After just one week of college football, the 2025 Heisman Trophy watch has already been upended.
Texas QB Arch Manning seemed to be ahead of the pack, despite his lack of experience... until he led Texas to just 7 points vs. Ohio State with just 170 yards and an interception; thus, LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is firmly in the Heisman watch now, as are QBs Carson Beck and LaNorris Sellers.
We’ll break down the top Heisman contenders and how their Week 1 performance impacted their chances to take home the award, as well our list of players leading the Heisman watch after Manning's collapse.
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2025 Heisman Watch Update: Top Candidates after Week 1
We have five QBs leading on the Heisman Trophy watch list, with four moving up the list, while Arch Manning dropped off the map in Week 1.
1. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier 📈
There were several highly ranked matchups in Week 1, including No. 9 LSU vs. No. 4 Clemson. LSU pulled it out on the road in a one-possession showdown until the final whistle. One of the storylines was that it pitted two early Heisman favorites, including Nussmeier.
Nussmeier and LSU entered the tough environment of Clemson'sDeath Valley and came out on top with a huge win that will be key for Playoff positioning. Nussmeier was excellent, going 23/38 for 232 yards and a TD in the win.
These numbers don’t blow away the stat sheet, but watching him throughout the game, he threw accurately and avoided dangerous situations like passing into double coverage. He looked great on the fourth-quarter 73-yard drive, finishing with an 8-yard passing touchdown to WR Trey’Dez Green.
Next week, the Tigers will host Louisiana Tech, followed by another tough matchup against No. 13 Florida. After a big win, Nussmeier is in the driver’s seat to win the Heisman — but we've got a long way to go.
2. Miami QB Carson Beck 📈
Carson Beck was one of the more notable players to hit the transfer portal after the 2024 season and made a splash by heading to Miami, leaving Georgia with another Heisman candidate in QB Gunner Stockton.
He and the Hurricanes faced a tough first opponent in last year’s National Championship runner-up, Notre Dame, and the third-best scoring defense last year (15.5). It was an excellent performance from the former Georgia QB: 20/31, 205 passing yards, 1 TD in a 27-24 win over top-10 Notre Dame.
If he can help Miami win their first ACC Title and reach the playoffs, he will be in the Heisman conversation.
3. South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers 📈
There was a lot of hype surrounding South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers entering this season, and in his first game of 2025, he did not disappoint. He had 209 pass yards, 1 pass TD, and 1 rush TD, in a 24-11 win against Virginia Tech.
He is an excellent runner; his 25 rushing yards on 13 carries doesn’t show it, but his 11-yard TD run does. If he can help make South Carolina an SEC contender with the same way he played to end 2024, then there will be a lot of talk about him filling up his trophy case at the end of the year.
4. Texas QB Arch Manning 📉
Despite all the hype surrounding him, Arch Manning had a forgettable performance in Week 1: 17/30, 170 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. He was running into a buzzsaw going to Columbus for Ohio State’s first game since winning the National Championship
Those stats are understandable against an OSU defense that allowed the fewest points per game (12.9) and second-fewest passing yards (167.0) last year, but he also failed the eye test. Accuracy was an issue in this game, and Manning was missing targets.
It was most evident on the final drive; on 3rd-and-5, Manning had WR Ryan Wingo open for a first down, but instead threw behind Wingo, forcing him to twist his body, and he could not get both hands on the ball.
Texas’ schedule becomes favorable with three consecutive Group of Five opponents (San Jose State, UTEP, and Sam Houston) before back-to-back ranked conference opponents, including Florida and the Red River Rivalry with Oklahoma.
Being in the SEC will give Manning tough defensive matchups throughout the season, and he will have the opportunity to put this awful performance behind him. But it's impossible to think he's the favorite after a disappointing loss.
5. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik 📉
Most of the talk centered on Manning’s performance, but you could argue that Clemson QB Cade Klubnik played worse. He was only able to complete 50% of his throws (19/38), with 1 INT and 0 TDs. This loss wasn’t all on Klubnik; the Tigers were pitiful at the run with only 1.6 yards per carry and just 3-of-13 on third downs.
No matter how you look at it, it was an unacceptable performance by the senior QB at home.
One of Klubnik’s strengths is being able to scramble and let plays develop or take off for a positive play; that didn’t happen in Week 1, with 8 attempts for 1 rush yard. LSU did an excellent job at pressuring the Clemson offensive line, and Klubnik often had to release the ball quickly or scramble away from defenders.
As of now, Clemson doesn’t have another ranked opponent until they take on SMU on October 18. This means Clemson needs to put up convincing wins, and Klubnik needs to have monstrous numbers to get back into the good graces of the voters, or he may just fall out of contention all together.
Make Picks on Heisman Candidates on PrizePicks
The first full week of the 2025 college football season is wrapped up, and a few players are already making noise in the Heisman Trophy race.
No matter who you're backing to win the Heisman, you can cash in on your player picks in PrizePicks' real money CFB DFS game.
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Check out the Playbook for more CFB DFS picks and college football predictions throughout the season!
