the heisman presentation

ESPN to Present the 88th Heisman Trophy Ceremony, Saturday at 8 p.m. ET

• Chris Fowler to host joined by reporters Holly Rowe and Marty Smith
• Previous Heisman winners Robert Griffin III, Desmond Howard , Tim Tebow and Andre Ware to contribute
• 2022 Heisman Finalists Stetson Bennett, Max Duggan, C.J. Stroud and Caleb Williams
• Additionally, all four FCS Playoff Quarterfinal games airing this weekend across ESPN platforms

ESPN – the exclusive home of the Heisman Trophy Ceremony since 1994 – will televise the  88th Heisman Trophy Ceremony presented by Nissan  on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. ET. For the second year, the Heisman Ceremony will originate from its new home at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in New York City and will be hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler , emceeing for his 29th straight year. ESPN college football reporters  Holly Rowe and Marty Smith will join Fowler during the one-hour live show, along with ESPN analysts and former Heisman Trophy winners  Robert Griffin III (2011), Desmond Howard  (1991),  Tim Tebow  (2007) and Andre Ware (1989).

The four finalists who will be in attendance include quarterbacks Stetson Bennett (Georgia), Max Duggan (TCU), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) and Caleb Williams (USC).

Heisman voting concluded after conference championship games were played Dec. 2-3 and the 2022 finalists were announced on Monday Night Countdown . The top-10 finishers will be featured on The Top 10 Heisman Trophy Finalists Show Presented by Nissan on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

ESPN Digital and Social The Heisman Show presented by Nissan will air live from 7:30-8 p.m. on ESPN’s social and digital platforms immediately preceding The Heisman Ceremony. Hosted by  Christine Williamson , Kelsey Riggs and Harry Lyles Jr., the show will feature red carpet interviews from all four finalists as well as a mix of analysis and interviews with the Heisman Ceremony broadcast team and former Heisman Trophy winners Robert Griffin III and Tim Tebow. The show is available across Twitter , Facebook , YouTube , and the ESPN App

ESPN.com Highlights ESPN.com’s coverage of the Heisman Trophy Ceremony will include the following stories:

• A  disputed Heisman , a split national title and dueling, enduring conspiracies of 1997 ( Chris Low  and  Andrea Adelson)
• The moments that defined Caleb Williams’ move toward the Heisman  (Paolo Uggetti)
• Following the ceremony, there will be a Way-Too-Early staff roundtable on the 2023 Heisman – insights, early favorites and potential sleepers ahead of the next season

All Four FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Games to Air on ESPN Platforms This Weekend The college football season on ESPN continues with all four FCS Playoff Quarterfinal games airing this weekend, Dec. 9-10. The nation’s best programs will be featured as all eight of the top-seeded FCS teams have advanced.

Defending national champion and No. 3 seed North Dakota State hosts No. 6 Samford on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 (simulcast on ESPN+) with  Tiffany Greene ,  Jay Walker  and  Taylor Davis  on the call. The quarterfinals conclude Saturday at noon on ESPN (and ESPN+) with  Clay Matvick ,  Rocky Boiman  and  Taylor McGregor  calling No. 8 Holy Cross at top-seeded South Dakota State.

Quarterfinal winners advance to next weekend’s semifinals, Dec. 16-17. The FCS Championship game is set for 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 8 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas and will be broascast on ABC for the first time since 2020.

  NCAA FCS Playoffs – Quarterfinals:

  ESPN+ will also carry the NCAA Div. II and III semifinal games on Saturday:

  NCAA Division II Semifinals

NCAA Division III Semifinals

Media contacts: Amanda Brooks at 704-973-5042;  [email protected]  and  @BrooksAD

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Heisman Trophy ceremony 2022: Caleb Williams leads finalists, live stream, watch online, TV channel

The heisman trophy will be awarded on saturday night with four finalists in attendance.

On Saturday night, college football's best and brightest converge on New York City as the winner of the 2022 Heisman Trophy will be revealed. Four finalists earned invitations to the prestigious ceremony: USC quarterback Caleb Williams , TCU quarterback Max Duggan , Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud . 

