The University of Southern California football program has more Heisman Trophies than any other school in college football. The most prestigious award in college football and all of sports has been handed out by the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City each year since 1935 to the most outstanding football player in college football. Saturday’s USC contest agasint Utah State will be the first home game since Caleb Williams departed for the NFL and Reggie Bush had his award reinstated by the Heisman Trust. Both numbers will be honored alongside the other six retired numbers in the peristyle end of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The jersey numbers have already appeared in the peristyle. All that is left is for the ceremony to take place in the venerable Coliseum, which will host its third Summer Olympic Games four years from now in 2028 and take its place as a one-of-a-kind stadium in the history of America and the history of sports. USC is a place for legends, and its place — the Coliseum — is itself legendary. Caleb Williams and Reggie Bush can call this place home, forever. It is part of the USC heritage and the Heisman Trophy’s story.
In honor and celebration of USC’s majestic Heisman achievements — and the restoration of the Reggie Bush Heisman from 2005 — here’s a look at USC’s eight Heisman Trophy winners:
It’s About Time
Mike Garrett 1965
Mike Garrett got it all started under John McKay nearly 60 years ago.
O.J. Simpson 1968
OJ’s cutback touchdown run against UCLA in 1967 is arguably the greatest and most famous single play in USC football history. It is an all-time college football moment.
Charles White 1979
Charles White was one of the toughest football players USC has ever produced.
Marcus Allen 1981
Marcus Allen is arguably the most elegant, graceful Hall of Fame running back who has ever lived.
Carson Palmer 2002
Carson Palmer helped establish the Pete Carroll dynasty. His place in USC lore is eternal and towering.
Matt Leinart 2004
Leinart won 34 straight games at USC and led the Trojans during one of their greatest three-year periods in program history. He played a great 2006 Rose Bowl and was nails in big games.
Reggie Bush 2005
Reggie Bush is, for anyone who saw him live, the most entertaining college football player ever.
Caleb Willaims 2022
Caleb Williams brought USC back to the big time. He is the most talented quarterback USC football has ever had.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC retires Caleb Williams’ No. 13 beside No. 5 Reggie Bush in Coliseum
