Newest Heisman Winner Wins in Record Landslide Vote

LSU QB Joe Burrow led his team to an undefeated season
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 15, 2019 1:03 AM CST
Newest Heisman Winner Wins in Record Landslide Vote
NCAA college football player and Heisman Trophy finalist, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow listens to questions from the media during a news conference before the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in New York.   (AP Photo/Jason Szenes)

Born into a family of Cornhuskers and raised in the Buckeye state, Joe Burrow left his roots behind and became a Heisman Trophy winner at LSU. The quarterback won the Heisman on Saturday night in a record-breaking landslide, reports the AP, becoming the first LSU player to bring college football's most prestigious award back to Baton Rouge, La., in 60 years. Burrow received 2,608 points and 841 first-place votes, a record 90.7% of all the first-place votes available. Burrow also set a record for percentage of points available received with 93.8, breaking the mark of 91.6% set by Troy Smith of Ohio State in 2006. Burrow was named on 95.5% of all ballots, breaking the record of 95.2% set by Oregon's Marcus Mariota in 2014. Burrow's margin of victory of 1,846 broke the record of 1,750 set by OJ Simpson of Southern California in 1968.

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts was second with 762 points. Quarterback Justin Fields of Ohio State was third and defensive end Chase Young of Ohio State was fourth. Burrow transferred last year to LSU from Ohio State, where he was a sparingly used reserve. After finishing strong for the Tigers in 2018, he broke out this season, setting a Southeastern Conference record with 48 touchdown passes and leading top-ranked LSU (13-0) to its first College Football Playoff appearance. Burrow's victory was a foregone conclusion, but after he was announced the winner it still overwhelmed him. “That's the most I've cried in 23 years of living,” Burrow said later. He started his acceptance speech, stopped and took 23 seconds to compose himself before rattling off the names of LSU's other offensive players. “All my teammates have supported me, welcomed me with open arms. Kid from Ohio, come down to the Bayou, and welcomed me as brothers,” Burrow said.

(More Heisman Trophy stories.)

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