Heisman Trophy reveals 4 finalists, rest of Top 10
Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence, DeVonta Smith and Kyle Trask are the four finalists for the 2020 Heisman Trophy award. Those four were named live on ESPN Thursday night. The show also revealed the non-finalists who were in the top 10:
- No. 5 Alabama RB Najee Harris
- No. 6 Iowa State RB Breece Hall
- No. 7 Ohio State QB Justin Fields
- No. 8 BYU QB Zach Wilson
- No. 9 Notre Dame QB Ian Book
- No. 10 Kyle Pitts (first tight end to finish in top 10 since 1977)
DeVonta Smith surged in the Heisman Trophy race as he became Alabama’s clear-cut go-to pass-catcher in the absence of Jaylen Waddle. Smith leads all Power 5 receivers with 17 touchdowns. His 98 catches and 1,511 receiving yards are each best in the nation.
Kyle Trask is the nation’s passing leader in yards (4,125), yards per game (375) and touchdowns (43). While running is not his specialty, Trask also managed 3 scores on the ground, all coming in Florida’s past two games.
Mac Jones leads the nation in completion percentage with a 76.5 mark and yards per attempt (11.4). His 3,739 are second nationally behind Trask. Jones’ 32 passing touchdowns are tied for third in the nation with UCF’s Dillon Gabriel, behind Trask and BYU’s Zach Wilson. Jones is managing those numbers despite only 29.7 attempts per game, which ranks 44th among the nation’s passers.
There has been a national media case for Trevor Lawrence to win the 2020 Heisman as a lifetime achievement award recognizing his college football career and it appeared to resonate as he made the cut for the final four over Najee Harris.
The Clemson quarterback is outside the top 10 nationally in the major passing categories of yards (No. 11), touchdowns (No. 13), completion percentage (No. 12) and yards per game (No. 11). Lawrence does have 7 rushing touchdowns on the seasons as part of his 58 carries for 211 yards.
Voting for the Heisman Trophy ended Monday. The winner will be announced on Jan. 5, 2021, in a virtual ceremony airing on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.
Lawrence has been clearly the #1 player in cfb since he was a freshman but there’s always someone else who has a better individual year. My vote is for Smith but I’d also be dumbfounded if Lawrence went through his collegiate career without winning once
Manning did and I thought that was wrong. Lawrence is dang good, but when you look at the stats he comes up lacking. He is not even in the top 5 in QBR he is 8th,11th in yardage, 6th in completion %, and 11th in passing efficiency. He is in the top 4 simply because of what he has done over his career, but this is a yearly award, and Jones is the clear winner for this year as far as QBs go.
I’d agree an argument can be made for either, but to say Jones is a clear winner over Trask? If you swap Trask and Jones, Trask likely puts up better numbers while Jones might come close to his current numbers. You made an argument about stats and then say a guy with lesser stats is the clear winner.
So your hypothetical means more than his ?
Neither of you know anything and having a different opinion is fine…
Also you do know that Jones isn’t behind in all stats? You just pick and choose what you want.
Sorry, your hypothetical means more than his opinion?
Plains – I’m not going to say anything bad about Trask or Lawrence, but if you take Mac Jones’ passing stats, and look at TD per pass attempt, or yards per attempt, etc., it’s pretty incredible.
I think the counter to your point is that if Mac Jones flung it around 50+ times per game, his stats would really jump out.
Jones did all his stats while only being 44th in attempts. Trask has the volume stats because he throws the ball more. Jones doesn’t have lesser stats than Trask since he leads the country in several areas. Since Jones has a better competition %, yards per throw and a much higher QBR your assumption about Trask doing better in a swap is dead wrong. LSU comparison; Jones goes for 3 TDs, over 300 yards in a half on 19 throws . Trask hits 3 TDs and 400 yards in the game on 49 passes. Trask ended up with only 40 more on 20 more passes. Oh, Trask also lost.
