As college football prepares to kickoff the 2021 season, the projected best teams in the sport should come as no surprise. The top five of the season's inaugural Associated Press poll features Alabama, Oklahoma, Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia -- aka, the usual suspects.
While that core, plus maybe Texas A&M or Iowa State, are far and away your national title favorites. But what about college football's most prestigious individual award? Well, someone from that bunch is likely to take home that honor, too, as a playoff member has won the Heisman Trophy in four straight years, and all but one in the playoff era.
So who are the favorites going into 2021? As a reminder, despite normally playing for the best teams, the preseason favorites rarely go on to win the award: none of DeVonta Smith, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield or Lamar Jackson were betting favorites, meaning our winner likely lies on the outskirts.
5) JT Daniels, Georgia: With apologies to Ohio State's CJ Stroud and Clemson wide receiver EJ Williams, who just missed the cut, the fifth spot goes to Georgia's quarterback (spoiler: a quarterback is highly likely to win the award, so get used to seeing QBs). The USC transfer missed the first two months of last season, but when he finally became healthy, Georgia's offense found a new level. In his four starts the Bulldogs went 4-0, averaging 37.3 points per game while Daniels threw for 1,231 yards with 10 touchdowns.
UGA's defense has always been elite, but their offense has kept them from beating the Alabama's of the world in the last few years. Daniels' presence could change all that, and it could bring the Dawgs to the promised land.
4) Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma: A very poor start to the season masked what was otherwise a typical season for an Oklahoma quarterback. In OU's final eight games - all wins, including a Big 12 title and a Cotton Bowl rout of Florida - Rattler threw for 2,054 yards with 18 touchdowns to just four interceptions, while adding five rushing TDs. Settled in and again the big favorites in the Big 12, Rattler's numbers should only improve. And what's most exciting? Quarterback whisperer Lincoln Riley hasn't had a QB return for a second season since becoming the head coach in Norman, meaning Sooners fans are letting their imaginations run wild.
3) Bryce Young, Alabama: Welcome to the Alabama factory, which is humming at such a rate that an overwhelming Heisman Trophy favorite has thrown all of 22 career collegiate passes. Those are the expectations in Tuscaloosa, and Young is expected to step right in as the third quarterback in three years to lead a high-octane Alabama attack.
Even without five(!) NFL first-round picks on offense gone (Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Najee Harris and Alex Leatherwood), the defending champions are again the preseason number one team in the nation and expected to steamroll everyone. If they do, then almost by default Young will find himself in the Heisman conversation -- though, like last year, don't overlook a Bama wideout in John Metchie, who could replicate Smith's 2020 that ended in a Heisman.
2) DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson: Like Young, Uiagalelei's college experience is limited, but the hype train is full steam ahead. The sophomore started two games last year in Trevor Lawrence's absence, and although the Tigers went 1-1 in those games, it wasn't because of the then-freshman, who threw for a combined 781 yards. In 117 pass attempts for the year he threw for 914 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions, while adding four more rushing scores. Now that the offense is solely his, expect no drop-off as Clemson transitions from one can't-miss QB prospect to the next.
1) A darkhorse: Yes, it's a cop out, but it's a tried and true method. Think of all the overwhelming favorites to win the Heisman in the last decade-plus, whether it's a returning underclassman trying for a repeat (think Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel, Jameis Winston) or someone generally regarded as the best player in the sport (think Trevor Lawrence). For one reason or another, they don't win. So who could come out of that "other" group?
Unless someone is putting up Lamar Jackson-type numbers, the player has to come from a playoff contender. That takes out most Group of Five names like Dillon Gabriel or Desmond Ridder, plus other talented quarterbacks like Arizona State's Jayden Daniels, Ole Miss' Matt Corral and Indiana's Michael Penix.
Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller could put up bonkers numbers as the Aggies rely on him even more as they break in a new quarterback. If any of USC, Iowa State, Miami or North Carolina are serious playoff contenders, then their QBs - Kedon Slovis, Brock Purdy, D'Eriq King and Sam Howell, respectively - will likely be playing their way into the conversation. Florida QB Emory Jones is in the same boat, and has the dual-threat capabilities people fawn over.