MIAMI, FL — USC Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart will be inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame, the Orange Bowl committee announced.
He is the first Trojan player, coach, or administrator selected to the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame.
Joining Leinart as 2024 inductees are Urban Meyer, who led the Florida Gators to a 24-14 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2009 BSC National Championship, and Vince Wilfork, a key force on Miami’s defensive line in the 2004 Orange Bowl who played a crucial role in the Hurricanes’ 16-14 win over Florida State.
Leinart earned MVP honors in the 2005 Orange Bowl by throwing for 332 yards and five touchdowns, leading USC to a dominant 55-19 win over Oklahoma for the BCS National Championship. Leinart’s five touchdown passes set a then-Orange Bowl record, and his performance helped USC break open the game early, building a 28-7 halftime lead. Leinart’s precision and poise kept Oklahoma’s defense on its heels as he connected on deep passes, including a 54-yard strike, ensuring USC’s victory. His standout performance also capped an undefeated season for the Trojans, securing their second consecutive national title and a No. 1 finish in the AP Poll.
A 3-time (2003-05) All-American who won the Heisman in 2004, Leinart was 37-2 as a USC starter and guided Troy to consecutive national championships (2003-04) and then a No. 2 ranking in 2005. He threw for 10,693 yards with 99 touchdown passes and had a 64.8% completion mark in his career while setting 16 school records, including 11 Pac-10 and 2 NCAA marks. In 2004, he won the Walter Camp Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, and Manning Awards, and in 2005, he received the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Pop Warner Awards and was a finalist for the 2004 and 2005 Sullivan Awards.
The 10th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, played six seasons in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Oakland Raiders. He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017, and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2019. He currently broadcasts with FOX Sports.
The 2024 Hall of Fame class will join 136 others who have significantly impacted the Orange Bowl since its inception in 1935
The three legends will be honored in an on-field ceremony at the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium, the first year of the 12-team playoff.