The only thing that matters is Trevor daddy wins the natty… geaux tigers
You are confused as Mac definitely has better stats. Just because a team doesn’t run and the QB has to play all 4 quarters doesn’t mean they few statistical categories he leads in a better than another. Wins, yards per attempt, completion percentage, QBR ratings etc., are the stats that are most important. You might as well say Trask should get the Heisman because he had to play for Mullet instead of Saban.
Funny how recruiting rankings all of a sudden don’t mean anything to yall. If you look at the recruiting rankings of the players that were around these qb’s this year and hold them to the same standard that you do the rest of the year, then clearly Trask is the God of gods when it comes to the quarterback position.
Trask has better stats than Jones so no he is not the “clear winner”
Exactly.
JONES
1st in QB Rating
1st in Completion %
1st in YPA
8.0 TD-INT Ratio
TRASK
1st in Total Touchdowns (46)
1st in Touchdown Passes (43) (Leads by 11)
1st in Total Passing Yards (4,125)
1st in Passing Yards per Game (375)
8.6 TD-INT Ratio
Scribe – you are responding to a confused troll to validate your opinion. The stats you post below clearly indicate that Mac had a afar superior year. When adjusted for number of plays per game required it isn’t even close. Keep on clouding your biased mind with the playing time argument below. Trask fumled away his Heisman consalation
QBR actually accounts for every stat contributed to a QB…
Jones is 1st…
QBR is not a factor in the Heisman Trophy. The standard for the Heisman Trophy is “Outstanding performance which best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.”
If passer rating is the determining factor in the Heisman, why did Rex Grossman lose to Eric Crouch? Grossman’s passer rating was light years ahead of Crouch’s.
Passer rating and QBR are not the same thing.. You’ve already proved you’re an idiot the last time you tried to act as though the two were the same…
“Passer rating (also known as quarterback rating, QB rating, or passing efficiency in college football) is a measure of the performance of passers, primarily quarterbacks, in gridiron football. There are two formulas currently in use: one used by both the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL), and the other used in NCAA football. Passer rating is calculated using a player’s passing attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions. Passer rating in the NFL is on a scale from 0 to 158.3. Passing efficiency in college football is on a scale from −731.6 to 1261.6.”
When Grossman played it was called “Passer Rating”, not QBR. Today it’s called QBR. Like you, when Grossman played you were “dumb”, but today you’re “stupid”. See?
Passer rating and QBR are not the same thing… They don’t use the same metrics…
Passer rating still exists. They didn’t change the name of it and call it QBR… QBR is an entire different rating you dumb fu(k..
“Johnny Manziel ranked 16th in 2012 in NCAA passer efficiency with a value of 155.3. When Manziel won the 2012 Heisman Trophy as the best college football player, no one cited his passer efficiency to support it. Manziel’s value came from more than his ability to throw the ball, which is what passer efficiency attempts to capture. Manziel led Texas A&M to 11 wins by running, avoiding the pass rush, taking care of the ball and moving the chains. The A&M system brought out the best features in Manziel, and its offense was the best in college football, especially accounting for the good SEC defenses it faced …
… So the traditional numbers lied. That’s what football people will tell you. And that’s what sports analytics people will tell you when you use the wrong numbers. When you use numbers that don’t accurately reflect football performance, they will provide wrong conclusions. The right numbers incorporate the context of the game, can give better conclusion, and provide reasons they get to those conclusions. It is overcoming the misperceptions created by numbers such as “Passer Efficiency” that is the job of sports analytics.
What Total QBR Captures
In particular for college football, we introduce this year the Total Quarterback Rating, also known as Total QBR or QBR. And, since college football has imbalanced schedules, QBR will be seen in both a form that adjusts for defenses faced – often called Opponent-Adjusted QBR or Adjusted QBR – and in a form that doesn’t adjust for defense, often called Raw QBR or Unadjusted QBR.
