The Heisman Trophy Ceremony airs tonight at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN.
The 86th Heisman Trophy Ceremony is tonight and it’s time to make predictions. The favorite to win the Heisman has been changing throughout the season. Clemson quarterback and Heisman finalist Trevor Lawrence was an early favorite and was the favorite to win the award until Lawrence tested positive for COVID-19 in late October. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields had a short time as the favorite at the start of November, according to Sports Betting Dime, a site that collects all of the odds from various sportsbooks. In mid-November, Florida quarterback Kyle Trask, another finalist, became the favorite after huge games against Georgia and Arkansas. Due to subpar performances, Kyle Trask then was replaced by Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, another finalist. A late huge game from DeVonta Smith on the Winter Solstice earned him the favorite to win the award. Let’s look at the finalists, in order of odds:
DeVonta Smith is the favorite to win the Heisman trophy. He would be first Alabama WR to win the award and the first non-QB to win it since Derrick Henry in 2015 (also the last time an Alabama player won the award).
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama (-1000 to win according to Draft Kings)
2020 Season Stats: 12 games, 105 receptions, 1641 receiving yards, 20 receiving touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown
Jones would be the first Alabama quarterback ever to win the award.
Mac Jones, QB, Alabama (+550 to win)
2020 Season Stats: 12 games, 4036 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 77% completion rate, 203 passer rating, 1 rushing touchdown
Trevor Lawrence was the preseason favorite to win the Heisman. Lawrence would be the first Heisman winner out of Clemson and the first ACC player and quarterback to win the award since Louisville’s Lamar Jackson in 2016.
Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson (+1000 to win)
2020 Season Stats: 10 games, 3153 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 69.2% completion rate, 169.2 passer rating, 203 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns
Trask would be the first Florida quarterback and player to win the award since Tim Tebow in 2007.
Kyle Trask, QB, Florida (+5000 to win)
2020 Season Stats: 12 games, 68.9% completion rate, 4283 passing yards, 43 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 180 passer rating, 50 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
Now that we’ve gone over the 4 finalists, who’s my winner? My pick is DeVonta Smith, the wide receiver from Alabama. The reason why is because you don’t normally see a player that plays a position other than a quarterback be up here as a finalist and you especially don’t see one being the favorite. The last time a wide receiver won the Heisman was 1991, where Michigan’s Desmond Howard won the award. I don’t think Mac Jones would be even mentioned in this if it weren’t for him. His other extremely talented receiver, Jaylen Waddle, out for the year. He also had great help from guys like Najee Harris (5th in Heisman voting) and John Metchie. The biggest what if is: what if Trevor Lawrence never got COVID-19? What if he played all the games? Would Clemson still be number one in the nation, like they were before he tested positive? Would they have lost to Notre Dame, or been eliminated in the semifinals? Would Trevor Lawrence win the Heisman if he played all the games? My answer to you is: Yes. If you look at his stats, he was putting up THAT in 10 games. Imagine if you add in the games he lost due to COVID-19. I think he would’ve done it, and we probably would be talking about Clemson vs. Alabama right now. Again, congratulations to DeVonta Smith on the award, at least in my predictions, and good luck to the Crimson Tide as they face Justin Fields and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday.
Calhoun's Corner 
Correct
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