These QBs faced Alabama football after winning Heisman Trophy, and most lost
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Alabama football defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s view of Indiana‘s offense ahead of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the 2026 Rose Bowl is a simple one. It revolves around Fernando Mendoza.
The Indiana offense goes where Mendoza goes, Wommack said. Mendoza is the leader of the Hoosiers offense. He’s the reason why they are able to do the things that they do.
And it’s the reason why Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy, earning 643 first-place votes to be awarded as the top player in college football.
But that doesn’t scare Alabama.
“He’s a man just like me, of course,” Alabama defensive lineman Tim Keenan III. “But he’s a great Heisman winner. Of course he’s going to put himself in a position to achieve that accolade so we’re going to make sure we do what we need to do, play our game and go in… just got to make sure we do what we need to do.”
This approach has worked for Alabama in the past.
In six games against quarterbacks who brought a Heisman Trophy into their meeting with the Crimson Tide, Alabama has five wins, including a three-game win streak that started in the 2009 SEC Championship Game against Tim Tebow and Florida.
Here’s how the Crimson Tide has fared against Heisman winners.
Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray
Three weeks after beating Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the 2018 Heisman Trophy, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray had his college career ended by the Crimson Tide.
Murray was the Sooners‘ leading passer and rusher in Oklahoma’s 45-34 loss to Alabama in the 2018 Sugar Bowl, one that set up the Crimson Tide’s CFP National Championship loss to Clemson.
Murray completed 19 of his 37 pass attempts for 308 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 109 rushing yards and a score. He was also sacked three times.
Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel
One season after shocking the college football world and becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel hosted a shootout when No. 1 Alabama came to town, a shootout the Crimson Tide won 49-41 Sept. 14, 2013.
“Johnny Football” had his share of Heisman moments, completing 28 of his 39 passes for 464 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 98 rushing yards. But Manziel threw two interceptions to Vinnie Sunseri and Cyrus Jones, which helped keep the Crimson Tide in front.
Florida QB Tim Tebow
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow had two chances at Alabama as a Heisman winner.
After winning the Heisman in 2007, Tebow ended both the 2008 and 2009 seasons in the SEC Championship Game against the Crimson Tide.
In 2008, Tebow’s 216 passing yards, 57 rushing yards and three touchdowns were enough to beat the Crimson Tide 31-20 for a conference title. In 2009, Alabama got its revenge, beating Tebow and the Gators 32-13 while the quarterback had 310 total yards, a score and an interception secured by Javier Arenas.
Miami QB Gino Torretta
Miami quarterback Gino Torretta entered the 1993 Sugar Bowl as the reigning Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award recipient. And in his final game with the Hurricanes, the Crimson Tide shut him down.
To secure the program’s 12th national championship, Alabama beat Miami 34-13 and forced Torretta to throw three interceptions, pairing 278 passing yards with a paltry 42.8% completion rate.
Auburn QB Pat Sullivan
Two days after receiving the 1971 Heisman Trophy on Thanksgiving, Auburn quarterback Pat Sullivan was shut down by Alabama’s defense.
Sullivan and the Tigers scored one touchdown in the Crimson Tide’s 31-7 win against Auburn. Auburn quarterbacks combined for 152 yards and two interceptions.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football record vs Heisman Trophy QBs before Indiana Rose Bowl
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