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

2. Chuba Hubbard – Oklahoma State Running Back

Chuba Hubbard is the best running back in the country, and it’s really not close. Hubbard ran for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Oklahoma State Cowboys last season. This year, OSU is bringing back three of its five linemen, including both offensive tackles. This allows Hubbard to have some familiarity to bounce the ball outside.

It’s going to be near impossible to repeat his 2019 performance. The fact that the Cowboys only have 10 games on the schedule hurts Hubbard’s chance to hit 2,000 again. However, every college player is in a similar position, so Hubbard will still likely stand head and shoulders above the rest.

His consistency is second to none. Last season, Hubbard had 100-plus yards in every game except one. It was against McNeese State, and he had just eight carries. Even when a team did a good job stopping him on the ground, Hubbard would cut you catching the ball. Against West Virginia, he only had 106 yards rushing, but he added another 88 yards receiving.

Hubbard won’t be able to break Barry Sanders’ insane university record for yards in a season (2,850 in 1988). That’s too tall a task, however, if Hubbard is somehow able to play even better this season and break the university record for college yards, it would be hard not to give him the Heisman. That’s 2,168 yards he needs to break Thurman Thomas’ record. He’d need some insane games throughout this season, but he has that kind of ability.

This is the likely rushing leader in the country. That’s a player that has to get some love when it comes to the Heisman. Oklahoma State’s place in the standings might hurt, but even if they find a way to make it to the Big 12 Championship Game, it could be enough to push Hubbard to the top of the college football world in a year that’s seeing a lot of players unable to even play.