The Heisman Trophy is one of the most sought-after awards in sports. Last year, Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty gave us an electric race for college football’s most coveted trophy. The public was split on who should win the award, but in the end, Hunter’s versatility won him the award. There is nobody similar to Hunter this season, but these five players will find themselves in the Heisman race.
Sam Leavitt is entering his second season as Arizona State’s starting quarterback and his third season overall. He spent one season at Michigan State before moving out west and reviving the Sun Devils football program. In year one, he led them to the College Football Playoffs, but unfortunately fell short to Texas in the Peach Bowl.
Leavitt had a great season, completing 61.7% of his passes for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns, six interceptions, and 221.9 passing yards per game. He also scored five rushing touchdowns. The kid can sling it, and if he has another season like last year, he will be in the Heisman race.
LaNorris Sellers is a freak athlete. He is entering his third season at South Carolina and his second as the starting quarterback. When Sellers makes another big jump this year, he will be a Heisman candidate. Last season, he put himself on the map by leading South Carolina to a 5-3 record in SEC play. The only losses came to LSU, Ole Miss, and Alabama.
Sellers and South Carolina kept it close with LSU and Alabama, and they’re back for blood in 2025. Sellers completed 65.6% of his passes for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and 211.2 passing yards per game. He also carried the ball efficiently, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and punching in seven touchdowns with his feet.
Garrett Nussmeier is heading into year five at LSU, and they are projected to be one of the best teams in the country. Nussmeier has no excuse not to be a premier passer this season. Last season, he threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging 311.7 passing yards per game. He needs to clean up the interceptions, but if he does that, he will be a Heisman favorite. Nussmeier is trying to follow the footsteps of Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels.
In his first season as the starting quarterback at Texas, Arch Manning has a chance to do something that his grandfather and uncles couldn’t do: win the Heisman Trophy. Last season, Manning appeared in ten games for the Longhorns and threw for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions while averaging 184 passing yards per game. That was him getting used as a gadget quarterback. Now, he gets the reins to the offense. He is the starter, and he is trying to put his stamp on college football. The Texas passer has all the tools to be great. A Manning has never moved the way that Arch does. That’s scary for the nation.
Jeremiah Smith had an insane first season at Ohio State. Smith caught 76 passes for 1,135 yards and 15 touchdowns in 16 games. He averaged 17.3 yards per reception and 82.2 yards per game. The legendary freshman led the Big Ten in receiving yards and finished fourth in the nation. After winning a national championship in year one, expect Smith to collect more hardware in year two.
College football provides some of the most electric moments in the sport. These players will bring plenty of fireworks this season. Only one of them can walk away with the Heisman Trophy, but the race will be great to watch. It will be tough to top what Hunter and Jeanty did last season, but if anyone can do it, it is these players.
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