Conference Realignment Will Impact This Year’s Heisman Trophy Race

Quinn Ewers (3) of the Texas Longhorns runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Washington Huskies during the CFP Semifinal Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, on Jan. 1, 2024. Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

The college football season is getting ready to kick things into high gear, which means fans all over the country can start second-guessing play calls, complaining about blown coverage and bragging about non-conference wins building championship resumes. We can also start our way-too-early predictions for the Heisman Trophy.

Since 1935, the best college football players have been traveling to the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City in December to learn who earns most prestigious honor in college sports.

Conference realignment is going to make a huge impact on college football this season, and the Heisman Trophy race will be included. With the demise of the PAC-12 and big-time programs moving to non-traditional conferences, how teams perform during their regular seasons will not only influence the College Football Playoff’s expanded 12-team format but also which players get the strongest consideration for the highest honor in the collegiate game.

SEC Heisman Candidates

Texas moving from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) means their quarterback, Quinn Ewers, will now play a stacked schedule against other Heisman Trophy candidates. The good news for Ewers and Longhorns fans: they host Georgia and Florida. But their first big test will come on Sept. 7 when they travel to Ann Arbor to face the new-look defending champions at Michigan. If Ewers can play well there—which would have an extra bit of irony after he transferred out of Ohio State—his candidacy could get an early boost.

Speaking of Georgia, the Bulldogs come into the new season as the top-ranked team in both the AP Poll and the AFA Coaches Poll. Their quarterback, Carson Beck, is considered one of the preseason front-runners for the Heisman Trophy. Like Texas, they begin their season with a huge non-conference game; Georgia “hosts” ACC power Clemson (who enter the season ranked 14 in the AP Poll) in Atlanta in the Aflac Kickoff Game on Aug. 31. Beck will have to prove himself on the road this season; Georgia plays at Alabama, Texas, Florida and Mississippi.

Carson Beck #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs throws a pass in the second quarter against the Florida State Seminoles during the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fl., on Dec. 30, 2023. Rich Storry/Getty Images

The third prime candidate for the Heisman in the SEC is Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. He might have been the clear front-runner if the coaching staff had stayed intact in Tuscaloosa, but Nick Saban’s retirement opens the door for questions. Milroe will lead the Crimson Tide into a road game at Wisconsin and then host Georgia before the end of September. He, too, will have to be a road warrior with games at Tennessee and  Louisiana State University (LSU) this season.

Other SEC players who might play themselves into the Heisman conversation are Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman.

Big Ten Heisman Candidates

Just as fans are going to have to adjust to Texas being in the SEC, we’re going to have to adjust to the four former members of the PAC-12 moving into the Big Ten this season. Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel is the preseason betting favorite to win the Heisman this season. The good news for Gabriel is the best Big Ten team on their schedule this season, Ohio State, comes to Eugene on Oct. 12. He’ll be tested when the Ducks visit Michigan to start November.

Ohio State has named Will Howard their starting quarterback, which puts his name in the consideration set immediately. Their schedule won’t be easy for Howard as a first-year Buckeye (Howard played four seasons at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State). Ohio State plays at Oregon, Penn State and will play a unique game against Northwestern at Wrigley Field. He’ll need a huge performance to close the regular season against Michigan in Columbus to solidify his candidacy.

If there’s a non-quarterback in the Big Ten who might make himself into a candidate, it might be Michigan running back Donovan Edwards. He returns to the Wolverines with a national championship ring and lots of new faces in the offensive huddle. And he’ll get plenty of prime-time opportunities to make a name for himself, starting with Texas in Ann Arbor in September. Michigan hosts Universty of Southern California (USC) and Oregon, and it will travel to Washington and Ohio.

Other Big Ten players who could emerge as potential Heisman candidates include Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, USC quarterback Miller Moss, Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws the ball under pressure out of the pocket against linebacker Shad Banks Jr. #0 of the TCU Horned Frogs in the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Nov. 24, 2023. Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Other Heisman Candidates

Because the SEC and Big Ten feature so many of the top-shelf Heisman candidates, we focused on those to conferences specifically. But there are players in other conferences—and independent universities—who could challenge for the Heisman this year.

Colorado is not ranked, but Shedeur Sanders will get plenty of attention in his second season in Boulder. He could get some attention if he can prove to be one of the top NFL prospects in college football this season.

Sanders might not be the best Heisman candidate on his own roster. Defensive back/receiver Travis Hunter might model his resume after Charles Woodson’s historic performance. He’s an elite playmaker who will see action on both sides of the ball.

Two other quarterbacks in the Big 12, Kansas State’s Avery Johnson and Kansas’ Jalon Daniels, could be strong candidates. Arizona is now in the Big 12, and Tetairoa McMillan is arguably the best receiver in the country this year.

Notre Dame will start the season ranked seventh in both the AP and Coaches Polls and have experienced quarterback Riley Leonard moving to South Bend after a strong career at Duke.

Miami looks to return to prominence this year with Cam Ward under center. If Ward can get the Hurricanes into the playoff picture, he’ll get a lot of attention in the Atlantic Coast Conference this year.