The scale of QBR is from zero to 100, where 50 is average. Top quarterbacks are in the upper 80s and 90s for a season. Manziel, in fact, ranked first in QBR in 2012 with a value of 90.5. His unadjusted value was 86.4, also the best among FBS schools. The increase from unadjusted to adjusted reflects that he did face good defenses overall.
Unlike NCAA Passer Efficiency, which uses only box score statistics, Total QBR accounts for what a quarterback does on a play-by-play level, meaning it accounts for down, distance, field position, as well as the clock and score. A 5-yard gain on third-and-4 is a good play, whereas a 5-yard gain on third-and-14 isn’t. A 20-yard touchdown pass when tied in the second quarter means more than a 20-yard touchdown pass when down 30 points late in the fourth quarter. QBR accounts for those things using analysis that turns traditional productivity into points on the scoreboard and wins in the standings.
It also accounts for a quarterback’s ability to scramble, his ability to run on designed rush plays, how well he avoids sacks, drawing and committing penalties, and all-important fumbles, which can be significant for quarterbacks. If Texas A&M gained 5 yards on third-and-4, Manziel’s contribution to that play is captured.
• If he threw it the full 5 yards and the receiver was immediately downed, Manziel gets a fair amount of credit for the throw, splitting it with pass blockers and the receiver.
• If he threw it a couple of yards behind the line of scrimmage to a running back, Manziel gets less credit because the receiver and any blockers in front of him did more of the work.
• If Manziel avoided a sack and scrambled for the 5 yards, he gets a lot of credit because his line gave up pressure and his receivers weren’t open.
• If it was a designed rush for Manziel to get those 5 yards, he gets less credit than with a scramble because the offensive line often clears a couple of yards for a runner.
• If the defense was drawn offside, Manziel gets a modest amount of credit for that.
• If Manziel just turned to hand the ball off to a back for the 5 yards, QBR doesn’t give Manziel any credit or even count it as an “action play” – our term for plays in which the QB gets some portion of the credit or debit.
These should make sense intuitively, and our analysis of the data supported these intuitions.”
What I posted above is from a ESPN article explaining the difference.. You continue to show you have no clue what you’re talking about… Dumba$$
Lawrence is the most overrated player in the history of the sport
Your tales are stupid… He is arguably the best player in CFB currently…
What’s so good about him? What makes him better than Trask or Jones? Recruiting rankings?
Obviously it’s a waste of time talking to you. You’re a dumba$$ that does nothing but put down other players that not Trask…
Just GFY…
I’m tired of your bullsh*t. There is literally no reason Lawrence is better than Trask or Jones. He hasnt looked it this year AT ALL. And all he does is play weak *ss teams. Explain yourself. You’re the one calling me dumb without explanation.
Mr Lawrence is like 90 and 3 in his lifetime… no one has been better ever
You’re stupid as fu(k… Lawrence is consistently outstanding year after year… He missed games this season due to covid and he can’t help that…
If you can’t see how great a player he is you should just STFU with your stupid bias takes.
Do me a favor.. Who actually believes Trask or Mac is better than Lawrence outside of some dumba$$ like you?
You just keep saying he’s better without any reasoning as to why. You’re not very good at discussing things. All you do is throw around insults when someone’s opinion doesnt match yours. You’re acting like an 8 year old playing fortnite or some sh*t
Bama Time is a former volleyball player.
All you have to do is watch him play. He is the total package, reading defenses, accuracy, scrambling, everything you want in a QB..
If you want stats you can look those up with a simple google search.
He doesnt read defenses better than Trask or Jones though. His throwing motion is also too long
He reads defenses better than Jones. His throwing motion also isn’t long as he has a quick release..
You can’t talk out your a$$ and pretend Trask is the greatest QB playing the game if you want to look foolish.. That’s on you..
Leave Jones out of it you ignorant dumba$$.
