The 2020 Heisman Trophy is Mac Jones’ to lose, says ESPN’s Jesse Palmer

Jesse Palmer thinks the 2020 Heisman Trophy will end up going to Mac Jones.

Mac Jones was already Jesse Palmer’s Heisman Trophy leader anyway.

The Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback has played phenomenally this year against great competition. Though Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Palmer believes the 2020 Heisman Trophy is now firmly Jones’ to lose. Lawrence and Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields are still very much in the mix.

Mac Jones could be the first quarterback to win a Heisman Trophy at Alabama

“I actually had Mac Jones as my Heisman leader before last week,” said Palmer to FanSided on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project. “He has been sensational for Alabama this year. So while Trevor Lawrence could totally get back into the race in a few weeks, it feels like it’s coming down to Jones and Justin Fields at Ohio State.

“I don’t think a lack of games will hurt Fields because everybody knows how dominant Ohio State is. We’ve seen what we needed to see out of them in two weeks to know they’re probably going to be a playoff team. What I am curious to see is if Jones can keep this positive momentum going and not have a bad game. He has overachieved this year, but like I said earlier, he’s going to have to do it the rest of the way without his big explosive playmaker Jaylen Waddle. Of course, he still has other great guys around him in DeVonta Smith, John Metchie III and Najee Harris to the hand the ball off to.”

This has been the case in many Heisman Trophy races of late. Everyone’s presumptive winner at the start of the year does not live up to lofty expectations. Usually, a guy who is middle of the pack or a dark horse to some extent has gone on to win it recently. Look no further than Joe Burrow with the LSU Tigers a season ago or Lamar Jackson with the Louisville Cardinals back in 2016.

“As long as Alabama keeps winning and winning big because of its offense, it’s going to be hard for someone like Lawrence who will have missed to games to take the Heisman from him. It is Mac Jones’ Heisman to lose.”

The big key here is if Fields can challenge Jones for the Heisman. It is hard to see Lawrence getting back in the race after missing two games. Fields was a finalist a season ago, so one would expect at the very least he will be a top-three finisher again. What this comes down to is if Alabama continues to score points in bunches with Jones as the team’s emerging star signal-caller.

If Alabama keeps racking up wins, Jones may be able to hold onto or extend his Heisman lead.

Jesse Palmer spoke with FanSided on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project. He will be hosting the “Honoring Our Warriors” virtual Veterans Day celebration by the Wounded Warrior Project on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11:30 a.m. EST on the nonprofit’s Facebook Page and YouTube channel.

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