Its all Lamar right now. But lets be honest his stock can only go down from here. He needs Clemson to lose twice in order to have another game in the national spotlight. Houston is a big game still, but doesn't have playoff implications. How far does he fall and is it enough for someone to catch him? Who are the 2 or 3 players most likely to catch him?

Last poll I saw had him 40 points ahead of second place. He will have to play bad in a few games to lose it.

Let me preface this by saying I think there is a 90+% chance Lamar Jackson wins the Heisman, but the reason the 10% still exists is because far too often the Heisman goes to the best player on the best team and not to the best player (see Derrick Henry over Christian McCaffrey) so with that said I think the 3 players in best position to catch him are Deshaun Watson, JT Barrett, and Jake Browning. Deshaun is going to have some great numbers before the end of the season and with only FSU looming Clemson looks to be in prime territory for another playoff birth. JT Barrett is not going to have the stats that Lamar or Deshaun have, but he would certainly qualify as the best player on the best team conversation, and Jake Browning is putting up some serious numbers and maybe they'll be some conversation to have him in serious discussion because Washington will likely be undefeated. Also who would qualify as Bama's best player? If this continues whoever that best player is will get some love (I don't think near enough love to win it, but could potentially make it to New York)

Last poll I saw had him 40 points ahead of second place. He will have to play bad in a few games to lose it.

I agree. But out of sight out of mind will definitely be used against him. His 2 biggest games came really early in the season. The recent winners have all had their games displayed on the biggest stage late in the year.

I agree. But out of sight out of mind will definitely be used against him. His 2 biggest games came really early in the season. The recent winners have all had their games displayed on the biggest stage late in the year.

 

If he averages even half of his production from the first six games over the last six and doesn't win it, you can chalk the Heisman up to a popularity contest. His numbers would be gaudy and his team would likely only have one loss to a Top 5 team.

If he averages even half of his production from the first six games over the last six and doesn't win it, you can chalk the Heisman up to a popularity contest. His numbers would be gaudy and his team would likely only have one loss to a Top 5 team.

It is a popularity contest imo.

@GrantNKY is spot on, and national folks have been talking about it all week. The other candidates are going to have HUGE stages between Thanksgiving and early December. Championship games. Everyone watching.

 

He has far and away been the best player as of October 19, but I'd most assuredly take the field if we were monetizing our predictions.

I'll say the winner is one of three QBs. DeShaun Watson, JT Barrett, or Jake Browning.

 

Fair or not, Louisville isn't going to be in the spotlight again all season and the Heisman has always been a popularity contest.

If Watson continues to shine, he's seriously in the running. Lifelong achievement award mentality.

If Louisville finishes 11-1 and Lamar's numbers remain as ahead of the field as they have been and he doesn't win, I'll never take the Heisman seriously again. :lol2:

If Louisville finishes 11-1 and Lamar's numbers remain as ahead of the field as they have been and he doesn't win, I'll never take the Heisman seriously again. :lol2:

I think you're taking Lamars stats for granted. He isn't going to stay on the pace he was on. The other coaches in college football are too smart to let that happen. They'll have so much film on him they can put together a game plan to slow him down a little bit. Deshaun Watson is going to put up some numbers the rest of the season. I don't think anyone is saying Lamar doesn't deserve to win it. But it's almost out of his hands now. He can't win it or lose it anymore. He is going to stay put where he is at the top. But when he doesn't have the opportunity to have a "Heisman Moment" and Deshaun Watson, JT Barrett, and Jake Browning do. Just like late season losses mean more than early season losses, late season heisman moments mean more than early season heisman moments. Lamars heisman moment was week 3.

If Watson continues to shine, he's seriously in the running. Lifelong achievement award mentality.

 

The problem is Watson hasn't shined. Won, but not shined. The second sentence I agree with.

 

If Bama wins out then Jalen Hurts may get an invite. Still Jackson's award to lose but only half of the season has unfolded.

 

I believe this is correct, but since 2000, only Manziel, RGIII, and Tebow are the only Heisman winners not to appear in the national title game the same season.

I think you're taking Lamars stats for granted. He isn't going to stay on the pace he was on. The other coaches in college football are too smart to let that happen. They'll have so much film on him they can put together a game plan to slow him down a little bit. Deshaun Watson is going to put up some numbers the rest of the season. I don't think anyone is saying Lamar doesn't deserve to win it. But it's almost out of his hands now. He can't win it or lose it anymore. He is going to stay put where he is at the top. But when he doesn't have the opportunity to have a "Heisman Moment" and Deshaun Watson, JT Barrett, and Jake Browning do. Just like late season losses mean more than early season losses, late season heisman moments mean more than early season heisman moments. Lamars heisman moment was week 3.

 

I'm not taking anything for granted. Like I've already told you before, he doesn't have to put up 5-8 touchdowns anymore to stay ahead of the field. The margin is so big, if he has 2-3 a game, he's still going to finish with better stats than EVERY other candidate. He absolutely can do more to win it, that's a ridiculous notion.

 

It's his award for now. It's up to the others to take it. Even with "average" numbers, he wins the award, IF it's truly about the best player in the country.

I'm not taking anything for granted. Like I've already told you before, he doesn't have to put up 5-8 touchdowns anymore to stay ahead of the field. The margin is so big, if he has 2-3 a game, he's still going to finish with better stats than EVERY other candidate. He absolutely can do more to win it, that's a ridiculous notion.

 

It's his award for now. It's up to the others to take it. Even with "average" numbers, he wins the award, IF it's truly about the best player in the country.

 

I think that's where the issue is. The Heisman has never been about the best player in the country.