When this season’s Heisman Trophy odds were released in May, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields were the clear favorites to win. Lawrence, a quarterback for No. 1 Clemson was at 3/1, while Fields, Ohio State’s quarterback, was at 4/1.
Now, with the Big 10 suspending its college football season because of COVID-19 concerns, Fields is off the board and Lawrence has seen his odds go to 2/1. The next closest player is Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler at 9/1. There is no other player with odds better than 14/1.
Odds to Win Heisman Trophy
With COVID-19 forcing many schools and conferences to rearrange, shorten or even cancel their schedules this season, the odds on this year’s potential Heisman Trophy winners have shifted dramatically.
| Â | May 13 | Sept. 1 |
| Trevor Lawrence, Clemson | 3/1 | 2/1 |
| Justin Fields, Ohio State | 4/1 | N/A |
| Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State | 10/1 | 20/1 |
| D’Eriq King , Miami | 11/1 | 14/1 |
| Kyle Trask, Florida | 11/1 | 25/1 |
| Sam Ehlinger, Texas | 14/1 | 14/1 |
| Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma | 14/1 | 9/1 |
| Jamie Newman, Georgia | 15/1 | 16/1 |
| Najee Harris, Alabama | 20/1 | 30/1 |
| Ian Book, Notre Dame | 22/1 | 20/1 |
| Kedon Slovis, USC | 24/1 | N/A |
| Sam Howell, North Carolina | 25/1 | 20/1 |
| Bo Nix, Auburn | 26/1 | 25/1 |
| Mac Jones, Alabama | 28/1 | 30/1 |
| Myles Brennan, LSU | 30/1 | 14/1 |
| Kellen Mond, Texas A&M | 35/1 | 50/1 |
Source: Bovada
With Lawrence the clear-cut favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, does that mean no other player can challenge for college football’s honor for the best player? Not necessarily. Last year, Lawrence was the No. 2 choice at 3/1 when the odds were first posted. Alabama’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was the top pick at 2/1.
By the middle of November, Tagovailoa was out for the season with a gruesome hip injury, and Lawrence had slipped to 100/1. The new favorite was LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, who went from 200/1 to -1000 to win the Heisman.
Lawrence vs. Lawrence for Heisman Trophy
Ironically Lawrence may be a long shot for the trophy, even with Fields not in the race anymore. The junior quarterback plays in a system that is so successful, he rarely sees most of the fourth quarter.
Last year, Lawrence didn’t see the last 10 minutes of any game for most of the season, and sitting out didn’t give him the opportunity to pad his stats. The Heisman Trophy committee likes to see gaudy numbers from its winners. Last year’s winner, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, had 5,671 yards passing and 60 touchdowns, the highest in both categories. Lawrence was 10th in passing and fifth in touchdown passes with 36.
Clemson’s schedule also does Lawrence no favors. The Tigers are playing an all ACC schedule with the exception of the Citadel. Notre Dame is the only ranked team that Clemson will face.
Who Else Could Contend?
The three college football players who could steal the Heisman Trophy away from Lawrence are Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, and Notre Dame QB Ian Book.
Both Ehlinger and Book are seniors, while Hubbard is a junior. Hubbard led the nation in rushing last year, and could do the same in 2020. The Cowboys have a tougher schedule than Clemson, but that might work to Hubbard’s advantage. If he performs well in games against Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech, he could capture the Heisman.
Ehlinger and Book were near the top of the stats for passing touchdowns in 2019, and will have to have repeat performances to garner any attention. Book threw for 34 TDs, good for sixth nationally, while Ehlinger was 11th with 32.
I think the better question is: Will TL play at all this season? IF the season starts in late September he will play. But most of us don’t think that will actually happen and the season might be pushed back to the Spring, 2021. IF that is the case TL would be a fool to play this season. He will be the #1 pick and playing only increases his chances of getting hurt. If CFB is not played until 2021 TL needs to sit out to protect himself from playing in meaningless games. Ask Jake Butt what playing in a “meaningless” game can do for one’s career!