Unless Bennett takes home the top honor, the Heisman winner will be a player who lost his last game heading into the ceremony. The last recipient to do that was Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, who compiled some of the most insane video game numbers of all time. This group is different, however, and features players whose teams went a combined 47-4 in the 2022 season. 

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young took home the award in 2021, and this year's winner will mark the sixth quarterback to take home college football's highest honor in the last seven years. The 2022 Heisman Trophy ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. ET and air on ESPN. It can also be streamed live on  fuboTV  (Try for free). 

Odds for Heisman Trophy candidates are not presently available from Caesars Sportsbook, likely due to Williams being such a large favorite. However, you can see results from our Heisman straw poll here . 

Caleb Williams, QB, USC: Williams took over as the overwhelming favorite before conference championship weekend. Despite losing to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game to miss out on a College Football Playoff spot, Williams' case remains strong. The sophomore threw for more than 4,000 yards and posted 47 touchdowns to statistically stand above the rest of the field. He led game-winning drives against Oregon State and UCLA before capping off the regular season with a four-touchdown performance against Notre Dame . The Utah loss throws the slightest shred of doubt into Williams' candidacy, but he is the overwhelming favorite. 

Max Duggan, QB, TCU:  Duggan wasn't even the starter at the beginning of the season, but snatched the spotlight once he got his shot. The senior posted career-best numbers with 3,321 yards passing, 404 yards rushing and 36 touchdowns. However, the moment that really clinched his candidacy was an unbelievable game-tying drive against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game to send it to overtime. Duggan put his body on the line and won the hearts of college football fans with his exhausting effort. The quarterback fell quite literally six inches shy of the goal line on what could have been a championship-sealing run -- if he trips a second later, this might be Duggan's trophy. Regardless, he has a real shot. 

Stetson Bennett IV, QB, Georgia: After acting as a game manager during Georgia's 2021 national championship run, Bennett became a serious offensive weapon for the No. 1 Bulldogs in 2022. The former walk-on threw for 3,425 yards and added seven rushing touchdowns to his 20 passing touchdowns. More importantly, the senior is the face of the best team in the country after leading Georgia to its first SEC championship since 2017 and a 27-1 record over the past two seasons. 

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State: Stroud is the most efficient passer in the nation who stars for one of the best offenses in the country. The Buckeyes rank No. 2 nationally in yards per play and scoring offense, while Stroud tied for the lead in passing touchdowns (37). However, his candidacy fell apart after throwing a pair of interceptions during a disappointing performance against No. 2 Michigan . Ohio State is still 22-3 with Stroud as starting quarterback, and he has thrown for nearly 7,800 yards and 81 touchdowns in his career. 

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How to watch the Heisman Ceremony

• Author: Christian Kirby II

The University of Georgia has been home to some historic names in college football over the past 20 years. Names such as Matthew Stafford, Nick Chubb, AJ Green, Todd Gurley, and numerous others have been at the forefront of college football and have won a plethora of accolades over the years. However, despite the revolving door of elite talent. It has been nearly 40 years since Georgia has had a Heisman Trophy winner. 

Quarterback Stetson Bennett IV will look to end the drought this Saturday night. Bennett was named a finalist for the trophy on Monday night along with quarterbacks Max Dugan, CJ Stroud, and Caleb Williams. He is the first finalist for the Bulldogs since running back Garrison Hearst earned the honors in 1992.

Should Bennett win the award, he will become the 1st Bulldog to win since Herschel Walker in 1982. He will also become the first former walk-on to win the award since quarterback Baker Mayfield did in 2017 with the Oklahoma Sooners.

While Vegas odds currently have Bennett as a heavy underdog to take the hardware home. The Bulldog faithful have still been in full support of their National Championship quarterback since he landed in New York earlier this afternoon.

