| UPI Player of the year | |
| Description: | The Most Outstanding Offensive or Defensive College Football Player of the Year |
| Presenter: | United Press International |
| Country: | United States |
| Year: | 1950 |
| Year2: | 1991 |
The United Press International College Football Player of the Year Award was among the first and most recognized college football awards. With the second bankruptcy of UPI in 1991, along with that of its parent company, the award was discontinued. Offensive and defensive players were eligible. Unlike the Heisman, it was never affiliated with a civic organization or named after a player (like the Walter Camp Award). Like all UPI college awards at the time, it was based on the votes of NCAA coaches. Billy Cannon, O.J. Simpson, and Archie Griffin are the only two-time winners.[1] [2] [3]
| Year | Player | School | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Vic Janowicz | Ohio State | |
| 1951 | Dick Kazmaier | Princeton | |
| 1952 | Billy Vessels | Oklahoma | |
| 1953 | Paul Giel | Minnesota | |
| 1954 | Alan Ameche | Wisconsin | |
| 1955 | Howard Cassady | Ohio State | |
| 1956 | Johnny Majors | Tennessee | |
| 1957 | John David Crow | Texas A&M | |
| 1958 | Billy Cannon | LSU | |
| 1959 | Billy Cannon (2) | LSU | |
| 1960 | Joe Bellino | Navy | |
| 1961 | Bob Ferguson | Ohio State | |
| 1962 | Terry Baker | Oregon State | |
| 1963 | Roger Staubach | Navy | |
| 1964 | John Huarte | Notre Dame | |
| 1965 | Mike Garrett | USC | |
| 1966 | Steve Spurrier | Florida | |
| 1967 | O. J. Simpson | USC | |
| 1968 | O. J. Simpson (2) | USC | |
| 1969 | Steve Owens | Oklahoma | |
| 1970 | Jim Plunkett | Stanford | |
| 1971 | Ed Marinaro | Cornell | |
| 1972 | Johnny Rodgers | Nebraska | |
| 1973 | John Cappelletti | Penn State | |
| 1974 | Archie Griffin | Ohio State | |
| 1975 | Archie Griffin (2) | Ohio State | |
| 1976 | Tony Dorsett | Pittsburgh | |
| 1977 | Earl Campbell | Texas | |
| 1978 | Billy Sims | Oklahoma | |
| 1979 | Charles White | USC | |
| 1980 | Hugh Green | Pittsburgh | |
| 1981 | Marcus Allen | USC | |
| 1982 | Herschel Walker | Georgia | |
| 1983 | Mike Rozier | Nebraska | |
| 1984 | Doug Flutie | Boston College | |
| 1985 | Bo Jackson | Auburn | |
| 1986 | Vinny Testaverde | Miami (FL) | |
| 1987 | Tim Brown | Notre Dame | |
| 1988 | Barry Sanders | Oklahoma State | |
| 1989 | Andre Ware | Houston | |
| 1990 | Ty Detmer | BYU | |
| 1991 | Desmond Howard | Michigan |