2025 Heisman Trophy favorites: Early contenders after Travis Hunter wins 2024 award

Each of the four Heisman Trophy finalists, including Colorado’s Travis Hunter Jr., who won the award, are expected to head to the NFL after the 2024 college football season. So, there will be a whole new batch of top contenders for the Heisman next season.

There are a number of talented players either coming into larger roles or transfers headed to bigger schools next season. There are also many talented freshmen who showed flashes in 2024 and are hoping to build on their first college football season.

Plenty of Heisman candidates also appear out of nowhere from season-to-season, especially with the transfer portal era allowing for players to thrive in new situations. Here’s a list of players to watch for the 2025 Heisman Trophy:

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Heisman Trophy contenders 2025

Here are the way-too-early Heisman Trophy contenders for the 2025 season:

QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Nussmeier proved he can absolutely sling the football in 2024, although the Tigers struggled near the end of the season. He announced his return for the 2025 season – his fifth year of college football and second as LSU’s starter.

The 6-foot-2 quarterback was on the NFL radar after passing for 3,739 yards with 26 touchdowns to 11 interceptions this season and is hoping for a big final season.

QB Arch Manning, Texas

Manning is expected to be Texas’ starter next season after sitting behind Quinn Ewers for each of the past two years.

The former five-star recruit and top-ranked player of the 2023 recruiting class was solid in his two starts this season, completing 26 of 31 passes for 325 yards with two touchdowns, along with six rushes for 33 yards and another score in a 35-13 win over Mississippi State. Manning also scored five touchdowns in the second half of the Longhorns’ game against Texas-San Antonio, receiving extended action after an injury to Ewers.

The nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning will finally have his shot to be the latest Manning in Heisman contention.

WR Ryan Williams, Alabama

Williams, the former five-star recruit, was one of the best receivers in the country in his first season at Alabama.

He caught 45 passes for 857 yards with eight touchdowns and should build upon his performance for what should be his actual freshman season, as he graduated high school early to play for the Crimson Tide.

WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

Another five-star recruit, Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, like Williams, had an immediate impact in his first season.

The Buckeyes’ leading receiver has totaled 57 passes for 934 yards with 10 touchdowns this season, also rushing four times for 47 yards with another score. Smith and Ohio State backup quarterback Julian Sayin could form one of the best young quarterback-receiver duos in college football next season in Columbus.

QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Sellers struggled early on but got it going late in the season in his first year as the Gamecocks’ starter.

Sellers has completed 172 of 265 passes for 2,274 yards with 17 touchdowns this season, while rushing for 655 yards and seven touchdowns. His play late in the season was key to South Carolina winning its final six games and narrowly missing out on a College Football Playoff berth.

If Sellers can continue his form from the second-half of the season, then he should have the Gamecocks again among the top teams in the SEC.

QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik took a huge step in 2024, passing for 3,305 yards with 33 touchdowns to five interceptions, while rushing for 458 yards and seven scores.

The Tigers signal caller has one more season of eligibility, although he’d certainly garner plenty of NFL draft interest this offseason. He has yet to declare his intention for next season.

Klubnik’s stock could improve with his play in the College Football Playoff, should he put together a strong performance against No. 5 Texas in the first round.

QB DJ Lagway, Florida

Florida freshman quarterback DJ Lagway showed flashes of brilliance for the Gators after taking over the starting jov after Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury.

Lagway’s play was crucial for the Gators reaching seven wins, leading them to ranked victories against LSU and Mississippi in back-to-back weeks

His stats have been solid entering Florida’s bowl game. He has completed 93 of 157 passes for 1,610 yards with 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions and will hope to build on a season of flashes as a sophomore.

QB Drew Allar, Penn State

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar brought the Nittany Lions to the brink of a Big Ten championship game win over No. 1 Oregon after passing for 226 yards and three touchdowns, while adding another rushing touchdown.

Allar will be entering his third season as the Nittany Lions’ starter, and Penn State should be among the top teams in the country again. The 6-foot-5 passer has been efficient in two years as a starter but has yet to take over games during his career.

Can Allar take the next step in his final season of college eligibility?

RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love averaged a whopping 7.1 yards per carry in 2024, rushing for 949 yards and 15 touchdowns on only 134 carries this season.

An uptick in volume in his junior season could make him one of the most productive running backs in college football in 2025.

Love also caught 22 receptions for 206 yards and two touchdowns in his sophomore season, and the Fighting Irish will surely lean on the running back in the College Football Playoff.

QB Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was solid in his first season as the Vols’ starter.

Entering the College Football Playoff, Iamaleava completed 199 of 303 passes for 2,512 yards with 19 touchdowns to five interceptions, while rushing for 311 yards with another score.

In his second season in Josh Heupel’s offense, he should take on a bigger role and potentially push to be one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC.

QB John Mateer, Washington State

John Mateer, a first-year starter at Washington State, has generated a lot of buzz after the regular season as a potential transfer portal candidate.

Mateer has completed 224 of 347 passes for 3,139 yards with 29 touchdowns to seven interceptions and rushing for 826 yards with 15 touchdowns.

Mateer, who’s still mulling whether he’ll return to the Cougars, would garner plenty of interest from Power Four schools, similar to that of the quarterback he formerly was the backup to – Miami’s Cam Ward, who finished fourth in Heisman voting this season.

Mateer’s former offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle recently took the same job at Oklahoma and would be an obvious potential landing spot if he decides to enter the transfer portal, although he may very well be a Heisman contender regardless of what school he plays for next year.