The United Press International (UPI) College Football Player of the Year Award was among the first and most recognized college football awards. With the second bankruptcy of UPI in 1991, along with that of its parent company, the award was discontinued. Offensive and defensive players were eligible. Unlike the Heisman, it was never affiliated with a civic organization or named after a player (like the Walter Camp Award). Like all UPI college awards at the time, it was based on the votes of NCAA coaches. Billy Cannon, O.J. Simpson, and Archie Griffin are the only two-time winners.Los Angeles Times, December 12, 1962.Deseret News, December 18, 1990Deseret News, December 18, 1991
Winners Year Player Position School 1950 Vic Janowicz Halfback Ohio State 1951 Dick Kazmaier Halfback Princeton 1952 Billy Vessels Halfback Oklahoma 1953 Paul Giel Halfback Minnesota 1954 Alan Ameche Fullback Wisconsin 1955 Howard Cassady Halfback Ohio State 1956 Johnny Majors Halfback Tennessee 1957 John David Crow Halfback Texas A&M 1958 Billy Cannon Halfback LSU 1959 Billy Cannon (2) Halfback LSU 1960 Joe Bellino Halfback Navy 1961 Bob Ferguson Fullback Ohio State 1962 Terry Baker Quarterback Oregon State 1963 Roger Staubach Quarterback Navy 1964 John Huarte Quarterback Notre Dame 1965 Mike Garrett Halfback USC 1966 Steve Spurrier Quarterback Florida 1967 O. J. Simpson Halfback USC 1968 O. J. Simpson (2) Halfback USC 1969 Steve Owens Halfback Oklahoma 1970 Jim Plunkett Quarterback Stanford 1971 Ed Marinaro Halfback Cornell 1972 Johnny Rodgers Wide receiver Nebraska 1973 John Cappelletti Halfback Penn State 1974 Archie Griffin Halfback Ohio State 1975 Archie Griffin (2) Halfback Ohio State 1976 Tony Dorsett Halfback Pittsburgh 1977 Earl Campbell Halfback Texas 1978 Billy Sims Halfback Oklahoma 1979 Charles White Halfback USC 1980 Hugh Green Defensive end Pittsburgh 1981 Marcus Allen Running back USC 1982 Herschel Walker Running back Georgia 1983 Mike Rozier Running back Nebraska 1984 Doug Flutie Quarterback Boston College 1985 Bo Jackson Running back Auburn 1986 Vinny Testaverde Quarterback Miami (FL) 1987 Tim Brown Wide receiver Notre Dame 1988 Barry Sanders Running back Oklahoma State 1989 Andre Ware Quarterback Houston 1990 Ty Detmer Quarterback BYU 1991 Desmond Howard Wide receiver Michigan
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