Forced to relinquish in 2010
The Heisman Trust announced this week it is returning the Heisman Trophy to Reggie Bush, who played football for USC and won the award in 2005.
The Heisman Trust is making a formal “reinstatement'' of the trophy to Bush in response to what it calls “enormous changes in the college football landscape.''
Bush forfeited the Heisman Trophy in 2010 after USC was issued sanctions by the NCAA, which determined Bush received improper benefits from USC during his college career from 2003 to 2005.
The Heisman Trust is returning the trophy to Bush and a replica to USC, and Bush will be allowed to participate in all future Heisman Trophy ceremonies beginning in 2024.
“Personally, I'm thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I'm honored to return to the Heisman family,'' Bush said in a statement to ESPN. “I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization.''
Bush was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023. He gained more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns in the 2005 college football season. He received 784 first-place votes in the 2005 Heisman Trophy campaign, the fifth-most in Heisman Trophy history, and led USC to the national title.
“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,'' said Michael Comerford, President of The Heisman Trophy Trust. “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back.''
