_AlexByington
Travis Hunter became the newest member of college football’s most exclusive fraternity when he was named the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner during Saturday night’s ceremony inside New York City’s famed Lincoln Center.
But even as Colorado‘s two-way superstar continues to celebrate his well-deserved honor, college football fans are already clamoring about who could be next year’s winner.
Well, CBS Sports analyst Blake Brockermeyer, a former first-team All-American offensive lineman with Texas (1994) and 1995 first-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers, made a list of the most likely candidates to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
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Check out CBS’s extensive list of 2025 Heisman contenders below:
Fresh off his first full season as the Gamecocks’ starting quarterback, Sellers is already drawing strong comparisons to another former Heisman Trophy winner, Auburn’s Cam Newton. A powerful dual-threat at QB, the 6-foot-3 and 242-pound Sellers certainly has Newton’s build and superior playmaking ability after combining for 2,929 total yards and 24 touchdowns this past season.
Brockermeyer: “Sellers is an effective passer but has elite athleticism to destroy defenses with his legs and shrug off defenders like Vince Young once did. He’s a big-time prospect who should only improve with development in the offseason.”
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After two years as a backup, Nussmeier certainly looked the part as the Tigers’ QB1 this season, ranking second in the SEC with 3,739 passing yards and 26 touchdowns through the air. Nussmeier surprised many by annoucing his intentions to return to Baton Rouge next season, and will every opportunity to follow in the footsteps of former teammate and 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels.
Brockermeyer: “I love his gunslinger mentality and reminds me a little of Brett Farve in that regard. He has a big arm and can throw into high windows. I expect he will be surrounded by a solid supporting cast in 2025 and should put up big numbers and on big stages.”
In his second full season as Clemson’s QB1, Klubnik showed more of the flashes of what made him a much ballyhooed recruit, leading the ACC with 40 total touchdowns this season. Klubnik also ranked second in the league with 3,303 passing yards and a 33-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, avoiding many of the mistakes that doomed Clemson a year ago.
Brockermeyer: “I expect Klubnik will be in the mix for an award Clemson has never won with an improved receiving corps and total command of the offense. The former five-star prospect is living up to the hype and could jumpstart his 2025 Heisman campaign if he makes noise in the College Football Playoff.”
The highly-touted Buckeyes receiver more than lived up to the hype of being the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class, according to On3’s Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Despite his freshman status, Smith established himself as Ohio State’s next great WR by finishing the regular season ranked fourth in the Big Ten with 934 yards and 10 touchdowns on 57 receptions this season.
Brockermeyer: “Smith is a match-up nightmare who can dominate the contested catches and reel in the one-handed catches in his sleep. The No. 1 recruit in 2024, Smith entered this season with a ton of hype after spring and summer workouts and did not disappoint, emerging as Ohio State’s go-to dude.”
Sampson certainly made the most of his opportunities in Tennessee’s high-powered offense, earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground this season. As a junior, Sampson could opt to enter the NFL Draft. But should he return to Knoxville in 2025, he will be a preseason favorite for more than the Heisman.
Brockermeyer: “Sampson led the SEC in rushing as a slasher who generally stays inside the tackles. He’s got terrific vision and balance with good-not-great speed and brings it every week.”
Much like Sampson, James could opt to turn pro after the Ducks’ upcoming run in the College Football Playoffs. But if he returns to Eugene, James has the potential to shine with another year in Oregon’s high-octane offense after ranking third in the Big Ten with 1,253 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns this season.
Brockermeyer: “James is a powerful runner with a thick lower half with excellent vision and cutback skills. He’s a name to know if he returns and I think he’s still got some meat left on the bone as a college player.”
Much like Klubnik, Allar flashed moments of greatness in his second full season as Penn State’s starting QB, but inconsistency remains a key issue. The 6-foot-5 former five-star recruit has all the attributes to become a star, but will need to elevate his play in big games after six of his seven interceptions this season came against USC, Ohio State and Oregon.
Brockermeyer: “Allar has a strong arm and it’s a treat to watch him stand in the pocket and launch bazookas when he’s locked in. … I’m expecting a big 2025 season for a quarterback who could go high in the 2026 draft.”
