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By Chris Huston 9.1.16

Opening Statements

The opening weekend of college football is upon us, which means the race for the 2016 Heisman Trophy is also about to get underway.

The first game of the season can be pivotal for dark horse candidates hoping to launch a Heisman campaign. It can also be important for preseason favorites looking to create some distance between them and their competition.

Listed below are the opening game statistics for each Heisman-winning season (with a few exceptions where records are unavailable). At the end of this weekend, come back and compare the current batch of Heisman candidates with these performances and see how they measure up.

But first, let’s start things off with perhaps the earliest available film from the opening game of a Heisman season. Here’s running back Tom Harmon of Michigan weaving his way through the California defense on a thrilling 86-yard touchdown run that concludes with him having to elude a drunken fan at the goal line. Enjoy.

Opening games for Heisman winners

Heisman WinnerOpponent (Date)ResultStatistical Highlights
Derrick Henry#20 Wisconsin (9/15/15)W 35-1713 carries, 147 rush yds, 3 TDs
Marcus MariotaSouth Dakota (8/30/14)W 62-13267 pass yds, 3 TDs, 43 rush yds, 1 TD
Jameis Winstonat Pittsburgh (9/2/13)W 41-1325 of 27, 356 pass yds, 4 TDs
Johnny Manziel#23 Florida (9/8/12)L 17-20173 pass yds, 60 rush yds, 1 TD
Robert Griffin III#14 TCU (9/2/11)W 50-4821 of 27, 359 pass yds, 5 TDs
Cam NewtonArkansas State (9/4/10)W 52-26186 pass yds, 3 TDs, 171 rush yds, 2 TDs
Mark Ingram#7 Virginia Tech (9/5/09)W 34-24150 rush yds, 1 TD, 35 rec yards, 1 TD
Sam BradfordChattanooga (8/30/08)W 57-217 of 22, 183 pass yds, 2 TDs
Tim TebowWestern Kentucky (9/1/07)W 49-3300 pass yds, 3 TDs, 38 rush yds, 1 TD
Troy SmithNorthern Illinois (9/2/06)W 35-1218 of 25, 297 pass yds, 3 TDs
Matt LeinartVirginia Tech (8/28/04)W 24-1319 of 29, 272 pass yds, 3 TDs
Jason WhiteNorth Texas (8/30/03)W 37-323 of 35, 248 pass yds, 3 TDs
Carson PalmerAuburn (9/2/02)W 24-1723 of 32, 302 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 rush TD
Eric CrouchTCU (8/25/01)W 21-7151 pass yds, 69 rush yds, 1 TD
Chris WeinkeBYU (8/26/00)W 29-332 of 50, 318 pass yds, 2 TDs
Ron DayneMurray State (9/4/99)W 49-10135 rush yds, 3 TDs
Ricky WilliamsNew Mexico St (9/5/98)W 66-3636 carries, 215 rush yds, 6 TDs
Charles Woodson#8 Colorado (9/13/97)W 27-35 tackles, 1 INT, 1 reception for 29 yds
Danny WuerffelSW Louisiana (8/31/96)W 55-21224 pass yds, 1 TD, 30 rush yds
Eddie George#22 Boston Coll (8/27/95)W 38-699 rush yds, 2 TDs, 48 rec yards
Rashaan SalaamNE Louisiana (9/3/94)W 48-3184 rush yds, 3 TDs, 40 rec yards
Charlie WardKansas (8/28/93)W 42-016 of 26, 194 pass yds
Gino TorrettaIowa (9/5/92)W 24-731 of 51, 433 pass yds, 2 TDs
Desmond Howardat Boston Coll (9/7/91)W 35-137 rec, 86 rec yds, 3 TDs, 1 KOR for 93 yds, 1 TD
Ty Detmerat UTEP (9/1/90)W 30-1033 of 46, 387 pass yds, 1 TD, 2 rush TDs
Andre Wareat UNLV (9/2/89)W 69-0390 pass yds, 5 TDs, 1 rush TD
Barry SandersMiami (OH) (9/10/88)W 52-20178 rush yds, 2 TDs,1 KOR TD
Tim Brownat #7 Michigan (9/12/87)W 26-73 rec, 40 rec yds, 1 TD, 82 APY
Vinny Testaverdeat So. Carolina (8/30/86)W 34-1417 of 30, 231 pass yds, 1 TD
Bo JacksonLA-Lafayette (8/7/85)W 49-723 carries, 290 rush yds, 4 TDs
Doug FlutieWest Carolina (9/1/84)W 44-2422 of 31, 330 pass yds, 4 TDs
