Named after Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, the Maxwell Award has been honoring the College Football Player of the Year since 1937. A panel of sports media, NCAA head coaches, and members of the Maxwell Football Club decide the winners of the Maxwell Award, which are listed by year below.
Maxwell Award Winners Listed by Year
- 2023 – Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
- 2022 – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
- 2021 – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
- 2020 – DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
- 2019 – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
- 2018 – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
- 2017 – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
- 2016 – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
- 2015 – Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
- 2014 – Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
- 2013 – A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama
- 2010 – Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame
- 2009 – Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
- 2008 – Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
- 2007 – Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
- 2006 – Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
- 2005 – Vince Young, QB, Texas
- 2004 – Jason White, QB, Oklahoma
- 2003 – Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss
- 2002 – Larry Johnson, RB, Penn State
- 2001 – Ken Dorsey, QB, Miami (FL)
- 2000 – Drew Brees, QB, Purdue
- 1999 – Ron Dayne, RB, Wisconsin
- 1998 – Ricky Williams, RB, Texas
- 1997 – Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee
- 1996 – Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida
- 1995 – Eddie George, RB, Ohio State
- 1994 – Kerry Collins, QB, Penn State
- 1993 – Charlie Ward, QB, Florida State
- 1992 – Gino Torretta, QB, Miami (FL)
- 1991 – Desmond Howard, WR, Michigan
- 1990 – Ty Detmer, QB, BYU
- 1989 – Anthony Thompson, RB, Indiana
- 1988 – Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State
- 1987 – Don McPherson, QB, Syracuse
- 1986 – Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami (FL)
- 1985 – Chuck Long, QB, Iowa
- 1984 – Doug Flutie, QB, Boston College
- 1983 – Mike Rozier, RB, Nebraska
- 1982 – Herschel Walker, RB, Georgia
- 1981 – Marcus Allen, RB, USC
- 1980 – Hugh Green, LB, Pittsburgh
- 1979 – Charles White, RB, USC
- 1978 – Chuck Fusina, QB, Penn State
- 1977 – Ross Browner, DE, Notre Dame
- 1976 – Tony Dorsett, RB, Pittsburgh
- 1975 – Archie Griffin, RB, Ohio State
- 1974 – Steve Joachim, QB, Temple
- 1973 – John Cappelletti, RB, Penn State
- 1972 – Brad Van Pelt, LB, Michigan State
- 1971 – Ed Marinaro, RB, Cornell
- 1970 – Jim Plunkett, QB, Stanford
- 1969 – Mike Reid, DT, Penn State
- 1968 – O.J. Simpson, RB, USC
- 1967 – Gary Beban, QB, UCLA
- 1966 – Jim Lynch, LB, Notre Dame
- 1965 – Tommy Nobis, LB, Texas
- 1964 – Glenn Ressler, OT, Penn State
- 1963 – Roger Staubach, QB, Navy
- 1962 – Terry Baker, QB, Oregon State
- 1961 – Bob Ferguson, FB, Ohio State
- 1960 – Joe Bellino, HB, Navy
- 1959 – Richie Lucas, QB, Penn State
- 1958 – Pete Dawkins, HB, Army
- 1957 – Bob Reifsnyder, DE, Navy
- 1956 – Tommy McDonald, HB, Oklahoma
- 1955 – Howard Cassady, HB, Ohio State
- 1954 – Ron Beagle, END, Navy
- 1953 – Johnny Lattner, HB, Notre Dame
- 1952 – Johnny Lattner, HB, Notre Dame
- 1951 – Dick Kazmaier, HB, Princeton
- 1950 – Reds Bagnell, HB, Penn
- 1949 – Leon Hart, END, Notre Dame
- 1948 – Chuck Bednarik, OLB, Penn
- 1947 – Doak Walker, HB, SMU
- 1946 – Charley Trippi, HB, Georgia
- 1945 – Doc Blanchard, FB, Army
- 1944 – Glenn Davis, HB, Army
- 1943 – Bob Odell, HB, Penn
- 1942 – Paul Governali, QB, Columbia
- 1941 – Bill Dudley, HB, Virginia
- 1940 – Tom Harmon, HB, Michigan
- 1939 – Nile Kinnick, HB, Iowa
- 1938 – Davey O’Brien, QB, TCU
- 1937 – Clint Frank, HB, Yale