14 Heisman Trophy preseason candidates who can actually win college football’s top award
Here’s the big Heisman Trophy watch list for this season in college football
The Fourth of July is behind us and that means only one thing.
Football is right around the corner.
NFL training camps are set to open in a few weeks time, and the college football season kicks off in just 47 days with teams like Iowa State, Kansas, and Kansas State kicking things off on August 23. While most CFB teams get in on the action the following week, we are not too far away from tailgating, traditions, and football.
Let’s start previewing the upcoming college football season with a look at some candidates for the Heisman Trophy.
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Depending on where you look, the LSU signal-caller is the favorite to capture the Heisman Trophy next season. And with good reason, as Nussmeier put up big numbers for the Tigers (4,052 passing yards with 29 touchdowns) in his first year as the starter.
There is also a bit of precedent here working in his favor. The last two LSU quarterbacks to win the Heisman, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, did so in their season season under center in Baton Rouge.
Arch Manning, QB, Texas
The buzz around Austin is reaching a fever pitch ahead of Arch Manning’s first full season under center for the Longhorns. Stepping in for an injured Quinn Ewers over a three-game stretch last September, Manning helped Texas to three wins while throwing for over 800 yards and eight touchdowns.
And with the Longhorns taking on Ohio State to open the season, he’ll have a big stage to kick off his year, and a potential Heisman campaign.
Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
The Clemson Tigers’ offense has the chance to be special in 2025, and it all starts with their signal caller. Klubnik has constantly grown while in college and has the ability to be explosive with both his arm and his legs, making him a serious threat for the Heisman trophy. Klubnik finished tenth in the country in passing yards and that was without a lot of consistent receiving targets. Now, with more growth from his skill position players and an ACC that seems pretty wide open, Klubnik can help guide the Tigers to the ACC title game and get himself an invite to New York.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
The best player in the country in only his second season, Smith could be the third wide receiver to win the Heisman since 2020. He’s a dominant player when the ball goes up in the air, and as a route runner he’s continuing to grow and expand his game. As a teenager, Smith caught 76 passes and finished fourth in the nation in receiving yards during the Buckeyes’ title season, catching one handed passes and mossing people every single week.
As the Buckeyes usher in a new QB, there’s one thing that’s sure: Smith is probably going to be open.
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
If you want to see some sick highlights, go watch South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers. The Gamecock signal caller is a terrifying blend of size and speed, and is a much better passer than given credit for. Despite some meager numbers last season (2,534 passing yards, 18 TDs, 7 INTs), Sellers makes this list because there are bound to be plenty Heisman moments from a guy of his caliber. As the Gamecocks try and break through the proverbial SEC ceiling, Sellers can make his way into the Heisman conversation by being the engine of the offense and improving in his aggressiveness throwing downfield. If he can improve in that area, the Heisman moments should come with it.
Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
Big time players show up in big time moments, and Williams is the example of a big time player. Despite some inconsistent passing last season, Williams still had some of the craziest moments of the 2025 season, including a pirouetting touchdown catch against Georgia that will go down as one of the best I’ve ever seen. With a new QB under center for the Crimson Tide and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb back working with head coach Kalen DeBoer, the hope is that the passing game takes off, as does Williams.
DJ Lagway, QB, Florida
Lagway’s spot on this list is a bet on his potential and the growth of the Gators in his second season. After Lagway returned against LSU, he went on a tear, throwing six touchdowns over the month of November and in the bowl game. Now, as the clear cut starter for the Gators, Lagway has the chance to be the first Florida Heisman winner since Tim Tebow, an honor that enshrines you in orange and blue lore. Lagway’s rocket arm and powerful build make him a dynamic threat under center, and with more talent around him at receiver he has a good shot at making the Heisman ceremony.
Nico Iamaleava, QB, UCLA
It has been a ... tumultuous offseason for Nico Iamaleava.
After guiding Tennessee to a spot in the College Football Playoff in his first year as a starter, Iamaleava eventually transferred to UCLA this spring, following a disagreement with the school over NIL money.