Mike Rozier#4 Penn State (8/29/83)W 44-616 carries, 71 rush yds
Herschel Walker#11 Clemson (9/6/82)W 13-711 carries, 20 rush yds
Marcus AllenTennessee (9/12/81)W 43-722 carries, 210 rush yds, 4 TDs
George RogersPacific (9/6/80)W 37-013 carries, 153 rush yds, 2 TDs
Charles Whiteat Texas Tech (9/8/79)W 21-710 carries, 39 rush yds
Billy Simsat Stanford (9/9/78)W 35-2919 carries, 107 rush yds, 1 TD
Earl CampbellBoston College (9/10/77)W 44-017 carries, 87 rush yds, 1 TD
Tony Dorsettat #11 Notre Dame (9/11/76)W 31-1022 carries, 181 rush yds, 1 TD
Archie Griffinat #12 Michigan St (9/13/75)W 21-029 carries, 111 rush yds, 3 TDs
Archie Griffinat Minnesota (9/14/74)W 34-1926 carries, 133 rush yds, 1 TD
John Cappellettiat Stanford (9/15/73)W 20-626 carries, 76 rush yds, 1 TD
Johnny Rodgersat UCLA (9/9/72)L 17-203 rec, 63 rec yds, 43 rush yds, 1 TD, 75 PR yds
Pat SullivanChattanooga (9/17/71)W 60-713 of 16, 132 pass yds, 2 TDs
Jim Plunkettat #4 Arkansas (9/12/70)W 34-2822 of 39, 262 pass yds, 2 TDs
Steve Owensat Wisconsin (9/20/69)W 48-2140 carries, 189 rush yds, 4 TDs
O.J. Simpsonat #15 Minnesota (9/21/68)W 29-2039 carries, 236 rush yds, 4 TDs, 6 rec, 57 rec yds
Gary Beban#9 Tennessee (9/16/67)W 20-16107 pass yds, 72 rush yds, 2 TDs
Steve SpurrierNorthwestern (9/17/66)W 43-715 of 22, 222 pass yds, 3 TDs
Mike GarrettMinnesota (9/17/65)T 20-2033 carries, 146 rush yds, 1 TD, 41 rec yds, 1 TD
John Huarteat Wisconsin (9/26/64)W 31-715 of 24, 270 pass yds, 2 TDs
Roger Staubachat West Virginia (9/21/63)W 51-717 of 22, 171 pass yds, 1 TD
Terry BakerIowa State (9/22/62)W 39-35252 pass yds, 3 TDs, 65 rush yds, 3 TDs
Ernie DavisOregon State (9/23/61)W 19-812 carries, 68 rush yds, 2 TDs
Joe Bellinoat Boston College (9/17/60)W 22-764 yd TD pass; 1 rush TD, 1 rec TD
Billy CannonRice (9/19/59)W 26-315 carries, 66 rush yds, 1 TD, 35 rec yds,
Pete DawkinsSouth Carolina (9/27/58)W 45-89 carries, 113 rush yds, 4 TDs
John David CrowMaryland (9/21/57)W 21-13Injured
Paul Hornungat SMU (9/22/56)L 13-191 pass TD, 1 rush TD
Howard CassadyNebraska (9/24/55)W 28-2021 carries, 170 rush yds, 3 TDs
Alan AmecheMarquette (9/25/54)W 52-1418 carries, 107 rush yds, 1 TD
John Lattnerat #6 Oklahoma (9/26/53)W 28-21Key interception to ice the game
Billy Vesselsat Colorado (9/27/52)T 21-2121 carries, 110 rush yds, 2 TDs
Dick Kazmaierat NYU (9/29/51)W 54-20N/A
Vic Janowicz#10 SMU (9/30/50)L 27-320 for 4 passing, 7 rushes, 19 rush yds, 1 TD
Leon HartIndiana (9/24/49)W 49-6N/A
Doak Walkerat Pittsburgh (9/25/48)W 33-141 TD rec, 1 PR for 75-yd TD, 4 of 5 pass, 3 XP
John Lujackat Pittsburgh (10/4/47)W 40-63 TD passes
Glenn DavisVillanova (9/26/46)W 35-0N/A
Felix BlanchardPers Dist Comm (9/29/45)W 32-0N/A
Les HorvathMissouri (9/30/44)W 54-011 carries, 121 rush yds, 1 TD
Angelo Bertelliat Pittsburgh (9/25/43)W 41-0N/A
Frank Sinkwichat Kentucky (9/19/42)W 7-679 rush yds, 111 pass yds
Bruce Smithat Washingon (9/27/41)W 14-62 rush TDs
Tom Harmonat California (9/28/1940)W 41-02 rush TDs, 1 KOR TD, 1 PR TD, 4 XP, 1 TD pass
Nile KinnickSouth Dakota (9/30/39)W 41-05 TDs scored
Davey O’BrienCentenary (9/24/38)W 13-012 of 22, 228 pass yds, 1 TD
Clinton FrankMaine (10/2/37)W 26-01 TD rec, 1 TD pass
Larry KelleyCornell (10/3/36)W 23-0N/A
Jay Berwangerat Nebraska (9/28/35)L 7-2818-yd rush TD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ = Neutral Site
Heisman opening-game records in bold
All rankings based on AP preseason poll

