The Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious individual honor in sports, is “presented annually to the most outstanding player in U.S. collegiate football, recognizing exceptional performance, character, and dedication.” Some of my fondest memories include the days when Army-Navy would play in the afternoon, taking us into the Heisman ceremony that night. The prestige, history, and tradition of the Heisman are, in a way, a microcosm of what college football gives us from coast to coast every autumn.
While in theory, every college football player is eligible for the Heisman, it has become more of a “Best Quarterback Award” as of late, with 20 of the 25 winners this century being signal callers. Could we be trending in a different direction with two-way standout Travis Hunter becoming the second non-quarterback winner in the last five years (Devonta Smith)? The smart money says that it is more likely an outlier than a new pattern, as 2025’s preseason favorites list is littered with QBs.
While you can’t win the award without being an outstanding football player, several other factors play into the process as well. It helps to be a known commodity from the previous year. There are numerous instances where Heisman campaigns actually begin the prior season. Going into Week 1 (or Week 0 these days) with eyes already on you certainly gives a player an edge over a breakthrough performer. Also, this is obviously an individual award, but you actually need talented teammates to win, as Paul Hornung is the lone player to take home the trophy on a losing team when his 1956 Notre Dame squad went 2-8. Finally, while I am sure the Heisman voters would make every effort to debunk this theory, 80% of the last 35 winners have come from the Eastern or Central time zone, suggesting that location, kickoff times, and television exposure certainly impact the ballots.
As we move on to the preseason contenders, the list includes plenty of familiar names from the 2024 (and 2023) season. Without further delay and in no particular order…
Arch Manning – QB, Texas. A star quarterback named Manning. You may have heard of them before. Obviously, the hype train for the next member of the royal quarterback family has been going strong since his recruitment began in middle school. There are doubters and there are believers, count me as the latter. This is a Manning passer with elite size and Archie-like athleticism. He has the goods and should remain on the list for the duration of the season. Having the best play-caller in the sport in your corner does not hurt.
Jeremiah Smith – WR, Ohio State. This is the best player in college football, and I’m not sure I can be convinced otherwise. We’ve never seen a true freshman specimen like this, and his 1300 yards and 15 touchdowns only confirm the eye test. Everything has to break perfectly for a WR to win the Heisman, so I would take the field, but Smith is head and shoulders above everyone else.
Cade Klubnik – QB, Clemson. The evolution of Klubnik has been impressive. He has gone from an overwhelmed freshman to a steady-handed leader to a full-blown superstar. A credit to him and Clemson’s coaching staff. If I were to bet on one QB to be a guaranteed star this year, it’s this guy. A safe superstar with more than 30 career starts is extremely valuable, and I think Klubnik will be in the Big Apple in December.
Jeremiyah Love – RB, Notre Dame. A case could be made for Love to be the second-best player in college football, but the same caveat we put on Smith applies to Love. The stars really have to align for this to come to fruition. Love averaged 7 yards a carry with 19 total touchdowns last year, even while battling a late-season nagging knee injury. We should anticipate his workload to increase with a very green QB in South Bend, creating huge numbers and ultimately helping his case.
Garrett Nussmeier – QB, LSU. Nussmeier broke out in a major way in 2024. After seriously considering leaving for the NFL draft, he returns with unfinished business in the Bayou. Expect Nussmeier to be even better in 2025, and he will need to improve on his 15 turnovers for LSU to be a playoff team, let alone for any Heisman attention. With trips to Clemson, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma, it won’t be easy; however, LSU has a loaded roster with everything in front of them.
John Mateer – QB, Oklahoma. There has been extreme offseason helium for the Washington State transfer. A true dual-threat quarterback, Mateer looks to terrorize defenses with his arm and legs. Oklahoma’s schedule is brutal, and I don’t know if they win enough for him to get to New York, but if they can break through the College Football Playoff door, it will certainly be because of Mateer’s heroics.
Drew Allar – QB, Penn State. Allar is another experienced QB who took a giant leap last year, leading Penn State to the national semifinal game. To bring home the Heisman, Allar will need to lead Penn State to more explosive plays in the passing game while contending for a Big Ten championship. Penn State addressed a weak wide receiver room in the transfer portal, and many expect them to be playing for the national championship in January. Allar, like Nussmeier, turned down lofty draft status to come back to State College.
LaNorris Sellers – QB, South Carolina. Sellers is an uber-athlete who seemed to improve in the passing game every week last year. If he can remain healthy, he will be a nightmare for SEC defenses. If he plays 12+ games, it’s going to be hard to keep this type of player out of the discussion.
Honorable Mentions:
D.J. Lagway – QB, Florida.
Sam Leavitt – QB, Arizona State.
Sleeper:
Austin Simmons – QB, Ole Miss
