Burrow's Louisiana State University Tigers are undefeated so far this season and are the top-ranked team in the season-ending four-team playoff. In his team's 13 victories, Burrow has amassed 48 touchdown passes and totaling 4,715 passing yards. (He has thrown only six interceptions.)

Perhaps the highlight of his year so far was his team's 46–41 victory over perennial heavyweight Alabama, the first time that LSU had beaten the Crimson Tide in eight years. Overall, LSU has defeated five teams ranked in the top 10 nationally.

In his speech accepting the award, Burrow thanked each of his starting offensive linemen by name and included his starting tight end for good measure.

Burrow is the fourth straight quarterback to take home college football's highest individual award; his win was the 17th for a quarterback in the last 20 years.

Oklahoma's quarterback Jalen Hurts got 12 first-place votes and finished second overall, quarterback Justin Fields of Ohio State got 6 for an overall third, and his teammate defensive end Chase Young finished in fourth place but got 20 first-place votes.

Burrow was the first Heisman winner from LSU since Billy Cannon in 1959 and the first Heisman finalist from LSU since Tyrann Mathieu in 2011.

The Heisman Trophy is an annual award given to the college football player who is voted the top in the nation by a combination of former Heisman winners and members of the media.

Named for pioneering George Tech coach John Heisman, the award was created in 1935 at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York. (It was named the Downtown Athletic Club trophy the first year but was renamed in 1936, after Heisman's death.)

List of winners