How Heisman Trophy winners have done in the College Football Playoff

College football’s most coveted trophy answers one question each year:

Who was the top player in the country throughout the season?

The introduction of the College Football Playoff in 2014 added a new wrinkle to the Heisman story. It provided the winners an opportunity to fortify their already storybook saga through a postseason tournament and compete against other top talent — potentially another Heisman winner — in ways beyond a normal bowl season.

Here’s a look at how all Heisman Trophy winners have fared in the College Football Playoff

2013 Heisman winner Jameis Winston

Winston’s Heisman-winning season was one of the most impressive freshman campaigns to grace college football, highlighted by more than 4,000 passing yards and a BCS title.

Although the Florida State quarterback’s historic year came in the last BCS season, the gunslinger led the Seminoles to the inaugural CFP a year later after an undefeated regular season. Winston and Florida State squared off against Oregon in the semifinals, but lost the Rose Bowl 59-20.

In his lone trip to the CFP, Winston threw for 348 yards, a passing touchdown and an interception.

HISTORY: Every Heisman Trophy winner since 1935

2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota

One may wonder — which team hung over 50 points on a former Heisman winner in Winston during the CFP?

Enter Marcus Mariota.

Oregon’s only Heisman winner in program history, Mariota was named offensive MVP in the 39-point semifinal win over FSU. He threw for 338 yards and ran for 62 yards with three total touchdowns (two passing and one rushing) and an interception.  

Mariota didn't reach the CFP mountain top, however, losing to Ohio State in the national championship, 42-20. He nearly mimicked his Rose Bowl stats, finishing with 333 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

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2015 Heisman winner Derrick Henry

Even though Derrick Henry was bestowed the nickname "King Henry" in high school, the Alabama running back doubled down on the title in college. He was the first running back to win the award since 2009.

A year before winning the Heisman, Henry received a taste of the CFP in the 2014-15 season, totaling 95 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Crimson Tide’s semifinal loss to Ohio State. He also had two catches for 54 yards.

Henry took it to another level his Heisman season. After snapping the SEC single-season rushing record, he ran for 233 yards and five touchdowns in the two CFP games to help lead Alabama to another national title — with 158 yards and three touchdowns came in the national championship. 

His top-notch title game performance was highlighted by a 50-yard rushing touchdown to open the scoring. 

50 Days till Alabama Football 🐘🔥

Derrick Henry with a 50-Yard Touchdown vs Clemson in the 2015 National Championship to show why he won the Heisman Trophy 🏆🔥

— Alabama DieHards (@DiehardsAlabama)

2017 Heisman winner Baker Mayfield 

Mayfield did the statistically unthinkable in winning the Heisman, becoming the first player to win the award after starting his career as a walk-on.

The Oklahoma quarterback’s success led the Sooners to CFP appearances in the 2015-16 and 2017-18 seasons. In his first CFP rodeo in 2015-16 — two years before taking the Heisman — Mayfield threw for 311 yards, a passing touchdown and two interceptions in Oklahoma’s 37-17 loss to Clemson. He also finished fourth in Heisman voting that season. 

Mayfield then returned to the CFP in 2017 as the Heisman winner. Losing to Georgia 54-48 in the Rose Bowl’s first-ever double overtime, Mayfield racked up 287 yards with two passing touchdowns and an interception, including a receiving touchdown from wideout CeeDee Lamb.

New Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb had one touchdown pass in college. It came during his freshman year. He connected with Baker Mayfield in the Rose Bowl

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota)

2018 Heisman winner Kyler Murray

Oklahoma quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray redefined college football’s most coveted trophy, with the two winning back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. Murray was the first player to replace a former Heisman winner and win the award the following year.

In that 2OT loss to Georgia with teammate Mayfield starting and the Heisman winner, Murray did see the field and had a rushing attempt. The next year, in Murray's 2018 Heisman season, the two-sport athlete lost in the semifinals against Alabama, 45-34, in his lone trip to the CFP as a starting quarterback.

Murray put together one his best performances of his college career in the loss, throwing for 308 passing yards and was the game’s rushing leader with 109 yards on top of three total touchdowns — two through the air and one on the ground. 

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2019 Heisman winner Joe Burrow

Cue Joe Burrow’s iconic, cigar celebration following the national championship.

The LSU quarterback’s viral cross-legged, cigar-smoking pose mixed with a chilled composure capped off the Tigers' dominant title run behind Burrow. 

LSU outscored Oklahoma and Clemson by a combined 52 points, beating the latter 42-25 in the championship game. Burrow threw for 956 yards and had 14 total touchdowns — 521 total yards and six touchdowns against Clemson.

Yes, 14 touchdowns. In two games.

2020 Heisman winner Devonta Smith

Smith’s game-winning touchdown in the 2018 national championship against Georgia gave the college football world a glimpse into the future Heisman winner’s trajectory.

WHAT. A. GAME.

Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith ... BALLGAME!!! WINS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork)

The Crimson Tide product has one of the most decorated CFP resumes, playing in the event three out of his four years at Alabama. Smith reintroduced himself a year later with a combined 12 catches for 169 yards in the semifinals and championship loss to Clemson.

Smith proved why he was the first wideout to win the award in nearly three decades during his Heisman-year postseason. The playmaker caught seven passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns in the Crimson Tide’s semifinal win over Notre Dame and but was truly unguardable in the title game against Ohio State. 

Twelve catches, 215 receiving yards, three touchdowns and offensive MVP honors — the Buckeyes had no answer for him. Smith’s double-digit receptions were the most-ever in a CFP national championship game, and not to mention, he didn’t play in most of the second half due to a dislocated finger on his right hand.

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2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young

Alabama’s third Heisman winner in the CFP era, the Alabama quarterback led the program back to the CFP after throwing over 40 passing touchdowns during the regular season. 

Young handled business in the semifinal, beating Cincinnati 27-6 on 181 passing yards and three touchdowns with an interception. Although he threw for 369 yards and a touchdown in the championship game against Georgia, his pick-six in the fourth quarter played a pivotal role in Alabama’s 33-18 loss.