How to watch the Heisman Memorial Trophy Ceremony

• The Heisman Memorial Trophy Ceremony will be held at the Lincoln Center in New York City on Saturday Dec. 10th. 
• Coverage will begin at 8pm eastern time on ESPN
• Viewers will also be able to stream the even on the ESPN app as well as ESPN.com

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What TV channel is the Heisman Trophy presentation on tonight? Free live stream

• Updated: Dec. 09, 2023, 7:30 a.m. |
• Published: Dec. 09, 2023, 7:27 a.m.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. celebrates after the team defeated Oregon in the Pac-12 championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

• Mark Heim | [email protected]

The Heisman Trophy presentation is set for Saturday, Dec. 9. The presentation will be live streamed on fuboTV (free trial) , SlingTV (half off first month) and DirecTV Stream (free trial) .

LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., transfer quarterbacks who have all played at least five college seasons, and Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. were announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists.

The Heisman has been given to the nation’s most outstanding college football player since 1935. This year’s winner will be announced Saturday in New York. The top four vote-getters determined by more than 870 voters, which include members of the media and former Heisman winners, are selected as finalists.

With Nix and Penix, the Pac-12 has two Heisman finalists for the first time since 2010 when Stanford’s Andrew Luck was the runner-up to Auburn’s Cam Newton, and Oregon running back LaMichael James finished third in the balloting.

The Pac-12 is in its final season with its current membership before 10 schools depart, including Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten.

When is the Heisman Trophy presentation?

The Heisman Trophy presentation will air Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET).

Live stream options

The game will be live streamed on fuboTV, which offers a free trial . The most basic of plans is the “fubo standard” package, which comprises 121-plus channels for $69.99 per month. Like all cord-cutting alternatives, there are plenty of options, especially for sports. It comes with more than 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR, and up to 10 screens at once.

Sling Orange is $40 a month and offers ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3.

SlingTV is offering some special season-long football packages. Starting at $274 (a savings of $76), you can get five months of Orange & Blue + Sports Extra . The packages includes NFL Redzone, ESPN, NFL, SEC, ACC, PAC 12, Big10, and Longhorn Networks.

You can also get a college football specific offer. Get 5 months of Sling Orange + Sports Extra , starting at $199, a savings of $56, which Includes ESPN, SEC, ACC, PAC 12, and Longhorn Networks. Catch every game on ABC with ESPN3 simulcast.

Sling offers local games on Fox (select markets), Sunday Night Football on NBC (select markets), Monday Night Football on ESPN and NFL Network games.

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream offers a free trial.

There are four options of DirecTV Stream:

The Entertainment Package , which consists of 65+ channels, is $54.99 until the promotion runs out April 30. It’s the basic package for can’t-miss entertainment - including ESPN, TNT, Nickelodeon and HGTV.

The Choice Package has more than 90 channels and is $74.99 during the promotion. The channels in ENTERTAINMENT, plus MLB Network, NBA TV, college sports networks, and more. Enjoy Regional Sports Networks with no additional fees.

The Ultimate Package has more than 130 channels and is $89.99 during the promotion. Everything in CHOICE, plus Oxygen, Golf Channel, NHL Network, Universal Kids and more.

The Premier Package has more than 140 channels and is $134.99 during the promotion. Everything in ULTIMATE, plus HBO Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax and more.

DirecTV Stream offers a free trial that doesn’t require much effort.

To sign up, enter a phone number, email address and credit card, and you’ll receive five days of the service without charge.

In addition, enhance your experience with the DirecTV Stream device. While it doesn’t include a free trial, it give you access to thousands of apps like Netflix and more on Google Play. You can search using the voice remote with Google Assistant, and you can enjoy a traditional live TV channel guide. It is sold separately.

Will it be televised?

The Heisman Trophy presentation will be televised on ESPN.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim . He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

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Sports TV News

Heisman presentation returns to live format for espn.

“We wanted to bring the power of visual storytelling so often the trademark of great Broadway stages to the Heisman Trophy presentation.”

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ESPN’s presentation of the Heisman Trophy Ceremony is coming up this Saturday at 8 P.M EST on ESPN, but it will look a little different than past years.

The show will be in a new venue, with a view of New York City and a nine-foot replica of the Heisman Trophy in the background.

