Heisman Trophy 2025: Top candidates to win next season

RJ Young

FOX Sports National College Football Analyst

Colorado standout two-way player Travis Hunter was named the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday night. Hunter beat out Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel and Miami (Florida) QB Cam Ward for the prestigious award.

All four finalists are expected to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, meaning there will be a brand new group of finalists on the scene in New York next year.

It’s no secret that the Heisman is traditionally a quarterback award, which made Hunter’s 2024 campaign even more special as he became the first non-quarterback to win the award since 2020 and only the fifth non-quarterback to win the award won in the 21st century.

So next season, will a quarterback take home college football’s most coveted individual award, or could a wide receiver win the Heisman?

Let’s take an early look at four players who should enter next season as the betting favorites to win the Heisman.

Jeremiah SmithWR, Ohio State

Like Hunter, Smith was the top-ranked player in the country coming out of high school and is considered by some to be the most talented player of his generation.

Just a year into his college career, Smith is already one of the best wideouts in the country and was named a first-team All-American by USA TODAY after totaling 57 catches for 954 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns for the No. 6 team Ohio State Buckeyes scored.

With Emeka Egbuka headed to the NFL Draft, Smith will be the undisputed leader in Brian Hartline’s wide receiver room and will likely continue the tradition of trading away first-round picks like Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Garrett Wilson at the position and Chris Olave.

Smith will have to trust Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to develop a quarterback, likely Julian Sayin, who can use his best weapon on the perimeter as often as possible to make plays. With good QB play, Smith will continue his assault on OSU’s receiving records and may leave the school as the best wideout in program history.

Arch ManningQB, Texas

Manning showed enough promise this season, particularly as a backup to Quinn Ewers against UTSA and in starts against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State, to lead many to believe he will remain the Longhorns’ future quarterback successor to Steve Sarkisian.

His ability to move in the pocket and create positive plays was highlighted in his performance against the Roadrunners, where he scored five total touchdowns, including two passing TDs for 50 yards and a rushing score of 67 yards.

Manning, a former No. 1 overall recruit and five-star prospect, will have one of the best returning wide receivers in the sport, led by freshman phenom Ryan Wingo. In Sarkisian, he will also have one of the most creative offensive minds in the game, inventing ways for Manning to beat opponents with his arms and legs.

Manning and the Longhorns will play Jeremiah Smith and the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on August 30 in what will be one of the most anticipated games of the season.

Ryan WilliamsWR, Alabama

Williams, who doesn’t turn 18 until February, was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team after finishing second among Tide players this season with 45 catches for 857 yards and eight touchdowns. His eight TD receptions ranked second in the SEC.

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe connects with Ryan Williams for a 31-yard touchdown against Wisconsin

Williams’ best game of his first season came on the biggest stage against the then No. 1 team. 2 Georgia. He caught six passes for 177 yards and a touchdown in Alabama’s memorable 41-34 victory over the Bulldogs.

He’s the best wideout the Tide has had since Jameson Williams, and he has the ability to leave Bama as the most decorated WR since DeVonta Smith, who won the Heisman in 2020 and led Alabama to its sixth national title since 2009. Jalen Milroe is expected to enter the NFL Draft. The only question is whether Williams can demonstrate his outstanding abilities as a quarterback next year.

Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan

With his late transfer to Michigan from LSU, there is reason to believe Underwood will be the answer Michigan desperately needs at quarterback. Because of the athletic ability he brings to the QB position, he will allow the Wolverines to open up on offense in 2025.

Underwood and the Wolverines should also benefit from the hiring of Chip Lindsey as the team’s offensive coordinator. Lindsey’s offenses have averaged at least 30 points per game in nine of the last 12 years. New England Patriots QB Drake Maye averaged 300.7 passing yards per game and accounted for 33 touchdowns in 2023 with Lindsey calling the shots at North Carolina.

Underwood, the 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year, passed for 3,165 yards, accounted for 47 touchdowns and threw just two interceptions as a senior at Belleville High School. If he can live up to his billing, Michigan should compete for the Big Ten title and re-establish itself as one of the premier programs in the sport.

We’ll find out how good he could be when the Wolverines travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to play the Sooners on September 6th.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and host of the podcast “The number one college football show.“Follow him on Twitter at @RJ_Young And Subscribe to The RJ Young Show on YouTube.

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