Barring a complete and total meltdown in the ACC Championship Game, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is going to win the 2013 Heisman Trophy. Winston would end the ACC's 13 year Heisman Trophy drought. The last Heisman Trophy won by a now ACC program belongs to Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke (2000).
It's been a decade to forget for the ACC and the Heisman Trophy. One has to go back four seasons to find a time where an ACC player even tracked the top 10 (Clemson RB C.J. Spiller's sixth place finish in 2009). Over the last decade, now ACC programs have put just six players in the top 10 final Heisman vote (6% of all finishes). Just one -- Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald -- has even cracked the top five, finishes as the runner-up to Oklahoma QB Jason White in 2003.
But here's Boston College senior running back Andre Williams, the nation's leading rusher, poised to place two ACC players in the top 5 of this year's Heisman voting. And who knows? Maybe as high as second for a 1-2 ACC finish.
Just how improbable has Williams' Heisman Trophy season been for Boston College and the ACC? Should Williams finish in the top 10, the Schnecksville, Pennsylvania native would become the school's sixth player to finish in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy's voting and first since Matt Ryan finished seventh in the 2007 Heisman Trophy vote.
That's a pretty impressive track record for BC when it comes to Heisman voting. Of the 14 current members of the ACC, only six have more Heisman Trophy top 10 finishers -- Miami (16), Florida State (15), Pittsburgh (14), Syracuse (8), Georgia Tech (7) and Maryland (6). Of all those top 10 finishers, only five ACC members lay claim to the Heisman Trophy -- Florida State (2), Miami (2), Boston College (1), Pittsburgh (1) and Syracuse (1).
Below are the all-time top 10 Heisman Trophy finishes by current ACC program, via sports-reference.com:
1. Miami Hurricanes
Heisman Trophy winners - 2 (Gino Torretta, Vinny Testaverde)
Top 10 finishes - 16
Last - 2002, RB Willis McGahee finishes fourth
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | 4 | Willis McGahee | Miami | JR | RB | 282 Att, 1753 Yds, 6.2 Avg, 28 TD |
2002 | 5 | Ken Dorsey | Miami | SR | QB | 222 Cmp, 393 Att, 3369 Yds, 28 TD, 12 Int |
2001 | 3 | Ken Dorsey | Miami | JR | QB | 184 Cmp, 318 Att, 2652 Yds, 23 TD, 9 Int |
2001 | 8 | Bryant McKinnie | Miami | SR | OL | |
2000 | 7 | Santana Moss | Miami | SR | WR | 45 Rec, 748 Yds, 16.6 Avg, 5 TD |
1994 | 6 | Warren Sapp | Miami | JR | DL | |
1992 | 1 | Gino Torretta | Miami | SR | QB | 228 Cmp, 402 Att, 3060 Yds, 19 TD, 7 Int |
1992 | 7 | Michael Barrow | Miami | SR | LB | |
1990 | 8 | Craig Erickson | Miami | SR | QB | 225 Cmp, 393 Att, 3363 Yds, 22 TD, 7 Int |
1988 | 4 | Steve Walsh | Miami | JR | QB | 233 Cmp, 390 Att, 3115 Yds, 29 TD, 12 Int |