This year will bring a return to the live show format that ESPN has been used to using for the show. The 2020 Heisman Trophy presentation was held at ESPN Studios, with the candidates calling in from remote locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to that, the ceremony was held at the Playstation Theatre in New York City from 2005 until 2019. The building has since been closed. This year’s show will be held at a bigger venue – “Jazz at Lincoln Center” in New York City.

“In the end, what we kept coming back to was the elegance and beauty of Jazz at Lincoln Center.” said ESPN Coordinating Producer Kate Jackson, who was drawn to the room’s three-story glass window overlooking Manhattan.

The new venue will have a Broadway inspired feel thanks to award-winning stage designer David Korins, whose team designed the stage for the popular musical Hamilton .

“We wanted to bring the power of visual storytelling so often the trademark of great Broadway stages to the Heisman Trophy presentation,” said ESPN Creative Director Dan Cunningham. “I was convinced that David, who is also a diehard sports fan, was the visionary to bring all of our expectations to life.”

“This is not a change that happened overnight. We’ve been very strategic and very thoughtful,” said Jackson. “We wanted to honor the prestige of the award, and we want this to be a classy and timeless presentation.” added Jackson.

Reice Shipley is a daily news writer and social media assistant for BSM. He is a graduate of Ithaca University, contributor to the Syracuse Mets, and aspires to work behind the scenes in sports media in the future. He can be found on Twitter @Reice_Shipley18 or you may reach him by email at [email protected] .

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Report: ESPN and the NBA Close to Finalizing Deal

The deal being worked on would have ESPN remaining with the top package and that would include the NBA Finals staying on ABC.

As the NBA’s exclusive negotiating period came to an end earlier this week for its current broadcast partners, sources have continued to say Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery were 75% or more to the finish line of a renewed deal with the NBA. The Puck’s John Ourand is now reporting ESPN and the NBA “have essentially come to terms on a package.”

In the report, Ourand says the deal being worked on would have ESPN remaining with the top package and that would include the NBA Finals staying on ABC. With that, Ourand says his sources are telling him ESPN will end up with less games in order for the NBA to create another package for a streamer. He reports something similar for Warner Bros. Discovery, however, says that deal is not as far along.

Numerous reports have indicated that Amazon, Apple, YouTube TV, Comcast (NBCUniversal/Peacock) and Netflix have all expressed potential interest on the streaming side. Other reports have said the NBA could look to sell games within the In-Season Tournament to a separate media company, as well, potentially adding a fourth partner in the deal.

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Bill Belichick to Join ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ Weekly in the Fall

“Is there any chance I could be on your show during the Fall?”

In what had to be one of the most covered non-game events in NFL history, the 2024 NFL Draft might very well be remembered as ‘The Belichick Draft.’ Bill Belichick, who has taken part in NFL Drafts for decades as a coach, took part in The Pat McAfee Draft Spectacular for night one of the draft as an analyst and by all accounts was a major hit.

As the show, which was carried on ESPN+, started to wrap up, McAfee said to Belichick, “Tonight was awesome…You crushed it.”

Belichick replied saying, “Is there any chance I could be on your show during the fall?” McAfee replied, “You mean like Mondays?”

And with that it appears much like Aaron Rodgers and Nick Saban in the past, Bill Belichick will be a weekly guest during the football season on The Pat McAfee Show .

Many wondered if Belichick would be a fit with McAfee and his cohorts and for those that tuned into the Draft Spectacular, it seems that was answered with a resounding yes. While McAfee’s team stayed in character throughout the broadcast, Belichick fit in well in both analyzing the players and teams while at the same time being comfortable enough to be relaxed and have fun with the style of broadcast McAfee presents.

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LSU QB Jayden Daniels wins Heisman Trophy: Analysis of Tigers' third winner

Jayden Daniels is second LSU QB in 5 seasons to claim Heisman

Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy on Saturday, becoming the second LSU quarterback in five seasons to claim the honor after the Tigers went 60 years between Billy Cannon and Joe Burrow.

Daniels — who won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Davey O’Brien Award for the nation’s best quarterback Friday — beat out Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. , Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the Heisman.

