Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today's installment, though, he shifts focus to the college game, spotlighting top contenders for one of the most celebrated awards in American sports ...
We're still a couple weeks away from the start of the 2025 NFL regular season, but college football kicks off on Saturday. With five games on the Week 0 slate -- highlighted by an intriguing Big 12 showdown between No. 17 Kansas State and No. 22 Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland -- this is a great time to handicap the race for a hallowed piece of hardware.
Here are my top eight contenders -- plus one dark horse -- for the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
1) Arch Manning, QB, Texas
The hype bunny enters the 2025 campaign as the odds-on favorite to win college football's most prestigious award. Despite entering the season with just 95 college pass attempts, Manning is the top candidate due to his pedigree (nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning) and immense pro potential, as well as Texas' status as the top-ranked team in America. Though it typically takes extraordinary production to claim the award, this candidacy goes beyond raw numbers. The Manning brand and Arch's splashy highlights could make this a runaway at the ballot box by season's end.
2) Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
With Clemson appearing poised to re-emerge as a true national title contender, the buzz surrounding Klubnik could make him the Heisman favorite by the middle of the season. He tallied 43 total touchdowns in 2024, showcasing a dynamic game that enables the Tigers to feature a mix of screens, scrambles and shots, keeping opponents guessing in crucial moments. Given Klubnik's potential to put up big numbers on a loaded team that could blow through the ACC and earn a high seed in the College Football Playoff, the senior quarterback could become the first Heisman Trophy winner in Clemson history.
3) Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Head coach Brian Kelly could have his second Heisman winner in the Bayou -- following Jayden Daniels' triumph in 2023 -- if Nussmeier leads the Tigers back to prominence in 2025. With Nussmeier directing a fastbreak offense that enables him to operate like a fearless gunslinger from the pocket, the slender dime dropper should post his second straight 4,000-yard season. Nussmeier's superb instincts and diagnostic skills could transform every LSU game into a 7-on-7 showcase that spotlights the talent and depth of offensive playmakers in the program.
4) Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
The freakish playmaker is coming off arguably the best true freshman season of any wide receiver in college football history. A huge factor in Ohio State's run to the national championship, Smith racked up 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. After spending an offseason working on his game to become a more dominant force on the perimeter, Smith could break records as the best player on one of the best teams in college football. Ohio State's new starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, will undoubtedly look to lean on the 6-foot-3, 223-pound beast.
5) Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
It is hard for running backs to swipe the award from the premier throwers and catchers in today's pass-happy climate -- Derrick Henry was the last RB to take home the hardware in 2015 -- but Love could force voters to turn back the clock. The Notre Dame star piled up 19 total touchdowns last season -- scoring in 14 of Notre Dame's 16 games -- helping the Fighting Irish make it all the way to the national championship tilt. As the current face of one of the biggest programs in the sport, Love could show out in a series of spotlight games and become the first back to wear the Heisman crown since King Henry.
6) LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
If you’re looking for a player with the potential to pull off a Cam Newton-like run to the award, Sellers could be the candidate to watch. The 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year is an electrifying talent with a rugged game that could enable him to surpass 3,500 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing while leading the Gamecocks on a magical run through college football’s toughest conference. As head coach Shane Beamer showcases Sellers’ skills, the voters could fall in love with the dual-threat standout.
7) Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
The spectacular playmaker has a chance to follow in the footsteps of former Crimson Tide receiver DeVonta Smith as a rare pass-catching winner of the award. It’s not hard to envision Williams’ dominance on the perimeter fueling Alabama’s resurgence as a national title contender. If the sensational route-runner can double his output from his freshman season (48 catches for 865 receiving yards with eight touchdowns) while leading his squad back to the CFB Playoff, Williams could join Smith as a member of the Heisman club.
8) Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
If the voters value winning over gaudy production, Allar could vault to the top of the list by season’s end. The No. 2-ranked Nittany Lions are loaded, and their QB1 is the consummate field general with the talent and toughness to lead them on a deep playoff run. With a strong supporting cast around him, Allar can focus on game management on the way to winning a lot of contests and potentially claiming the Heisman as the leader of what could be the nation’s best team.
DARK HORSE: Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska
If Matt Rhule’s squad makes a jump in his third year on the job -- which is exactly what happened at his last two college stops (Temple and Baylor) -- don’t sleep on Raiola entering the Heisman conversation as Nebraska’s leader. The 6-3, 230-pound sophomore is a Patrick Mahomes clone from a physical perspective, with the arm talent and passing wizardry to torch opponents from the pocket. If Raiola leads the Huskers to their first ever College Football Playoff berth while putting up eye-popping numbers that surpass his freshman production, Go Big Red could add some more hardware to the trophy case.