1986 | 1 | Vinny Testaverde | Miami | SR | QB | 175 Cmp, 276 Att, 2557 Yds, 26 TD, 9 Int |
1985 | 5 | Vinny Testaverde | Miami | JR | QB | 216 Cmp, 352 Att, 3238 Yds, 21 TD, 15 Int |
1984 | 4 | Bernie Kosar | Miami | SO | QB | 262 Cmp, 416 Att, 3642 Yds, 25 TD, 16 Int |
1968 | 5 | Ted Hendricks | Miami | SR | DL | |
1963 | 10 | George Mira | Miami | SR | QB | |
1962 | 5 | George Mira | Miami | JR | QB |
2. Florida St. Seminoles
Heisman Trophy winners - 2 (Chris Weinke, Charlie Ward)
Top 10 finishes - 15
Last - 2000, QB Chris Weinke
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | 1 | Chris Weinke | Florida State | SR | QB | 266 Cmp, 431 Att, 4167 Yds, 33 TD, 11 Int |
1999 | 6 | Peter Warrick | Florida State | SR | WR | 71 Rec, 934 Yds, 13.2 Avg, 8 TD |
1996 | 5 | Warrick Dunn | Florida State | SR | RB | 189 Att, 1180 Yds, 6.2 Avg, 12 TD |
1995 | 9 | Warrick Dunn | Florida State | JR | RB | 166 Att, 1242 Yds, 7.5 Avg, 13 TD |
1993 | 1 | Charlie Ward | Florida State | SR | QB | 264 Cmp, 380 Att, 3032 Yds, 27 TD, 4 Int |
1992 | 4 | Marvin Jones | Florida State | JR | LB | |
1992 | 6 | Charlie Ward | Florida State | JR | QB | 204 Cmp, 365 Att, 2647 Yds, 22 TD, 17 Int |
1991 | 2 | Casey Weldon | Florida State | SR | QB | 189 Cmp, 313 Att, 2527 Yds, 22 TD, 8 Int |
1991 | 8 | Terrell Buckley | Florida State | JR | DB | |
1988 | 8 | Deion Sanders | Florida State | SR | DB | |
1984 | 7 | Greg Allen | Florida State | SR | RB | 133 Att, 971 Yds, 7.3 Avg, 8 TD |
1979 | 9 | Ron Simmons | Florida State | JR | DL | |
1972 | 10 | Gary Huff | Florida State | SR | QB | |
1968 | 10 | Ron Sellers | Florida State | SR | WR | |
1967 | 5 | Kim Hammond | Florida State | SR | QB |
3. Pittsburgh Panthers
Heisman Trophy winners - 1 (Tony Dorsett)
Top 10 finishes - 14
Last - 2003, WR Larry Fitzgerald finishes second
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | 2 | Larry Fitzgerald | Pittsburgh | SO | WR | 92 Rec, 1672 Yds, 18.2 Avg, 22 TD |
1987 | 5 | Craig Heyward* | Pittsburgh | SR | RB | 387 Att, 1791 Yds, 4.6 Avg, 12 TD |
1984 | 6 | Bill Fralic | Pittsburgh | SR | OL | |
1983 | 8 | Bill Fralic | Pittsburgh | SR | OL | |
1982 | 9 | Dan Marino* | Pittsburgh | SR | QB | 221 Cmp, 378 Att, 2432 Yds, 17 TD, 23 Int |
1981 | 4 | Dan Marino* | Pittsburgh | SR | QB | 226 Cmp, 380 Att, 2876 Yds, 37 TD, 23 Int |
1980 | 2 | Hugh Green | Pittsburgh | SR | DL | |
1977 | 7 | Matt Cavanaugh* | Pittsburgh | SR | QB | 110 Cmp, 187 Att, 1844 Yds, 15 TD, 6 Int |
1976 | 1 | Tony Dorsett | Pittsburgh | SR | RB | 370 Att, 2150 Yds, 5.8 Avg, 22 TD |
1975 | 4 | Tony Dorsett | Pittsburgh | JR | RB | 255 Att, 1686 Yds, 6.6 Avg, 13 TD |
1960 | 6 | Mike Ditka | Pittsburgh | SR | E | 11 Rec, 229 Yds, 20.8 Avg, 2 TD |
1941 | 7 | Edgar Jones | Pittsburgh | SR | RB | |
1938 | 2 | Marshall Goldberg | Pittsburgh | SR | RB | |
1937 | 3 | Marshall Goldberg | Pittsburgh | JR | RB |
4. Syracuse Orange