Daniels finished the regular season with 3,812 passing yards and 40 touchdowns against just four interceptions for LSU, which capped the regular season with a 9-3 record. He also added 1,134 yards on the ground and 10 rushing touchdowns.

The top 10:

• Jayden Daniels (LSU)
• Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
• Bo Nix (Oregon)
• Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)
• Jordan Travis ( Florida State )
• Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
• Ollie Gordon II ( Oklahoma State )
• Cody Schrader (Missouri)
• Blake Corum (Michigan)
• J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)

Read more here.

Heisman needs a big change

The Heisman Trophy is the most important individual award in sports. We’re told that a lot each season, especially this time of the year.

Is that true? I’m not so sure. After all, a Super Bowl MVP is important and impressive as are an NBA Finals MVP, a World Series MVP or a Conn Smythe Trophy winner (that's hockey if you don't know). It depends on your perspective and the sport you love the most (or maybe just the one you’re focusing on right now. One hint: I care about all of them because I’m a sports junky or sports nerd, you choose).

But for those of us in the college football world, it’s hard to be more important than the Heisman. And that’s why it’s hard for me to say this: The Heisman needs a big change to keep it from falling even further off the radar.

Jayden Daniels was the latest winner on Saturday, and he was a deserving winner even with his team's three losses. We can have that debate about whether he should have won, and it’s OK to not agree. That’s what we do in college football: debate things. But he got my vote after what he accomplished with some huge holes on his roster (he doesn’t play defense, after all).

I’ll be interested to see the TV ratings from Saturday because there’s just so much going on right now that it’s hard for the Heisman to be the focus of the sports world.

On Saturday night at the same time as the ceremony, we had the NBA’s inaugural (if you say first annual, we’re going to fight) In-Season Tournament and several top-notch college basketball games. A little later, the FCS playoffs continued with Idaho vs. UAlbany. That’s a lot. It was a busy, glorious day of sports.

And there’s going to be even more next year when the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams. So think about next December. Just in college football, we’ll have 12 teams getting ready for the Playoff, along with the transfer portal window being open, coaching changes being made and teams preparing for National Signing Day. And yet, we feel the need to jam the Heisman in there too?

There’s an easy fix, and it should have been made years ago: The ceremony should be moved to January after the national championship game.

The Heisman should be a full-season award, and a 12-team Playoff adds even more games that would be left out of Heisman consideration if the ceremony remains in December. What if one of the contenders goes on a historic, memorable run in the Playoff? That certainly would (and should) impact the voting. I know it would for me.

For the past two years, I’ve had a vote for the Heisman for the first time, and I want it to mean a little more and for there to be even more attention on the award and the winner.

That’s hard to accomplish with a jam-packed December schedule in college football and around the whole sports world.

So move the ceremony to January. Have the Heisman Trophy focus on the full season, and let’s get a bigger spotlight on it.

Most of college football’s calendar doesn’t make sense. This would be a small way to help change some of that.

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An unpredictable Heisman

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, capping off a race for college football’s highest individual honor that bucked the traditional pacing this fall. Daniels spent the final weeks of the season as the frontrunner and emerged with 211 more first-place votes than his next-closest challenger despite the fact that his Tigers took two losses before the end of September and earned minimal College Football Playoff attention after their Week 1 loss to Florida State.

But while Daniels’ electric highlights and eye-popping stats left little doubt who would take home the hardware in New York, this year’s top five finishers all made contributions to this year’s Heisman debate that won’t soon be forgotten. Below, David Ubben, Chris Vannini, Brian Hamilton, Nick Baumgardner and Ari Wasserman explain why each of the leading Heisman vote-getters built a case that helped make this race special.

A close race this year

My Heisman Trophy ballot:

• Jayden Daniels
• Michael Penix

This was very close for me because contributing to team greatness and to moments that help define a college football season should matter. Penix did both of those things. Daniels didn’t. But he was the best player in college football this season, and that's what this is. Also, I hate that this has become a quarterback award – Larry Fitzgerald should have won in 2003 and Ndamukong Suh in 2009 – and I nearly voted Marvin Harrison Jr. third, but Nix was spectacular for a great team that just couldn’t figure out Washington.

