College football is highly coveted by fans across the country. Between 130 teams and thousands of players, all have the hopes of lifting the College Football Playoff National Championship high above their heads. Every year, talent across the NCAA is not hard to find. The Heisman Memorial Trophy is sought after by the elite players that fans love to watch every day. This year, the race has been close, but only one player can come away with the award.

The Heisman Trophy is given to the best athlete in all of college football, regardless of position. According to Heisman.com, the award was first named the “Downtown Athletic Club (DAC) Award,” but the name was changed after legendary coach John Heisman died. He was given this honor after he led Georgia Tech to 33 straight wins, a feat that has yet to be challenged. The award is now named in his honor and the athletes that receive this award take it with honor.

This year has been a lot different in the world of college sports than past years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused some players to choose to sit out this season. This opened a door for the four finalists with a shot to win the Heisman Trophy. Mac Jones (quarterback, Alabama), Trevor Lawrence (quarterback, Clemson), DeVonta Smith (wide receiver, Alabama), and Kyle Trask (quarterback, Florida) have all been named as finalists. Each one has made a compelling case for the coveted trophy. 

Mac Jones came into the race late in the season. He was asked to fill Alabama’s need for a quarterback after they lost Tua Tagovailoa to the NFL. Once he settled in, Alabama made themselves contenders for the national championship, and found themselves hoisting the national championship trophy on January 11.

Jones had some major competition as Trevor Lawrence was the favorite to win the award. He is predicted to be the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. However, a one loss season and an early playoff exit led to a stunt in his chances at the award.

 Lawrence was not the only one with high odds to win. DeVonta Smith has been the go to guy for Mac Jones. According to ESPN, with 117 catches for 1,856 yards, DeVonta Smith has made his name unforgettable in the race for the Heisman. 

Alabama did not rule the Southeastern Conference because Florida had other plans. Kyle Trask faced that Alabama team with two Heisman finalists and made a name for himself. In that game, he completed 26 of his 40 passes for 408 yards and 3 touchdowns, according to the ESPN box score. This put him comfortably in a spot for the final four contenders to win this award. Who took home the award, though?

With the season near an end, it was time for the winner of the Heisman award to be announced. January 5, viewers watched as history was made. In almost three decades, a wide receiver has not won the award. DeVonta Smith ended that drought and won the award. With this award on his resume, his draft stock (pick in the draft) will rise. DeVonta Smith hopes to continue his stardom in the NFL.

With an unprecedented season, four players stood above the rest. As the season went on, despite the global pandemic, each player made a compelling argument for the Heisman Trophy. However, only one could win. Lawrence, Jones, and Trask all had the advantage of being quarterbacks that their teams relied on. At the end of the day, it was not enough to match the talent and production at wide receiver of DeVonta Smith. Nevertheless, each one made their case as a star and that could carry over into the NFL in the upcoming season.

As these players move on, there will be new names thrown around for this award next season. Will it be another wide receiver that wins the award, or will it go back to tradition as a quarterback that takes the trophy? One can find out next season beginning September 4, 2021.