5 reasons Lamar Jackson will repeat as Heisman winner

By Brad Weiss | Dec 11, 2016

Dec 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson poses with the trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the 2016 Heisman Trophy award during a presentation at the Playstation Theater. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws a pass against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second quarter at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Easy non-conference schedule

The loss to the Clemson Tigers hurt the Cardinals this past season, as they appeared to be a team headed for the College Football Playoff. The Tigers were coming off a season in which they nearly won a national title, so to play them so close was a testament to Jackson and company. In 2017, the Tigers will likely take a step back, and the Cardinals do not stand to lose much in terms of talent on their roster.

To make things even easier on his path to a back-to-back Heisman, the Cardinals have a very weak non-conference schedule in 2017. Aside from a game against Purdue to open the season at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Louisville has a few cupcakes outside of their ACC schedule. Home games against Kent State and Murray State will follow the Purdue game, and then they finish up their regular season with a road game against Kentucky.

Their ACC schedule is also favorable to Louisville, as their biggest tough should come in a road game against Florida State. The Cardinals will get to face teams like Clemson, Virginia, Syracuse, and Boston College inside the friendly confines of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, which should give them an advantage. The road to another Heisman does not have many detours, and Jackson just may improve on his ACC-record 51 touchdowns this season.

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