Daniels' dream come true

Jayden Daniels on winning the Heisman.

A vote for Penix

My Heisman ballot:

• Michael Penix Jr.

When I thought of the biggest games, the biggest moments, the biggest plays of this season, I kept coming back to Penix. He probably lost the trophy because he struggled in some games against lesser competition. But he stepped up in every big game, including beating Oregon twice on his arm, and he was the only finalist to win a conference championship or reach the College Football Playoff.

Daniels, but it was close

1) Jayden Daniels

2) Michael Penix Jr.

I came this close to voting for Penix first because of how many times he responded with the game on the line this season. But I couldn’t ignore the incredible individual performances we saw repeatedly from Daniels, even if he played with lower stakes late in the season.

One other stray thought: Jordan Travis finished fifth, and I really wish he’d gotten to go to New York, too. There’s no reason the Heisman folks can’t bring five finalists every single year. Let’s celebrate more players!

Impossible to ignore Daniels

2) Marvin Harrison Jr.

3) Michael Penix Jr.

It was impossible for me to ignore Harrison. Keep in mind what he accomplished this season came without the typically exceptional quarterback play we’ve come to expect at Ohio State. I watched closely as he was the one man on the field who even a superb Penn State defense had few answers for. Still, I think voters got it right with Daniels taking home the top prize.

LSU's third winner

Jayden Daniels is the third LSU Heisman winner, joining Joe Burrow and Billy Cannon. LSU is the 12th school with at least three Heisman winners.

Michael Penix Jr. is Washington's highest finisher at No. 2, topping Steve Emtman

Couldn't deny Daniels

I went into the Pac-12 Championship Game thinking I'd vote for Bo Nix. But he wasn't great in that game, and his team lost, losing its two biggest games of the year to Michael Penix and Washington.

Because of that, I couldn't deny Jayden Daniels' ridiculous stats and season. And I had to admit it wasn't his fault his team lost three games. He doesn't play defense, after all. So I voted like this:

Daniels' production can't be ignored

I really wanted to vote for Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. I still think he’s the best player in college football. But you cannot ignore Jayden Daniels’ production. He was simply incredible as a passer at all depths. Then when you add his rushing output, Daniels had an otherworldly season. It was a solid, deep group of four finalists. But Daniels’ season will stand up as one of the better Heisman campaigns in recent memory.

Harrison was second for me and Michael Penix was third.

A weird year to vote for Heisman

My Heisman Trophy vote:

• T'Vondre Sweat

Sort of a weird Heisman race — wide open but lacked Heisman Moments™ and Daniels had a sort of anticlimactic finish to the season

But also no doubt Daniels is a deserving winner.

Daniels wins it

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is the program's third Heisman winner.

Harrison's turn?

Will Marvin Harrison Jr. win the Heisman for Ohio State?

How QB stats have changed

How QB stats have changed, part 5 million:

LSU’s first QB to finish in the Heisman top 10 was Bert Jones in 1972: 11 games, 51.8 percent, 1,446 yards, 14 TDs, 7 INTs (18 yards, 4 TDs rushing)

Jayden Daniels: 12 games, 72.2 percent, 3,812 yards, 40 TDs, 4 INTs (1,134 yards, 10 TDs rushing)

Celebrating their QB

Washington Huskies are watching their guy.

Is it Bo time?

Will Bo Nix win the Heisman for Oregon?

Burrow to Daniels

From one LSU QB to another.

Will we get another QB?

Since 2000, there have been only four non-QB winners of the Heisman:

Reggie Bush, USC, RB, 2005 (Vacated due to NCAA violations)

Mark Ingram Jr., Alabama, RB, 2009

Derrick Henry, Alabama, RB, 2015

DeVonta Smith, Alabama, WR, 2020

Will that happen this year? If so, that will be Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.