Jones, Trask, and Fields are all better football players. Lawrence may have more “talent” but he doesnt put it to better use. Similar to the Jalen Hurts cs Carson Wentz debate happening among Eagles fans right now, (I’m team Hurts) Wentz is largely seen as the more “talented” QB but Hurts is a better leader, he has better intangible traits, and he’s more coachable. I think all these guys are better QBs than Lawrence because they have better intangibles. In fact, as I’ve said before I am an avid scout, Lawrence NFL comparison was Wentz, tall QB with strong arms who will never be the best because they lack the true intangible traits of star QBs
You’re an avid dumba$$ at best…
Saying Lawrence doesn’t put his talent to use is stupid.. It’s clear you’re a bias homer that has no idea what he is talking about…
LMAO I literally told you before I wanted Clemson to win the national title this year after the field was announced. How am I a homer?
Takes*
Smith is the most talented player.
Lawrence is the most talented QB.
Jones is QB for the best team.
Trask had the best season for a QB.
You can’t go wrong picking any of the finalists, hence why they were chosen.
For me personally, I’ll take TOUCHDOWNS over QBR but to each his own.
Sort of like Drew Brees never winning MVP.
Lawrence is behind both QBs in most every category. The only one he does not trail Trask in is wins. It would really be nice to have someone other than a QB or RB win the award. In most years I would say it should be Smith. Though this year with his QB being a finalist, and leading in all the stats that measure overall QB performance, I have to choose Jones. It is hard to pick the receiver over the guy that has to get it to him. Tough choice.
Jones not not in any way leading in all stats that measure overall performance. Trask has more yards and TDs
Jones not not in any way leading in all stats that measure overall performance. Trask has more yards and TDs
And Trask isn’t leading in all stats either yet you posted…
“DieselNova 9 HOURS AGO
Trask has better stats than Jones so no he is not the “clear winner””
Do us all a favor and go away… You’re back to doing nothing but hyping Trask.. GFY…
I said Trask has better stats than Jones because TDs and yards are more important than YPA and COMP %
So like usual you’re talking out your a$$…
How about just stop talking about jones? You prove with every comment you’re a dumba$$..
You are the true dumb*ss. You make baseless claims without any actual explanation. I provide evidence for my opinions.
You saying one stat is more important doesn’t make it true or evidence of anything ..
Your opinion isnt evidence you ignorant fu(k.
At least I HAVE evidence. Unlike you. All you do is call people names.
Again you have no evidence.. Your opinion isn’t evidence…
If that’s all it takes it’s easy then… Jones has the better stats that matter.. He has less turnovers a Better QBR and Completion percentage….
Based on your logic that’s all I need you dumba$$.
Lawrence is the face of college football and most deserving. He basically started the movement to get the NCAA to let them play this year. He has been excellent every year he has been at Clemson. Mac had an absolutely awesome year and Smith was really great while breaking many records. Lawrence is just like Manning, best QB in college football but won’t win a Heisman.
Lawrence is really, really good, but the Heisman is an award about the individual season. If he played all of Clemson’s games while playing well during those, I wouldn’t have a problem with him being a finalist or even winning. The problem is that he had good numbers, but they were worse than both Trask or Jones. If a QB wins it, it better be one of those two. I just feel like Devonta or Najee have done more this season. Devonta has had one of the most dominant years a wideout has seen, and Najee has put up amazing numbers, some better than the two other RB’s from Bama the year they won it. I feel a bit bad, because any other year, I feel like Najee would have a real chance to win it. Honestly, if the Heisman doesn’t go to a Bama player this year, the award is biased, because one of those two finalists has to be the best player in college. Trask is amazing, but Devonta has put up a better season, in my opinion.
If Trask wins it, that doesn’t mean the award is biased against Bama. Trask is a worthy pick. Trask, Jones, or Smith could win it and no one could complain. Lawrence might be the best talent, but he has not had the best season. I heard all this last year when it was Lawrence vs Burrow. Lawrence is the better talent, but in head to head, it was clear Lawrence was not even close to Burrow as a QB.
