The Heisman Trophy

Each year the Heisman trophy is given to the best college football player in the nation. Originally only players east of the Mississippi River were eligible, but since 1936 all football players in all divisions of college football are eligible for the award, though winners usually represent Division I Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

There are three categories of persons eligible to vote for the award winner:

• Sports journalists: Sports journalists are to be the determinants of the award since they are "informed, competent, and impartial."There are 870 media voters: 145 voters from each of six regions.

• Previous Heisman winners: A prior winner is not required to vote and does not lose his voting privileges by not voting.

• Fans: the survey collected by ESPN.com constitutes one Heisman vote.

Each voter identifies three selections, ranking them in order. Each first-place selection is awarded three points. Each second-place selection is awarded two points. Each third-place selection is awarded one point. Voters must make three selections and cannot duplicate a selection, or else the ballot is invalid and none of the selections count.