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The Heisman Trophy Race Has Been Busted Wide Open

By Sam Beckenstein

Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Lamar Jackson was the odds on favorite to win the Heisman heading into No. 5 Louisville’s clash at Houston, and then they got throttled 36-10. Jackson was sacked 11 times, and recorded his roughest statistical night yet. He completed 20/43 passes for 211 yards and a score, and only gained 33 yards on the ground.

Louisville’s loss and offensive ineptitude last night may have cost Jackson the Heisman. In the process, the Heisman race got busted wide open. At this point last year, the Heisman was Derrick Henry’s to lose, and now it’s wide open for anyone to win.

At this point, Michigan’s swiss army knife Jabrill Peppers may be the first defender to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997. But, their loss to Iowa hurt his campaign as well.

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, the favorite coming into the year, has been very pedestrian turning the ball over in droves and Stanford’s star, Christian McCaffrey, has been nowhere near as good as he was last season, large in part because of injury, when he shattered NCAA records. At this point, there is no clear front runner.

Washington’s Jake Browning was well in the race and then dropped the ball against USC last Saturday at home, LSU’s Leonard Fournette has been derailed by injuries and another abominable performance against Alabama, and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield’s had a great season and is getting no attention thanks to a very poor start.

The door is wide open for dark horses like Alabama’s true freshman phenom Jalen Hurts, Washington State’s star quarterback Luke Falk (73.9% completion rate, 3,610 yards, 33 touchdowns, six interceptions) is another worthy choice, and even Texas’ D’Onta Foreman who has rushed for 100+ yards in 11 straight games and totaled 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns is worthy of consideration.

This is going to be a wild stretch run for the Heisman Trophy with so many worthy candidates all coming to the forefront. It’s anyone’s race, and it seems nearly impossible to pinpoint who will be present in New York City for the annual Heisman Trophy ceremony.

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