1970 Heisman Trophy Winner Jim Plunkett

In 1970 Jim Plunkett became Stanfords first and only player to win the Heisman Trophy award for the best player in college football. Plunkett led the Indians to the Pacific-8 Conference Championship with a 9-3 record, including a thrilling 27-17 upset victory over previously undefeated Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

He was the runaway winner for the trophy, garnering 510 of 1,059 first-place ballots cast. He compiled 2,229 points to 1,410 for runner-up Joe Theismann of Notre Dame.

In addition to the Heisman he won the Maxwell Award, was a consensus First-Team All-American, and was named Player of the Year by United Press International, Sporting News, Sport Magazine, the Walter Camp Association, and the American College Football Coaches Association.

He completed 191 of 358 passes for 2,715 yards, and he ran for another 183 yards, giving him 2,898 yards of total offense that season (a school and Pac-8 record).

Highlights of the season included his 275 passing yards in a 24-14 drubbing of USC, 22-of-36 passing for 268 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 29-22 win against Washington, and a phenomenal 20-of-30 passes for 265 yards in the 1971 Rose Bowl, Plunketts final game.

Jim Plunkett's Year-by-Year Statistics

                   Passing                    Rushing    Total Offense
YEAR    PA  PC  HI   PCT     NYG    TD     TCB  NYG  TD  PLAYS   TOTAL
1968    268 142 14  .529    2156    14      81   47   6    49    2203
1969    336 197 15  .586    2673    20      53  113   1   389    2786
1970    358 191 18  .533    2715    18      78  183   3   436    2898
TOTALS  962 530 47  .551    7544    52     212  343  10  1174    7544

Stanford University Football