UPI College Football Player of the Year

The United Press International College Football Player of the Year Award was among the first and most recognized college football awards. With the demise of UPI in 1997 the award was discontinued. Offensive and defensive players were eligible. Tommy Nobis was the runner-up that season. Unlike the Heisman, it was never affiliated with a civic organization or named after a player (like the Walter Camp Award). Like all UPI college awards at the time, it was based on the votes of NCAA coaches.Billy Cannon, O.J. Simpson, and Archie Griffin are the only two-time winners.

Yearly winners
1950—Vic Janowicz, Ohio State

1951—Dick Kazmaier, Princeton

1952—Billy Vessels, Ohlahoma

1953—Paul Giel, Minnesota

1954—Alan Ameche, Wisconsin

1955—Howard Cassady, Ohio State

1956—Johnny Majors, Tennessee

1957—John David Crow, Texas A & M

1958—Billy Cannon, LSU

1959—Billy Cannon, LSU

1960—Joe Bellino, Navy

1961—Bob Ferguson, Ohio State

1962—Terry Baker, Oregon State

1963—Roger Staubach, Navy

1964—John Huarte, Notre Dame

1965—Mike Garrett, USC

1966—Steve Spurrier, FLorida

1967—O. J. Simpson, USC

1968—O. J. Simpson, USC

1969—Steve Owens, Oklahoma

1970—Jim Plunkett, Stanford

1971—Ed Marinaro, Cornell

1972—Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska

1973—John Cappelletti, Penn State

1974—Archie Griffin, Ohio State

1975—Archie Griffin, Ohio State

1976—Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh

1977—Earl Campbell, Texas

1978—Billy Sims, Oklahoma

1979—Charles White, USC

1980—Hugh Green, Pittsburgh

1981—Marcus Allen, USC

1982—Herschel Walker, Georgia

1983—Mike Rozier, Nebraska

1984—Doug Flutie, Boston College

1985—Bo Jackson, Auburn

1986—Vinny Testaverde, Miami (Fla.)

1987—Tim Brown, Notre Dame

1988—Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State

1989—Andre Ware, Houston

1990—Ty Detmer, BYU

1991—Desmond Howard, Michigan

Source: United Press International