Way Too Early Heisman predictions
Photo courtesy of Ruralexpat/Wikimedia Commons
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith may sit outside the early Heisman favorites at +1400 odds, but after a record-breaking freshman year and a hot start to 2025, the Buckeyes star is proving he can’t be overlooked.
With the National Football League (NFL) just starting up, it is easy to forget about the prodigious athletes who make up the landscape of college football. While the season is still relatively fresh, candidates for the sport’s most esteemed accolade, the Heisman trophy, have already begun to emerge.
What is fascinating is that a majority of the players who were picked to win the trophy before the season have endured their fair share of struggles to begin the campaign. As a result of this development, unexpected stars have emerged, making their opening bids to be honored at the season’s end. We will dive into the players who make up this vast field and assess their chances of being immortalized amongst college football greats.
John Mateer, Oklahoma quarterback
Mateer is currently second in odds (+800) to win the Heisman trophy. After transferring in from Washington State, expectations were high for the 21-year-old from Little Elm, Texas, and so far he has been dazzling for the Sooners in the early part of the 2025 season. Mateer has not only met but exceeded these lofty expectations, leading Oklahoma to three straight wins to start the season.
The most notable of these came in a match-up against the Michigan Wolverines on September 6th, 2025. Mateer terrorized the Wolverines stout defensive unit with 270 passing yards and two touchdowns (one on the ground and one through the air) to propel Oklahoma to victory over Michigan 24-13.
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU quarterback
Nussmeier is an outlier amongst the other players on this list, as the senior quarterback is the one player who has fulfilled their high expectations entering the season. Nussmeier has been lauded for his NFL-caliber arm and impressive football IQ. He has put these outstanding attributes on display during the three games of the season.
What really strengthens Nussmeier’s early season case is the way he pushes through the strength of his opponents. Louisiana’s native son has already downed Clemson and Florida, two teams who had national championship hopes at the season’s start. While his season stats are not “jaw-dropping,” with three passing touchdowns and two interceptions, Nussmeier’s poise and leadership of an LSU squad that looks primed to compete for a national championship firmly cements him as a top contender.
Carson Beck, Miami Quarterback
Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback, Carson Beck, has surprised many this season with his excellent performance for the Hurricanes. Beck has been instrumental in leading Miami to two early season-ranked wins against number 6th ranked Notre Dame in the opener and against University of South Florida (USF) ranked 18th in last weekend’s contest.
The individual stats have been superb for Miami’s leader—he has thrown for 812 passing yards, seven touchdown passes, and only two interceptions. It will be interesting to see if Beck can continue this marvelous form, given his fair share of struggles in the past. But for now, it looks like Beck is primed for a seat at the Heisman ceremony in New York.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State receiver
Smith is currently on the outside looking in as he has +1400 odds to win the award. Nevertheless, true college football fans know those odds are exorbitant when considering how extraordinary Smith is as a player after a record-setting freshman season that saw Smith and the Buckeyes capture their first national championship since 2015.
The now-sophomore receiver has started right where he left off last season as he already has over 300 receiving yards paired with three touchdown catches in as many games. Currently, the odds might be against Mr. Smith, but he has proved time and time again that betting against him is a foolish endeavor.
Long gone are the days where players were unpaid amateurs who did not see a dime of the NCAA’s billions. Now, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has completely redefined the sport. Players can now earn millions, schools are battling it out for talent like never before, and fans are split about the direction the sport is heading. They question whether athletes are driven by the love of the game or just chasing wherever the money takes them.
While college football continues to redefine itself and divisiveness grows, it is important to remember that this sport will always have unbelievable athletes who are worth recognizing and applauding, regardless of the procedural changes. That is what makes the Heisman a timeless fixture of college football and why it is forever worth talking about.