This particular college football season has operated in a puddle of uncertainty thus far.
In a year full of changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at least one staple remains the same. The prestigious Heisman Trophy will still be awarded to the most outstanding player in NCAA football.
In fact, you could argue that this may be one of the toughest years to win an award of this nature. On any given week, a star player and/or team could be sidelined due to a positive COVID-19 test or outbreak.
It’s a shortened season with primarily conference-only schedules for the majority of players, but there’s already several playmakers that have appeared on Heisman watch lists throughout the early portion of the season.
USA Today Network released their first Heisman survey on Tuesday. The results are compiled by a weekly survey of 21 official Heisman electors who work for USA TODAY Network properties.
To no surprise, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is in sole control of the No. 1 spot. He was awarded 16 first-place votes and no other player was particularly close. Florida quarterback Kyle Trask was No. 2 on the list with just two first-place votes.
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger garnered plenty of Heisman hype the first two weeks of the season, but the surprising loss to unranked TCU put a damper on his chances.
Oddly enough, former Longhorn Shane Buechele is now considered a legitimate Heisman contender and is ranked ahead of Ehlinger. The senior quarterback has led SMU to an undefeated 4-0 record.
Take a look at the final results from USA TODAY Network’s first Heisman survey of 2020.
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson (54 total points)
- Kyle Trask, QB, Florida (20 total points)
- Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida (19 total points)
- Mac Jones, QB, Alabama (8 total points)
- D’Eriq King, QB, Miami (6 total points)
- Zach Wilson, QB, Brigham Young (6 total points)
- Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama (4 total points)
- Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson (3 total points)
- Shane Buechele, QB, SMU (2 total points)
- Khalil Herbert, RB, Virginia Tech (2 total points)
- Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas (1 total point)
- Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State (1 total point)