Winning the Heisman Trophy is sometimes a product of one player simply transcending everyone and everything else. Cam Newton in 2010 at Auburn or Joe Burrow in 2019 at LSU are examples of players who had phenomenal, historically remarkable seasons no one else could touch. Players who finished behind those two might have had great seasons which — in other years — would have been enough to take home the Heisman.
In 2010 and 2019, they had no chance.
Newton and Burrow lapped the field in those seasons, to provide two clear examples of Heisman winner who simply ran away with the award.
This is not one of those years. There are a lot of great players, but there is no “God Mode” player who simply takes off and leaves everyone else in the dust. Winning the Heisman this year is naturally a product of individual quality and performance, but it also depends on how one’s competitors perform.
Caleb Williams got the right mix in Week 12.
Let’s break down his Heisman chances, which soared heading into the Notre Dame game.