The Heisman Winners: 1980s

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Choose a decade 2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s 1960s 1950s 1940s 1930s Flutie's golden touch and Vinny Testaverde's (above) command of Miami's pro-style offense helped put the spotlight back on quarterbacks. John Biever/SI

This article appears in the Sports Illustrated Presents 75th Anniversary of the Heisman Trophy issue.

1980 | George Rogers TB, South Carolina (Sr.)

Led nation in rushing with 1,781 yards in '80 and gained 100 or more yards in each of his final 22 college games.

Heisman moment: Rogers ran for 142 yards in a 17-14 upset win over No. 17 Michigan in the fourth game of the '80 season, before 104,000 spectators in Ann Arbor.

1981 | Marcus Allen TB, USC (Sr.)

The first player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season (2,342) also led the nation in scoring (138 points, on 23 TDs).

Heisman moment: In the regular-season finale against UCLA, Allen rushed for 219 yards and two TDs in a 22-21 victory.

1982 | Herschel Walker TB, Georgia (Jr.)

Rushed for 1,616 yards and led Georgia to the '80 national title. He had 5,259 yards over three seasons in Athens.

Heisman moment: Walker steamrollered the 20th-ranked Gators for 219 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-0 win.

1983 | Mike Rozier RB, Nebraska (Sr.)

Had 2,486 total yards to lead the nation, including 2,148 rushing yards, and an NCAA-record 29 rushing touchdowns.

Heisman moment: In Game 11 of his senior year Rozier rushed for 230 yards and four touchdowns in the first half against Kansas.

1984 | Doug Flutie QB, Boston College (Sr.)

Rhodes scholar finalist became the NCAA's alltime leading passer with 10,579 yards. Threw for 3,454 yards and 27 TDs.

Heisman moment: With six seconds to play, the 5' 9" quarterback threw a 48-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Gerard Phelan to beat Miami 47-45 on Nov. 23, 1984.

1985 | Bo Jackson RB, Auburn (Sr.)

Rushed for a school-record 1,786 yards and 17 touchdowns and had a career average of 6.6 yards per carry.

Heisman moment: Playing with two cracked ribs against 'Bama, Jackson ran for 142 yards and two TDs in a 25-23 defeat.

1986 | Vinny Testaverde QB, Miami (Sr.)

The 6' 5" Testaverde threw for 2,557 yards and 26 touchdowns, against just nine interceptions, in leading Miami to an undefeated regular season and a No. 1 ranking.

Heisman moment: Against top-ranked Oklahoma, Testaverde completed 21 of 28 passes for 261 yards and four TDs, ending the defending national champions' 10-game winning streak.

1987 | Tim Brown WR-PR, Notre Dame (Sr.)

Touchdown Timmy had 1,847 all-purpose yards in '87, slightly less than his school-record 1,937 yards as a junior.

Heisman moment: On Sept. 19, 1987, against Michigan State, Brown returned two punts for TDs 2:01 apart -- the first for 71 yards, the second for 66. The Irish won 31-8.

1988 | Barry Sanders RB, Oklahoma State (Jr.)

Averaged more than 200 yards per game and led the nation in rushing (2,628) and all-purpose yards (3,249) in '88.

Heisman moment: Had 312 yards and five TDs against Kansas, breaking NCAA single-season marks for touchdowns and points.

1989 | Andre Ware QB, Houston (Jr.)

Despite rarely playing a full game, Ware set 26 NCAA records, including passing yards (4,699), his junior season.

Heisman moment: Passed for 517 yards in the first half in a 95-21 win over Southern Methodist on Oct. 21.