Bush runs away with Heisman

Bush became the seventh Trojan to capture the illustrious award and the third in four years, after quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart took the trophy in 2002 and 2004, respectively. The other Southern California Heisman winners were all running backs -- Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), and Marcus Allen (1981). Bush, who received 784 first-place votes and 2,541 total points, easily outdistanced Texas quarterback Vince Young and Leinart for the award. "This is amazing," Bush said. "It's truly an honor to be elected to this fraternity of Heisman winners. "I've been in college for three years and this is the first time I'm getting invited into a fraternity. It's pretty good." On the season, the dynamic Bush has been one of the main reasons that USC (12-0) has won 34 straight games. The junior running back has rushed for 1,658 yards and 15 touchdowns on 187 carries while also hauling in 31 passes for 383 yards and two scores. Combined with his kick and punt returns, Bush has accumulated 2,611 all-purpose yards for the No. 1 ranked Trojans. In addition to winning the Heisman, the 20-year-old Bush also took home some other impressive hardware this season. He was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation's Player of the Year and won the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back. Bush became the first running back to win the Heisman since 1999, when Wisconsin's Ron Dayne took home the award. Young, a junior, is 182-of-285 for 2,769 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season for the Longhorns (12-0), who have won 19 straight games. The mobile QB, who picked up 79 first-place votes and received 1,608 total points, has also rushed for nine touchdowns and 850 yards on 136 carries. Despite not winning the Heisman, the 22-year-old Young did receive other honors this season. Young captured the Maxwell Award as the nation's top college football player and also won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback. Leinart, who was trying to join Archie Griffin as the only two-time winner of the Heisman Award, finished a distant third. The senior signal-caller, who earned 18 first-place nods and 797 total points, has completed 254-of-391 passes for 3,450 yards and 27 touchdowns to only seven interceptions. The 22-year-old Leinart did not repeat in his Heisman bid, but did capture the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the nation's top senior quarterback. "His decision to come back this year has changed my life so much," Bush said of Leinart. All three players will also be in action on January 4, as the country's top two teams will do battle for the national championship at the Rose Bowl. Southern California will be attempting to capture its third straight national title, a feat never before accomplished, while Texas will aim to win a national championship for the first time since 1969. Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn finished fourth in the Heisman balloting, while Penn State signal-caller Michael Robinson rounded out the top five.