A Game-By-Game Look at Vince Young's Heisman-Worthy 2005 Season

Winning the Heisman Trophy can not only be one of the most exciting rewards for a player, it can also be important to the very essence of a program.

During the 2005 season, Texas quarterback Vince Young and USC running back Reggie Bush waged a fierce battle in a race to bring home college football's most prestigious award—the Heisman Trophy.

Bush ultimately won the award, but yesterday forfeited the award amidst reports that the Heisman powers that be would strip him of the honor due to an ineligibility scandal.

Let’s take a look back at Young’s 2005 season to see if he's truly worthy of the vacated award, which he will not be receiving.

Game 1: Texas, 60, Louisiana, 3

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 3: Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns carries the ball against the Louisiana-Lafayette Rajin' Cajuns on September 3, 2005 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Rajin' Cajuns 60-

Young opened the season in stellar fashion by completing 13 of his 17 passes for 173 yards and three TDs in a rout over Louisiana-Lafatyette.

He also added 49 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Young and the Longhorns gave a good glimpse into just how dominant their team could be after this one.

Game 2: Texas, 25, Ohio State, 22

Harry How/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 10: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns tries to slip the tackle of strong safety Donte Whitner #9 and linebacker Bobby Carpenter #42 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the fourth quarter at Ohio Stadium on Septembe

The Longhorns headed to the Shoe for a battle with Ohio State, tagged as one-point underdogs.

But they paid no mind to it, as Young hit Limas Sweed on a 24-yard TD pass to give Texas the 25-22 win.

Young knew this would be his biggest national stage all year, and he performed accordingly.

The junior signal caller led his team to the finish line by totaling almost 350 yards of total offense by himself.

Game 3: Texas, 51, Rice, 10

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns looks to pass against the Rice Owls on September 17, 2005 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Rice proved to be no match for a superior skilled Texas team.

Surprisingly, Young finished the game without accounting for a TD, but he did put his leadership ability on display as he led the team to another blowout win against an inferior opponent.

Game 4: Texas, 51, Missouri, 20

Elsa/Getty Images

COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 1: Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns carries the ball in for a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers on October 1, 2005 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Many thought quarterback Brad Smith and the Missouri Tigers could give Texas a game, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Young threw the ball 22 times, completing 15 passes for 236 yards while also adding over 100 yards on the ground and a rushing score.

Game 5: Texas, 45, Oklahoma, 12

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

DALLAS - OCTOBER 8: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates a 45-12 win against the Oklahoma Sooners on October 8, 2005 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Sooners 45-12. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty

The 2005 Red River Shootout turned out to be one of the most lopsided affairs in the history of the series, as Young and the Longhorns tore up the Sooners defense for 444 total yards.

Young finished with 241 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Game 6: Texas, 42, Colorado, 17

Harry How/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 15: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns rolls out against the Colorado Buffaloes at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2005 in Austin, Texas. Texas won 42-17. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Young showed the doubters who said he couldn't win a game with just his arm that they were completely wrong.

The Texas quarterback finished with an 86 percent completion percentage and threw for over 300 yards.

He also added three important rushing touchdowns.

Game 7: Texas, 52, Texas Tech, 17

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 22: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns gives the 'Hook 'em Horns' sign after a win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on October 22, 2005 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas defeated Texas Tech 52-17. (

The Longhorns continued their rampage through the Big 12 conference with another takeover-type win against Texas Tech.

Young only completed 12 passes, but he made the plays when it most counted.

The quarterback finished with three TDs on the day.

Game 8: Texas, 47, Oklahoma State, 28

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns runs the ball against the Oklahoma State Cowboys October 29, 2005 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Longhorns were actually down 28-12 at halftime in this one, but Young rallied his teammates to score 35 unanswered points in the second half to help pull out the big conference win.

He finished with an even two touchdowns passing and two touchdowns rushing on the night.

Game 9: Texas, 62, Baylor, 0

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

WACO, TX - NOVEMBER 5: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns carries the ball against the Baylor Bears on November 5, 2005 at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Stephen Dunn /Getty Images)

This one wasn't expected to be close, and the Longhorns definitely helped fulfill expectations by destroying a below-average Baylor team.

Young scored two TDs in a solid outing, but for the most part, this game was about getting other guys involved in the mix against an inferior opponent.

Game 10: Texas, 66, Kansas, 14

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the University of Texas Longhorns watches the game against the University of Kansas Jayhawks on November 12, 2005 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Jayhawks 66

Young threw a season-high four touchdown passes in this one.

The junior couldn't get anything going on the ground, but he was able to lead the offense with his passing prowess, throwing for 281 yards on 19 completions.

Game 11: Texas, 40, Texas A&M, 29

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns meets with Reggie McNeal #1 of the Texas A&M Aggies at the end of the game on November 25, 2005 at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Agg

The running game proved to be the real steadying force in this one, as both teams combined to total over 350 yards on the ground.

Young only completed 13 passes for 162 yards in the battle of in-state rivals.

Game 12: Texas, 70, Colorado, 3

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

HOUSTON - DECEMBER 3: Quarterback Vince Young #10 and center Brett Valdez #66 of the Texas Longhorns walk off the field following the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship against the Colorado Buffaloes at Reliant Stadium on December 3, 2005 in Houston, Texas.

Young ended his regular season with a bang by scoring four TDs in a win over Colorado in the Big 12 Championship Game at Reliant Stadium.

The win helped bring Young gain a whole lot of national acclaim, and a payoff for his years of hard work.

Young finished with 250 yards of total offense.

Total Numbers For The Season

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns gives a Heisman pose to the crown after after defeating the USC Trojans 41-38 to win the BCS National Championship Rose Bowl Game on January 4, 2006 in Pasadena, California. (

Vince Young's Complete 2005 Statistics

*Including Championship game against USC

Record: 13-0

Passing

Completions: 212
Attempts: 325
Completion Percentage: 65.2
Passing Yards: 3036
Touchdowns: 26
Interceptions: 10
Rating: 163.95 

Rushing

Attempts: 155
Rushing Yards: 1050
Average YPC: 6.8
Touchdowns: 12

Totals

Touchdowns: 38
Yards: 4,086