Penix's play is a work of art

Michael Penix Jr. has the rare football celebration that does not require explanation. Watch him throw an arcing missile of a deep shot to Rome Odunze or Jalen McMillan and watch as Penix draws an imaginary bow to mimic the accuracy of a perfectly shot arrow. When Penix and the Washington receiving corps are healthy and on the same page, it feels like you’re watching the ballet: Of course the ball is going to land perfectly in the arms of his target without him breaking stride. This isn’t a game; it’s choreography. Seriously, pull up a Penix highlight reel, put on Ride of the Valkyries and tell me that isn’t art.

How to watch the 2023 Heisman Trophy ceremony

Jayden daniels, michael penix jr., bo nix and marvin harrison jr. are the finalists for the award, by eric mullin • published december 4, 2023 • updated on december 4, 2023 at 9:13 pm.

College football 's most exclusive club is about to add a new member .

The 2023 Heisman Trophy will be awarded at a ceremony in New York City on Saturday night. And one of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Oregon quarterback Bo Nix or Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will head home with the sport's most prestigious honor .

Daniels is the betting favorite to be named college football's most outstanding player after a stellar second season with the Tigers. The senior quarterback tied with Nix for the most passing touchdowns in the nation (40) and ranked third in passing yards (3,812) -- all while boasting a 72.2 completion percentage and throwing just four picks. And Daniels also rushed for 1,134 yards, which were the most of any quarterback, and 10 scores as No. 13 LSU went 9-3.

Penix, meanwhile, made a compelling Heisman case by helping No. 3 Washington become the first Pac-12 team ever to enter bowl season at a perfect 13-0 mark. The senior signal-caller led the nation in passing yards (4,218) and was tied for third in touchdown passes (33) while sporting a 65.9 completion percentage and throwing nine picks.

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Nix was the Heisman betting favorite before the Ducks fell to Washington in the thrilling (and likely final) Pac-12 Championship Game. The senior Ducks quarterback led the nation in completion percentage (77.2), was tied with Daniels for the most touchdown passes (40) and ranked second behind Penix in passing yards (4,145). And he was only picked off just three times. Nix and the No. 8 Ducks lost two games, both of which were to Penix and the Huskies.

Finally, Harrison is looking to become just the fifth wide receiver to earn the Heisman Trophy. The junior wideout recorded 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns with the No. 7 Buckeyes. Harrison ranked ninth in the nation in receiving yards and was tied for second in touchdown catches.

Reggie Bush reinstated as 2005 Heisman Trophy winner

Sign of the times: NCAA approves coach-to-player helmet communication for 2024 football season

So, will Daniels, Penix, Nix or Harrison hear their name called on Saturday? Here's how to watch the ceremony.

When is the 2023 Heisman Trophy ceremony?

The Heisman Trophy winner will be announced on Saturday, Dec. 9.

What time does the 2023 Heisman Trophy ceremony start?

The award ceremony begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

What TV channel is the 2023 Heisman Trophy ceremony on?

The Heisman Trophy ceremony will air on ESPN.

How to stream the 2023 Heisman Trophy ceremony

It will also be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

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Home » Ratings » What happened to the Heisman Trophy Presentation?

What happened to the Heisman Trophy Presentation?

Posts second-smallest audience this century.

Bristol, CT - December 9, 2015 - Studio F: Portrait of the Heisman Trophy on the set of College Football Live (Photo by Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)

The Heisman Trophy Presentation continued its persistent decline in viewership last weekend, topping only last year’s delayed, virtual edition as the least-watched this century.

Last Saturday’s Heisman Trophy Presentation averaged 1.85 million viewers on ESPN, topping only the previous edition in January (1.52M) as the least-watched edition of the awards show this century. Viewership fell 27% from the last time it was held in its usual December timeslot (2.54M).

Once a marquee television property, the Heisman presentation averaged nearly five million viewers less than a decade ago when Johnny Manziel won in 2012 (4.9M). The high water mark remains nearly six million for Mark Ingram’ s win in 2009. It last averaged three million in 2015, though it came close three years later (2.93M).

It was not until this year — both last weekend’s ceremony and the delayed, virtual version in January — that the event slipped under the two million mark.

