CFP Appearances by Heisman Trophy Winners

Heisman Trophy Winners in the CFP

Eight of the last 12 Heisman Trophy winners have played in the College Football Playoff. Five of those student-athletes went on to win the CFP National Championship that same season.

Heisman Trophy Winners in the CFP

2025 Heisman Trophy Winner

Fernando Mendoza

Indiana

Mendoza helped lead IU to a 16-0 overall record, capped by the Hoosiers' first-ever national championship in football. He passed for over 200 yards in 10 games at IU. Mendoza set the program's single-season record with an FBS-best 41 passing touchdowns on the year, and finished the 2025-26 CFP with eight passing TDs against just five total incompletions. He also notched five regular-season games with both a passing and rushing touchdown.

2021 Heisman Trophy Winner

Bryce Young

Alabama

Young led Alabama to a College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Cincinnati, leading Alabama to its sixth appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship. His 369 passing yards (33-of-57) against Georgia rank fourth all-time in the national championship game. In addition, his 50 completions and 85 attempts between that game and the Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic both rank in the top five in CFP history.

2020 Heisman Trophy Winner

DeVonta Smith

Alabama

Smith compiled 215 receiving yards in the first half of the 2021 CFP National Championship to set a new single-game record in the title game. Smith, who finished his freshman campaign with a game-winning touchdown catch from Tua Tagovailoa in overtime of the 2018 CFP National Championship, ended his career at Alabama with a program and SEC-record 3,965 career receiving yards. He also set national championship game records for most receptions (12), receiving touchdowns (3) and points receiving (18).

2019 Heisman Trophy Winner

Joe Burrow

LSU

Burrow's 463 passing yards and eight consecutive completions in LSU's national championship victory over Clemson top the title game record list, and his 60 completions between that game and the Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl are the most ever. In addition, he set a Playoff Semifinal record with 493 passing yards against Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl.

2018 Heisman Trophy Winner

Kyler Murray

Oklahoma

Murray ran for 109 yards and one touchdown vs. Alabama in the 2018 Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl. His 109 rushing yards still rank as the second-most by a quarterback in a Playoff Semifinal. Murray also completed 19 passes on 37 attempts for 308 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Sooners' effort.

2017 Heisman Trophy Winner

Baker Mayfield

Oklahoma

Mayfield gave his best in Oklahoma's 2018 appearance in the Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game. Though his Sooners fell just short in an overtime loss to Georgia, Mayfield's 41 passing attempts (26-of-41, 311 yards, 2 TD) rank third in Playoff Semifinal games. He even caught a touchdown pass from CeeDee Lamb in the waning seconds of the first half.

2015 Heisman Trophy Winner

Derrick Henry

Alabama

Henry ran for 158 yards on 38 attempts with three touchdowns, helping Alabama to its first CFP title over Clemson in 2016. Henry's 158 yards for the Tide rank as the second-highest rushing output in a CFP National Championship, while his 233 rushing yards over the Playoff Semifinals and national championship game that year rank fourth.

2014 Heisman Trophy Winner

Marcus Mariota

Oregon

Mariota led the Oregon Ducks to a College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Florida State and a berth in the inaugural CFP National Championship, coming up just short vs. Ohio State. Still, his 671 total yards passing in the 2015 postseason rank fourth on the CFP's all-time list, after he completed 50-of-73 passes with four touchdowns.