The highly-touted freshman proved to be everything Florida fans were hoping for from 2024’s No. 1-ranked QB, according to On3’s Industry Rankings. Lagway replaced an injured Graham Mertz as the Gators’ QB1 halfway through the 2024 season and immediately shined with 305 yards of total offense in a 48-20 win over Kentucky.
Brockermeyer: “He’s trending towards being a very high pick in two seasons if he continues to develop but until then he’s got the chance to be the face of a Florida turnaround and one of the best QBs in the country.”
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Taking over as the Vols’ starting QB as a redshirt freshman, Iamaleava showed flashes of what made him the No. 3 QB in the 2023 class, but his inexperience was certainly evident at times. That said, Iamaleava finished the regular season strong, entering the Playoffs with eight combined touchdowns and 466 passing yards over his past two starts.
Brockermeyer: “The former No. 2 recruit in the 2023 class had a solid redshirt freshman campaign, though I think he left plenty of production and ‘wow’ moments on the table. He’ll have everybody opportunity to make a run at the Heisman in 2025 and I would expect a large jump as he gets more and more comfortable in Josh Heupel’s offense.”
Despite not being named the Mustangs’ starter until Week 3, Jennings sparked SMU’s Cinderlla season with an undefeated run through ACC play. Jennings closed out the final five games of the season strong with 1,456 yards and 12 touchdowns to three interceptions, including rallying the Mustangs in the ACC Championship game before coming up short on a last-second field goal.
Brockermeyer: “The dual-threat figures to improve even more in 2025 after a year of playing time and understanding the intricate details of Rhett Lashlee’s blistering offense even better. … An area for improvement next year is his decision-making when under pressure.”
The former No. 1 overall player in the 2023 class, Manning has been a good soldier behind Longhorns starter Quinn Ewers through first two seasons in Austin. But should Ewers turn pro as expected, Manning will immediately become one of college football’s biggest stars. Still, the SEC legacy has been little more than a change-of-pace option so far, so he’ll need to prove it when he gets the chance.
Brockermeyer: “Manning will have high expectations but we might be a year early on truly realistic expectations. Texas’ schedule in 2025 figures to be extremely difficult – at Ohio State, at Florida, at Georgia – and so Texas either has chances at a Heisman opportunity for Manning or, on the other side of the coin, the Longhorns may struggle to make the CFP, which would dim Manning’s Heisman hopes.”
The much ballyhooed 17-year-old Crimson Tide freshman WR flashed highlight-reel plays early that put his name on the map early in his career. But after posting 649 receiving yards and seven touchdowns over Alabama’s first seven games, Williams managed just 208 yards and one score over the final five games. More consistency from Williams will be key to the Tide’s aerial success in 2025.
Brockermeyer: “Williams is a highly athletic receiver who can track and catch contested balls and has the speed to separate with green grass ahead of him. Williams is expected to be a major part of Alabama’s offense that should air it out a bit more … so expect a bigger, faster, stronger version of himself in 2025 as he turns, yes, 18-years-old.”
As mentioned above, the overwhelming belief is Ewers will take his talents to the NFL after this season. But if he opts to return, which would mean a likely transfer out of Austin, Ewers certainly has all the ability to make another Heisman push in 2025 depending on where he lands.
Brockermeyer: “Ewers has done some terrific things through three years that put him on the Mount Rushmore of Texas QBs, yet there’s still a nagging sense in Austin that he has not lived up to the hype coming out of high school as the No. 1 recruit. … He was the Heisman favorite after a Week 2 win at Michigan but just has not looked the same since suffering an injury in the next game.”
If Travis Hunter can win the Heisman as a defensive back, why can’t Downs? Well one reason would be Downs’ lack of offensive snaps. But should Ryan Day allow the former 5-star talent to try his hand on offense, all bets are off. The Bednarik and Thorpe finalist flashed his talent averaging 20.4 yards on five punt returns, including with a touchdown against Indiana.
Brockermeyer: “Ohio State loses some key pieces on their defense and the spotlight will be bright on Downs. His numbers are way down from his freshman year at Alabama but if he could get back to that level of play in 2025 and add a handful of punt return touchdowns, then a Heisman run is possible, albeit unlikely.”
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Tide transfer QB visiting Athens
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