NEW YORK – Reggie Bush took slow, deliberate steps to the podium – a gear most people didn’t know he had.

Then he began his acceptance speech with a huge sigh of relief and a hand over his heart.

Bush may have been the only one in the packed room with any doubt about who would win the Heisman Trophy because once again, the sensational Southern California tailback left the competition far, far behind.

Bush was voted the nation’s best college football player in a landslide Saturday night over Texas quarterback Vince Young and USC quarterback Matt Leinart, last year’s winner.

Flashing uncanny acceleration and ability to change direction, the junior has conjured up memories of Gale Sayers, drawn comparisons to Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders and Tony Dorsett, and is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL draft.

“Oh man, this is amazing,” Bush said, a row of former winners lining the stage behind him. “It’s truly an honor to be elected to this fraternity. I’ve been in college for three years and it’s the first time I’ve been invited into a fraternity.”

Bush received 2,541 points to finish 933 points ahead of Young, with Leinart a distant third. Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn was fourth.

The 784 first-place votes received by Bush was the second-most in Heisman history, topped only by another famous USC runner – O.J. Simpson, who had 855 in 1968. Bush was first in all six regions and appeared on 99 percent of the ballots, also a Heisman record.

“I was in shock because Vince Young and Matt are such great players,” Bush said.

Bush and Leinart will be the first Heisman winners to play in a college game together when USC goes for a third straight national title against Texas in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4.

“It’s a special opportunity,” Bush said. “It’d be even more special if we win this game.”

Bush and Leinart are the third teammates to win the award in consecutive seasons and the first since Army’s Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis did it in 1945-46.