Heisman Trophy winners - 1 (Ernie Davis)
Top 10 finishes - 8
Last - 2001, DL Dwight Freeney finished ninth
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | 9 | Dwight Freeney | Syracuse | SR | DL | |
1998 | 5 | Donovan McNabb | Syracuse | SR | QB | 171 Cmp, 281 Att, 2326 Yds, 23 TD, 6 Int |
1987 | 2 | Don McPherson* | Syracuse | SR | QB | 140 Cmp, 250 Att, 2481 Yds, 23 TD, 11 Int |
1967 | 4 | Larry Csonka | Syracuse | SR | RB | 261 Att, 1127 Yds, 4.3 Avg, 8 TD |
1966 | 5 | Floyd Little | Syracuse | SR | RB | 162 Att, 811 Yds, 5.0 Avg, 12 TD |
1965 | 5 | Floyd Little | Syracuse | JR | RB | 193 Att, 1065 Yds, 5.5 Avg, 14 TD |
1961 | 1 | Ernie Davis | Syracuse | SR | RB | 150 Att, 823 Yds, 5.5 Avg, 12 TD |
1956 | 5 | Jim Brown | Syracuse | SR | RB | 158 Att, 986 Yds, 6.2 Avg, 13 TD |
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Heisman Trophy winners - 0
Top 10 finishes - 7
Last - 2006, WR Calvin Johnson finishes 10th
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | 10 | Calvin Johnson | Georgia Tech | JR | WR | 76 Rec, 1202 Yds, 15.8 Avg, 15 TD |
1999 | 2 | Joe Hamilton | Georgia Tech | SR | QB | 203 Cmp, 305 Att, 3060 Yds, 29 TD, 11 Int |
1978 | 8 | Eddie Lee Ivery | Georgia Tech | SR | RB | 267 Att, 1562 Yds, 5.9 Avg, 9 TD |
1963 | 2 | Billy Lothridge | Georgia Tech | SR | QB | 76 Cmp, 153 Att, 1017 Yds, 10 TD, 7 Int |
1962 | 8 | Billy Lothridge | Georgia Tech | JR | QB | 83 Cmp, 156 Att, 1006 Yds, 6 TD, 8 Int |
1943 | 5 | Eddie Prokop | Georgia Tech | SR | RB | |
1942 | 3 | Clint Castleberry | Georgia Tech | FR | RB |
6. Maryland Terrapins
Heisman Trophy winners - 0
Top 10 finishes - 6
Last - 1983, QB Boomer Esiason finishes 10th
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1983 | 10 | Boomer Esiason | Maryland | SR | QB | 163 Cmp, 294 Att, 2322 Yds, 15 TD, 8 Int |
1974 | 9 | Randy White | Maryland | SR | DL | |
1961 | 8 | Gary Collins | Maryland | SR | WR | 30 Rec, 428 Yds, 14.3 Avg, 4 TD |
1955 | 6 | Bob Pellegrini | Maryland | SR | OL | |
1953 | 4 | Bernie Faloney | Maryland | SR | QB | |
1952 | 2 | Jack Scarbath | Maryland | SR | QB |
7t. Boston College Eagles
Heisman Trophy winners - 1 (Doug Flutie)
Top 10 finishes - 5
Last - 2007, QB Matt Ryan finishes seventh
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | 7 | Matt Ryan | Boston College | SR | QB | 388 Cmp, 654 Att, 4507 Yds, 31 TD, 19 Int |
1993 | 5 | Glenn Foley | Boston College | SR | QB | 222 Cmp, 363 Att, 3397 Yds, 25 TD, 10 Int |
1984 | 1 | Doug Flutie* | Boston College | SR | QB | 246 Cmp, 423 Att, 3634 Yds, 30 TD, 13 Int |
1983 | 3 | Doug Flutie | Boston College | JR | QB | 177 Cmp, 345 Att, 2724 Yds, 17 TD, 15 Int |
1942 | 4 | Mike Holovak | Boston College | SR | RB |
7t. North Carolina Tar Heels
Heisman Trophy winners - 0
Top 10 finishes - 5
Last - 2001, DL Julius Peppers finishes 10th
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | 10 | Julius Peppers | North Carolina | JR | DL | 3 Int, 42 Yds, 1 TD |
