Brigham Young University (BYU) is a program known for its history of producing some of the best Quarterbacks in College Football. Among all of their star QBs, the one who managed to go beyond the stratosphere was Ty Detmer, who secured his and his program’s name in the history of the sport by winning the Heisman Trophy back in 1990.
Below we have shared everything you need to know about this College Football legend and his journey.
The Only Heisman Winner Of Brigham Young University: Ty Detmer
In 1990 the 6’0″, 175-pound junior quarterback from San Marcos, Ty Detmer, carved his name in the College Football Valhalla. Detmer’s campaign was extraordinary, as he amassed 5,188 passing yards and 41 touchdowns over 12 regular-season games, setting NCAA records for passing yards and total offense (5,022 yards) in a Heisman-winning season.
His performance redefined what was possible for a quarterback from a non-major FBS conference, as BYU competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) at the time.
The defining moment of Detmer’s career came early in the season, when Detmer led BYU to a stunning 28–21 upset over the No. 1-ranked Miami Hurricanes in Provo.
Detmer threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns, earning national Player-of-the-Week honors. This victory, watched by a national television audience, placed Detmer to the forefront of the Heisman race and eventually led to his win.
The Road to the Heisman
Detmer was a multi-sport athlete at Southwest High School in San Antonio. He earned letters in football, basketball, baseball, golf, and track, and as a senior in 1986, he won Texas Player of the Year honors in football.
At BYU, he redshirted in 1987 and showed flashes of brilliance as a backup in 1988, earning MVP honors in the Freedom Bowl after a comeback win over Colorado. By 1989, as the full-time starter, he set an NCAA sophomore record with 4,560 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, finishing ninth in Heisman voting.
In 1990, under the guidance of legendary coach LaVell Edwards and offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Detmer thrived in BYU’s wide-open passing attack. He broke 42 NCAA records that season, including a staggering 560 passing yards in a single game against Utah State.
Detmer garnered 1,482 points, outpacing Notre Dame’s Raghib “Rocket” Ismail in the Heisman race. His win was announced on December 1, 1990.
The Encore and Beyond
Detmer returned for his senior season in 1991, facing immense pressure as the reigning Heisman winner.
Despite a challenging 0–3 start against formidable opponents like Florida State and UCLA, he rallied BYU to an 8–3–2 record, clinching a third consecutive WAC championship. His career-high 599 passing yards and six touchdowns against San Diego State showed that he still had fight left in him.
Detmer finished third in Heisman voting that year, behind Michigan’s Desmond Howard, but his career totals of 15,031 passing yards and 14,665 yards of total offense, set the NCAA records at the time.
Drafted in the ninth round by the Green Bay Packers in 1992, Detmer carved out a 14-year NFL career as a backup across six teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.
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After retiring, he transitioned to coaching, serving as BYU’s offensive coordinator from 2015 to 2017 and now as athletic director and coach at American Leadership Academy–Gilbert North in Arizona.
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