You’re right that if any of the three win it they deserved it but…
If anyone but Trask wins I promise you there will be Florida fans b!tching and crying…
I was assured in 1997 that the Heisman was NOT a lifetime achievement award.
Exactly. Then, I think, in 2001 they gave it to Crouch partly because of his career. Also compare Woodson 1997 to Champ Bailey 1998, and you’ll find equal, if not better, stats from Bailey with NO mention of a Heisman for him.
Lawrence shouldn’t be a finalist. They probably just wanted to acknowledge his career. If Smith wins, it may be because the voters didn’t want to choose between Trask and Jones. The Heisman should always go to a QB, especially in the current environment where QBs are more important than ever. When trying to compare the best player at one position to the best player at a different position, human nature leans toward the more critical position.
The Heisman should never be disgraced as to only go to a player because they’re important. It’s a best player award not an MVP. Smith has clearly been the best player.
You’re confusing the Heisman with the Davey O’Brian Award. The Heisman spells it out right there in their mission statement: “The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. The winners of the trophy epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust’s mission is to ensure the continuation and integrity of this award.” Not a single mention of any position.
You are crotch grabin crab stealin right!
So if you choose the best player, regardless of position, then you have to grade the players. We happen to have a grading system published by Pro Football Focus. They graded Kyle Pitts higher than any other player in college football.
You don’t say? Well this is from PFF.. Mac is the conference player of the year
“SEC: QB MAC JONES, ALABAMA
Even with DeVonta Smith and Kyle Pitts playing at historic levels and setting records at their respective positions for best single-season PFF grade, they couldn’t quite edge out Mac Jones for PFF SEC Player of the Year. That’s how good the Crimson Tide quarterback has been this season.
Week in and week out, Jones is producing at an extremely high level. His two lowest-graded games of the year came in at 79.4 and 72.8. For most college quarterbacks, those are strong outings. For Jones, they’re his worst of the year.
The Alabama signal-caller is on pace to shatter the record for best single-season grade by a quarterback since PFF College’s inception in 2014. Heading into the College Football Playoff semifinal, Jones sits at a 95.3 PFF grade — 0.4 grading points higher than the record mark set by Joe Burrow in 2019. And let’s not forget Jones has done this facing solely SEC defenses.
Jones’ accuracy and ball placement have been sublime. No Power Five quarterback generated a lower uncatchable pass rate (18.9%) or passing grade (97.4) on throws over 10 yards downfield this year than Jones.”
So you may want to take another look at those ratings since you’re wrong..
Pitts graded 96.2, almost a full point higher than Jones. But my argument was that the Heisman should always go to a QB. Jones should be above Pitts in the Heisman voting.
The Davey O’Brian always goes to a QB. The Heisman has a different criteria. I don’t know why you keep saying it should be a QB award.
And I don’t expect an answer from you.
It’s just my opinion, that’s all. Everyone has one. Because of the demands of the QB position, I think successful QBs are the best players on the field.
@ Win Some… Yes, I realize the O’Brien is for QBs. And the Biletnikoff is for receivers, and the Mackey is for TEs, and so on. Let Smith have the Biletnikoff. Let Pitts have the Mackey. I don’t really care who wins the Heisman. I’m just stating an opinion. In this era of big offense, the QB is not only the MVP, he has to be the best player. You can’t run this type of offense without him. He’ll either fall flat on his face, or he’ll shine. I see it as Jones and Trask, or Trask and Jones. But if Smith wins it, fine.
My bad bayou I thought you meant Kyle Trask..
PFF is a terrible grading system
The terrible grading system is between your ears…
Dumba$$
I wasn’t even talking to you moron
And that matters? You’re stupid..
“The winners of the trophy epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.”
Don’t see anything in there about statistics.
Yet they’re constantly posted by Florida fans…
Don’t see anything in there about statistics…interesting…that certainly explains why every position player outside of QB and RB tend to win the Ed Smith every year…oh wait, they don’t qualify, it said diligence, perseverance and hard work, never mind.
