Alabama Football: Tide’s strange Heisman history under Saban

Alabama football has an odd history with the Heisman Trophy.

When you look at Alabama football, you see some of the greatest teams in the history of the sport. The Crimson Tide have a rich history that spans decades with multiple elite players and coaches. With that much talent, you would assume that the Tide have an elite Heisman history as well.

However, Alabama football’s history with the Heisman Trophy has some odd twists and turns. Most fans know that Alabama never had a Heisman winner before Nick Saban came to town. However, they were never truly close to having one. The only Tide player to be in the top 3 was David Palmer in 1993. He finished third in the voting, which is also what Trent Richardson, Amari Cooper and Mac Jones earned during their time with the Tide.

Also, Bryce Young will be Alabama football’s first quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy. For an award that is usually handed to the quarterback in the country, this is stunning. Not only that, but Alabama also has the last three non-quarterbacks to win the Heisman. No skill player has won the Heisman since 2009 other than Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry and DeVonta Smith.

One data point should make Alabama football fans happy as the season comes to a close. Young is seen as a lock to win the Heisman Trophy at this point. In the three seasons where Alabama saw a player win the award, they won out in the postseason and won national championships. All Heisman winners were pivotal in the title games as well. Ingram scored a game-clinching touchdown against Texas. Henry was a consistent beast in the College Football Playoff. Smitty broke receiving records in the first half alone before going down with a finger injury.

If history repeats itself, Alabama will win the Heisman and the national championship in the next few weeks. It starts with Young winning the hardware tonight.