U

Here’s a list of USC’s eight Heisman Trophy winners, with the year of the award parenthetically noted:

1. Mike Garrett (1965)
2. O.J. Simpson (1968)
3. Charles White (1979)
4. Marcus Allen (1981)
5. Carson Palmer (2002)
6. Matt Leinert (2004)
7. Reggie Bush (2005)
8. Caleb Williams (2022)

Bush’s Heisman is finally back where it belongs, and USC once again may rightfully claim the distinction of being “Heisman U”.