Notes:

— Pittsburgh and Boston College appear to be the opponents of choice to start out a Heisman-winning season. They have each been the losing team against four Heisman winners to begin the year.

— Only two Heisman winners since 1956 lost their opening game of the season. Both were named Johnny and both of their teams lost by a 20-17 score.

— Mike Rozier and Jim Plunkett both took part in victories over preseason-ranked No. 4 teams, the highest opponent ranking faced by a Heisman winner in an opener.

— The overall record of Heisman winners in opening games is 73-5-2

This entry was posted in Heisman Winners and tagged Andre Ware, Archie Griffin, Barry Sanders, Billy Cannon, Billy Sims, Bo Jackson, Cam Newton, Carson Palmer, Charles White, Charles Woodson, Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke, Danny Wuerffel, Derrick Henry, Desmond Howard, Doug Flutie, Earl Campbell, Eddie George, Eric Crouch, Ernie Davis, Gary Beban, George Rogers, Gino Torretta, Herschel Walker, Howard Cassady, Jameis Winston, Jason White, Jim Plunkett, Joe Bellino, John Cappelletti, John David Crow, John Huarte, Johnny Manziel, Johnny Rodgers, Marcus Allen, Marcus Mariota, Mark Ingram, Matt Leinhart, Mike Garrett, Mike Rozier, O.J. SImpson, Pat Sullivan, Paul Hornung, Pete Dawkins, Rashaan Salaam, Ricky Williams, Robert Griffin III, Roger Staubach, Ron Dayne, Sam Bradford, Steve Owens, Steve Spurrier, Terry Baker, Tim Brown, Tim Tebow, Tony Dorsett, Troy Smith, Ty Detmer, Vinny Testaverde. Bookmark the permalink.

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