1976 | 8 | Mike Voight* | North Carolina | SR | RB | 315 Att, 1407 Yds, 4.5 Avg, 18 TD |
1970 | 9 | Don McCauley* | North Carolina | SR | RB | 360 Att, 1863 Yds, 5.2 Avg, 22 TD |
1949 | 2 | Charlie Justice | North Carolina | SR | RB | |
1948 | 2 | Charlie Justice | North Carolina | JR | RB |
7t. Virginia Cavaliers
Heisman Trophy winners - 0
Top 10 finishes - 5
Last - 2007, DL Chris Long finishes 10th
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | 10 | Chris Long | Virginia | SR | DL | 36 Solo, 43 Ast, 14.0 Sk, 1 Int |
1999 | 8 | Thomas Jones | Virginia | SR | RB | 334 Att, 1798 Yds, 5.4 Avg, 16 TD |
1990 | 4 | Shawn Moore | Virginia | SR | QB | 144 Cmp, 241 Att, 2262 Yds, 21 TD, 8 Int |
1990 | 6 | Herman Moore | Virginia | JR | WR | 54 Rec, 1190 Yds, 22.0 Avg, 13 TD |
1941 | 5 | Bill Dudley | Virginia | SR | RB |
10t. Duke Blue Devils
Heisman Trophy winners - 0
Top 10 finishes - 4
Last - 1963, RB Jay Wilkinson finishes ninth
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963 | 9 | Jay Wilkinson | Duke | SR | RB | 117 Att, 631 Yds, 5.4 Avg, 6 TD |
1941 | 9 | Steve Lach | Duke | SR | RB | |
1938 | 10 | Dean Hill | Duke | SR | OL | |
1936 | 6 | Ace Parker | Duke | SR | RB |
10t. N.C. State Wolfpack
Heisman Trophy winners - 0
Top 10 finishes - 4
Last - 2003, QB Philip Rivers finishes seventh
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | 7 | Philip Rivers | N.C. State | SR | QB | 348 Cmp, 483 Att, 4491 Yds, 34 TD, 7 Int |
1998 | 8 | Torry Holt | N.C. State | SR | WR | 88 Rec, 1604 Yds, 18.2 Avg, 11 TD |
1978 | 6 | Ted Brown | N.C. State | SR | RB | 302 Att, 1350 Yds, 4.5 Avg, 11 TD |
1961 | 9 | Roman Gabriel | N.C. State | SR | QB | 99 Cmp, 186 Att, 937 Yds, 8 TD, 6 Int |
12. Virginia Tech Hokies
Heisman Trophy winners - 0
Top 10 finishes - 3
Last - 2009, RB C.J. Spiller finishes sixth
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | 6 | Michael Vick | Virginia Tech | SO | QB | 87 Cmp, 161 Att, 1234 Yds, 8 TD, 6 Int |
1999 | 3 | Michael Vick | Virginia Tech | FR | QB | 105 Cmp, 182 Att, 2065 Yds, 13 TD, 5 Int |
1972 | 9 | Don Strock | Virginia Tech | SR | QB | 228 Cmp, 427 Att, 3243 Yds, 16 TD, 27 Int |
13. Clemson Tigers
Heisman Trophy winners - 0
Top 10 finishes - 2
Last - 2009, RB C.J. Spiller finishes sixth
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | 6 | C.J. Spiller | Clemson | SR | RB | 216 Att, 1212 Yds, 5.6 Avg, 12 TD |
1978 | 6 | Steve Fuller* | Clemson | SR | QB | 101 Cmp, 187 Att, 1515 Yds, 7 TD, 4 Int |
14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Heisman Trophy winners - 0
Top 10 finishes - 1
Last - 1964, RB Brian Piccolo finishes 10th
Year | Rk | Player | School | Class | Pos | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1964 | 10 | Brian Piccolo | Wake Forest | SR | RB | 252 Att, 1044 Yds, 4.1 Avg, 15 TD |
* indicates bowl stats are included.