The Heisman used to mean something besides stats, but those days have long gone.
QB isn’t just the MVP. He really is the best player. Consider everything the QB has to do in a game. His responsibility, provided he executes it well, makes him the best player. Just my opinion.
Was Joe Flacco the best player on the 2012 Ravens? Was Tua the best player on the 2017 Alabama team? Was JT Barrett the best player on 2014 OSU? No, no, and no.
Sorry but this is the most overrated award in all of sports. It generates lots of interest but usually little in substance.
Great commercials!
I still think it’s crazy to award the Heisman before the final game of the season. A championship performance goes much further than padding your stats against cupcakes.
JONES
1st in QB Rating
1st in Completion %
1st in YPA
8.0 TD-INT Ratio
TRASK
1st in Total Touchdowns (46)
1st in Touchdown Passes (43) (Leads by 11)
1st in Total Passing Yards (4,125)
1st in Passing Yards per Game (375)
8.6 TD-INT Ratio
The choice is clear, especially when you consider the fact that Florida had a one-dimensional offense and defenses KNEW Trask was throwing, whereas defenses had to defend against Alabama’s superior running game.
Merry Christmas, speaking of Jesus Christ…give it a rest! At the very least I was hoping you received a gift of new material for Christmas…
Reminds me of the year you kept complaining about teams having bye weeks before playing UGA. I believe the choice is very clear. Thing is, it’s not my choice so I’m cool either way.
Merry Christmas and may you be Gator Bait next year again
I see your post, yet I don’t see how the choice is clear.
Ian Book and Justin Fields looked terrible in their conference playoff games. Can’t believe either finished that high.
I think Najee Harris should have been in the top 4 over T-Law. The Heisman is based off of single season performance and he is no where near on the same level this season as any other season IMO. Heck Zach Wilson is having a better year then him.
1st Merry Christmas all. Of I had a vote it would be for Kyle Trask. And no bama fans it has nothing to do with Jones playing for the tide, simply because Trask doesn’t have the advantage of having 2 offensive team mates in the top 10 on this list. The heisman is an individual award and IMHO Trask’s individual achievements are more impressive.
He does have another in the top 10 though….
I guess using that logic it should go to Lawrence..
Hey, look, an objective unbiased SEC fan. Thank you.
whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. The winners of the trophy epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.
With three in the top five from the same offense, I think it should go the Alabama offense line. That is a no brainer. Mac Jones has a clean jersey most of the game.
I agree with that. It’s impossible to put up those kinds of numbers without a heisman effort from the O line.
Trask did it without an O line like Alabama’s. Or a running game like Alabama’s.
The Heisman is an individual award for participation in a team sport. Every Heisman winner has depended on the talents, and performance of others without which the individual would perform quite differently,( not to mention the competition ) The Heisman tends to be divisive, in my view, and is therefore, in my view, irrelevant. save to the players that really value it. I’m not a Clemson fan, but my vote would be for T Law for the same reason I would have gone for Jalen Hurts, their steadfast, consistent,performance,leadership, and exemplary character, years of these attributes, etc. But maybe I’m on the wrong page, again.
The two Bama players split votes allowing Trask to win it all. After scream’s of recount and fake ballots, Sidney Powell is brought in to represent Bama. Her case is thrown out of court and called a dead Kraken
There is no vote splitting: Trask will get many 3rd place votes and maybe a #2 from a couple of ballots, but Smith and Lawrence will garner most of the #1 votes. I’m betting more on Smith, but I bet it will ultimately depend on the #2 votes for Lawrence. I just don’t see any scenario where Smith loses.
I’ll simply say this…
All four selections are certainly worthy, it is now in the hands of the official voters at Vegas Betting lines, inc.
Best wishes to these elite players, they all played integral parts in team success, well almost all of them. If you can find out where the balance of money is bet, that’s your winner.