| | 2006 - Troy Smith, Ohio State |
| | 2005 - Reggie Bush, USC |
| | 2004 - Matt Leinart, USC |
| | 2003 - Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh |
| | 2002 - Larry Johnson, Penn State |
| | 2001 - Eric Crouch, Nebraska |
| | 2000 - Josh Heupel, Oklahoma |
| | 1999 - Ron Dayne, Wisconsin |
| | 1998 - Ricky Williams, Texas |
| | 1997 - Charles Woodson, Michigan |
| | 1996 - Danny Wuerffel, Florida |
| | 1995 - Eddie George, Ohio St |
| | 1994 - Rashaan Salaam, Colorado |
| | 1993 - Charlie Ward, Florida St |
| | 1992 - Gino Torretta, Miami |
| | 1991 - Desmond Howard, Michigan |
| | 1990 - Raghib Ismail, N Dame |
| | 1989 - Anthony Thompson, Indiana |
| | 1988 - Barry Sanders, Oklahoma St |
| | 1987 - Tim Brown, N Dame |
| | 1986 - Vinny Testaverde, Miami |
| | 1985 - Bo Jackson, Auburn |
| | 1984 - Doug Flutie, BC |
| | 1983 - Mike Rozier, Nebraska |
| | 1982 - Herschel Walker, Georgia |
| | 1981 - Marcus Allen, USC |
| | 1980 - Hugh Green, Pittsburgh |
| | 1979 - Charles White, USC |
| | 1978 - Billy Sims, Oklahoma |
| | 1977 - Ken MacAffe, N Dame |
| | 1976 - Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh |
| | 1975 - Archie Griffin, Ohio St |
| | 1974 - Archie Griffin, Ohio St |
| | 1973 - John Cappelletti, Penn State |
| | 1972 - Johnny Rogers, Nebraska |
| | 1971 - Pat Sullivan, Auburn |
| | 1970 - Jim Plunkett, Stanford |
| | 1969 - Steve Owens, Oklahoma |
| | 1968 - O.J. Simpson, USC |
| | 1967 - O.J. Simpson, USC |