If looks told the story, the pint-size Flutie would never belong in the Heisman running, much less throw for a then record 10,579 yards in his four-year Boston College career. Flutie’s game-winning Hail Mary touchdown pass against Miami in 1984 is one of the most iconic moments in all of sports (it’s hard to miss footage of Flutie storming down the field, finger pointing skyward, after the miracle play). The 5 ft. 9 in. quarterback struggled in the NFL before thriving in the Canadian Football League; he later enjoyed a surprising late-1990s career revival with the Buffalo Bills. — Sean Gregory
Top 10 Heisman Trophy Winners
Mark Ingram became Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner Saturday night, Dec. 12, snagging one of sport's most coveted pieces of hardware — the first for the school's storied football program. Ingram, who hails from Flint, Mich., claimed the 75th prize in a tightly contested race, edging out Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, Nebraska defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and quarterbacks Tim Tebow of Florida — the 2007 Heisman winner — and Colt McCoy of Texas. Here's a look at TIME's top 10 Heisman winners.