Last season, Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns, while adding 358 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. Those numbers had him among the favorites for the Heisman Trophy before his transfer.
Now he’ll try and revive a UCLA program that finished 5-7 under new head coach DeShaun Foster a season ago. If he can help the Bruins turn it around those Heisman odds — which dropped after his transfer — will certainly rise again.
Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State
Arizona State were the darlings of the College Football Playoff a season ago, earning a first-round bye and narrowly losing to Texas in an instant classic. Running back Cam Skattebo was a focal point of their offense, but he is off to the NFL with the New York Giants.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt, as well as several returning starters and some new faces via the transfer portal, remain.
Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns a season ago, against just six interceptions, and will operate behind an experienced offensive line this season. In addition, some help in the wide receiver room arrived via the portal, as Noble Johnson came over from Clemson, Jalen Moss from Fresno State, and Jaren Hamilton from Alabama.
John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
A chaotic Washington State QB goes to a bigger school and ends up a Heisman finalist.
Hey, I’ve seen this one before!
John Mateer plays football like he drinks gallons of Red Bull before the game. While that can lead to some really boneheaded moments, he also is an electrifying playmaker with the ball in his hands. At Oklahoma, he’ll have the same offensive coordinator, a new RB in Jadyn Ott (who could also make this list) and the bright lights of a big school, where he could ascend like Cam Ward did before him at Wazzu.
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
As one of the best RBs in the country, Love gets a nod here as Notre Dame tries to repeat their run through the CFP. Love ran for over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns last season while also adding two receiving touchdowns, and as the Fighting Irish look to replace their signal caller, Love could get a lot more burn in terms of snaps and carries.
The Irish will also get the chance at plenty of big games, including road tilts against Miami and Arkansas, and a home game against Texas A&M. For the Irish to get back to the title game, Love will have to be the focal point of the offense, which could get him an invite to New York.
Koi Perich, WR/DB, Minnesota
Last season saw a two-way star capture the Heisman Trophy, as Travis Hunter Jr. took home the honors.
Could we see another two-way player take home the hardware this season?
It might be a longshot, but Minnesota’s Koi Perich could be that player. Perich was a standout at safety for the Golden Gophers this past season, earning All-Big Ten First-Team honors as a defensive back. But he was also the team’s primary kick and punt returner, and by the end of the season he was seeing snaps at wide receiver.
Minnesota plans to expand his role on the offensive side of the ball in the fall.
“He’s a versatile athlete,” Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said this spring. “The more you can do with Koi Perich, the better off you’re gonna be, simple as that. So you can take that for how you want it. You could take a picture of his jersey if you want, and then figure it out. He’s too good of a football player not to be on the field, somehow, someway, throughout the entire game. Not just on one side.”
Again, he might be a longshot but if it all comes together for Perich and the Golden Gophers this spring, watch out.
Blake Horvath, QB, Navy
The last Navy player to win the Heisman Trophy? That was Roger Staubach back in 1963.
Could Navy quarterback Blake Horvath end the drought?
Horvath put up huge numbers for the Midshipmen last season, throwing for 1,353 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for another 1,254 yards and 17 scores. He was arguably the best player on the field in last season’s Army-Navy Game, as he threw for a pair of touchdowns while adding two more on the ground, as the Midshipmen knocked off Army 31-13, a week after the Black Knights had captured the AAC Championship Game.
Horvath will get another crack at Army this season, but an early-November game at Notre Dame under the lights might give him the stage for a true Heisman moment.
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
We close out this list with Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.
This year’s Nittany Lions squad might just represent James Franklin’s best chance at winning a national title. After advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals last year, Penn State made a number of key additions this offseason. While the biggest might have come on the defensive side of the ball, and on the sideline at that, in new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles they also added a trio of wide receivers through the transfer portal in Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross, and Kyron Hudson.
These additions should bolster Penn State’s passing game, and Allar’s Heisman hopes. He was phenomenal in the regular season, but his production took a step back during the College Football Playoff. But with this talent around him, and Penn State having legitimate title hopes, a deep run from the Nittany Lions will see Allar’s odds at bringing home the Heisman increase each week.