Heisman Trophy rankings 2020: Top 5 candidates and 5 darkhorse picks

Justin Fields out of the Heisman Trophy conversation makes Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence the overwhelming favorite, but who could come out of nowhere like Joe Burrow did last year?

Last season, a major longshot won the Heisman Trophy. Joe Burrow went from a complete afterthought to an immediate favorite after his rise last season. This story has been told many times before. Burrow was still one of the most exciting.

Kyler Murray was in the middle of the pack the year he won due to his possibility he could leave for baseball. In 2016, Lamar Jackson wasn’t even on the board, but he was quickly added early in the season after some electric performances in 2016. Heisman winner seems to be the one place where longshots seem to win just as much as the favorites do.

However, it’s insane not to look at the favorites, especially this year. This isn’t the type of football season where talents can develop out of nowhere. The powerhouses are likely going to be the teams were paying the most attention to, and with most conferences only playing each other, some of those eye-popping quarterback stats won’t exist. With two conferences planning not to play until the spring, who knows how the Heisman Trophy will be picked. The picks are coming with the situation as we know it right now, which means someone from the Big 12, SEC, or ACC is likely going to win it.

The favorites are still the picks to make, especially when there is an amazing talent at the top. It’s worth it to look at the entire top ten because there are some intriguing names that are sitting there. At the same time, throwing some money on the long shots has worked in the past and can pay major dividends. If it hits, it can make a bettors year, so it’s definitely worth it to look at the favorites in this strange year, as well as the longshots to see if there’s some value to be had.