Here’s a handy way to predict the Heisman Trophy winner: List every team in the country and then eliminate every possible contender from those teams outside the top 10.
Only twice since 2000 has the Heisman winner come from this group. In 2011, Baylor’s Robert Griffin III won with the Bears ranked No. 16 in the final USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll of the regular season. Louisville’s Lamar Jackson took home the Heisman in 2016 with the Cardinals ranked No. 15.
All of the current crop of Heisman front-runners hail from the nation’s best teams, including perennial powers Alabama and Ohio State. A few come from surprising success stories such as Michigan State and Wake Forest.
With five more weeks until the Heisman announces this year’s finalists, here are USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for which player has the lead in early November:
Scooby Axson: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
It certainly seems there isn’t a Heisman favorite going into the last month of the regular season, but Young has been impressive as Alabama just chugs along despite losing to Texas A&M. Young ranks fifth in the nation in passer efficiency and is tied for fourth in touchdown passes while completing 70% of his passes, and has a chance to stat pad the next two weeks against LSU and New Mexico State.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young scrambles away from Miami safety Gilbert Frierson (3) during their game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Jace Evans: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud can ride the #narrative wave to the Heisman. Despite missing time, the redshirt freshman is still tied for seventh in the Bowl Subdivision with 23 passing touchdowns to just three interceptions and he’s behind only Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall when it comes to efficiency rating and yards per pass throw among passers with at least 110…
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