2008 Heisman Trophy Winner Announced - Oklahoma Sooners Quarterback Sam Bradford Edges Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow for the Heisman

At the end of the day, voters rewarded Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford with the 2008 Heisman trophy. Texas Longhorn Colt McCoy was second in the vote, and last year's winner, Tim Tebow of the Florida Gators came in third though he did receive the most first place votes. Texas Tech quarterback, Graham Harrell was a distant fourth.

Sam Bradford

While leading the Sooners to the BCS National title game, Bradford lead major college football in overall touchdown passes with 48 and a pass rating of 186.3 while throwing for 4,464 yards. Over the course of the season, the Sooners scored 702 points eclipsing the previous record of 656 scored by Hawaii in 2006. They were also the first team in almost nine decades to score more than 60 points in five straight games. Bradford is the fifth Oklahoma sooner to win the Heisman trophy and the second under current coach Bob Stoops who has been with the Sooners for 10 years.

2008 Heisman Trophy Voting

Sam Bradord received 1726 votes in the 2008 Heisman trophy voting. Colt McCoy came in second with 1604, and 2007 Heisman trophy winner came in third with 1575 overall votes but the most first place votes. The 2008 voting was the closest Heisman race since 2001 when Eric Crouch of Nebraska beat out Florida quarterback Rex Grossman by a mere 62 points.

Past Heisman Trophy Winner Bowl Performances

Since 2007, the Heisman trophy winner's team has not done exceptionally well in the bowl game played after the award was given. Since 2001, Heisman trophy winners are 3 - 4 in bowl games. Both Tim Tebow (2007, Capital One Bowl) and Troy Smith (2006 BCS National Championship) lost in the past two years after winning the Heisman trophy.

What's Next? Sam Bradford versus Tim Tebow in the BCS National Title

Sam Bradford and the Oklahoma Sooners (12-1) will take on Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators (12-1) on January 8th, 2009 in Miami, Florida. This will be only the second time that Heisman trophy winners have played each other. The first time was in 2005 at the Orange Bowl when the 2004 winner, Matt Leinart playing for USC defeated Oklahoma Sooner, Jason White (2003 winner) for the BCS national title.