It’s no surprise that a Heisman Trophy winner was selected as the best Auburn football player of the modern era in our 16-man bracket.

But the one who was selected is a bit of a stunner.

No. 3 seed Pat Sullivan emerged as the champion after four rounds of voting, knocking off No. 1 seed Bo Jackson in a battle of Heisman winners and all-time Tigers legends. Sullivan, the 1971 Heisman winner, won the vote handily, 56% to 44 for Jackson, who took home the Heisman in 1985.

Sullivan was Auburn’s first Heisman winner, and the first from a school in the state of Alabama. More than 50 years after his college career ended, he still holds the Tigers’ all-time record with 53 passing touchdowns, despite having played only three season of varsity football (freshmen were not eligible to play on the varsity until 1972).

AL.com has conducted a number of similar polls over the years, and Jackson — one of the greatest athletes in American sports history — nearly always wins. He dominated the first three rounds of this competition, so his winning the overall title seemed to be a fait accompli.

But it was Sullivan, and not Jackson, who emerged victorious. It’s proof that sports can still surprise you from time to time.