The Heisman remains among the most-watched sports awards shows, a genre that has taken a particularly hard hit in an era of diminished viewership. Only February’s NFL Honors averaged a larger audience, and even its 2.59 million viewers marked a new low for the event.

By comparison, July’s ESPY Awards averaged a record-low 1.21 million.

Average audience for Heisman Trophy Presentation, past century

[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.14 ]

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the Sports Media Watch Twitter page .

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The Heisman trophy is an award given to the best, most prolific Collegiate football player. It is not a most likely to achieve in the NFL, award. The people who keep harping on future success are the ones who needs to understand what the award represents. Yes, we would like to see that player go on to do wonderful things in the NFL. But that is not what it is about. I just think that the players are not special anymore…Yes they amass huge numbers due to the lack of good defenses and schemes etc. But it’s just a mass of good and no real greats….no real special moments, no one who electrifies and separates themselves as special talents.

But it is about players having future success and if not, that’s why people are tuning out. Why would I care about a college athlete winning an award for best player in a country with thousands of college football players, if that player isn’t good enough to make it in the NFL? Then it’s just a waste of my time to even bother getting excited about it. Plus, the media hypes all Heisman winners as the next big thing and teams waste high draft picks on these players. I don’t get your point of view at all.

Just because you view something a certain way does not make it the reason or does not mean that is why people are tuning out. What has changed between now and years past? Is there a direct coalition between current Heisman winners and their lack of NFL success and the heydays and those players success?

Or is it that very few players really stand out anymore? When was the last time you tuned into a game because a player had the chance of winning the Heisman?

Simple. The combination of lesser viewership totals overall and people realizing most Heisman winners are a bust in the NFL has led to people tuning it out.

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2023 Heisman Tracker

A season-long look at ESPN's voting for college football's most coveted award

It's all over but the countin'.

After years of moaning over meh Heisman Trophy races, some began to question the relevance of an 88-year-old award "to the most outstanding player in college football" in this ever-changing world of NIL, the transfer portal and an impatient rush toward becoming NFL 2.0.

But look at that bronzed New Yorker, spending this entire 2023 season stiff-arming all that chatter about his demise. How? By joining forces with a roster of young teammates located coast-to-coast and conference-to-conference, throwing and running and catching footballs at a rate so rapid that it has had our Heisman Tracker graphic climbing and falling like the Griswolds on the Screaming Mimi.

From defending Heisman winner Caleb Williams and a sudden gaggle of would-be Pac-12 successors to SEC and Big Ten superstars, most of whom kept their teams in the CFP scrum all season long, who among them do our ESPN panelists believe will be having their photo taken onstage in Manhattan? We asked. They answered. Just as we've done every month of this season. Now you can see our final result while we wait for the final final result on Saturday night (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Points awarded: 5 for first-place votes, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth and 1 for fifth. Odds by ESPN BET.

Jayden Daniels

If you were wondering why we went with "most of whom kept their teams in the CFP scrum all season long," it's because the one member of this list who wasn't on a national title contender all the way into the final weekend of the regular season was Daniels, leading the 9-3 Tigers who finished third in the SEC West. But when you throw for 3,812 yards and 40 TDs while also rushing for 1,134 yards and another 10 scores, then your status is -- what was it that Heisman inscription says? Most outstanding player? -- pretty outstanding. In the three games LSU lost -- FSU, Ole Miss and Bama -- he still averaged 413 yards of total offense and added nine TDs, and this was even after exiting the Alabama game early because of injury. "We ran drills all week, getting spies ready for Jayden Daniels," Nick Saban said following the Tide's win, though they surrendered 116 yards rushing to the senior before he was forced to the sidelines early in the fourth quarter. "But when the spies track him, get to him, physically grab him but then can't bring him down and he just keeps running, that's an outstanding football player." ESPN points awarded: 66

Player Stats

2023 season week 13 vs. texas a&m, total votes by week.

Preseason: 14 FIRST, 1 SECOND

Wk 0: 9 pts (0 first, 2 second, 0 third)

Wk 1: 40 pts (0 first, 5 second, 3 third)

Wk 2: 53 pts (2 first, 7 second, 5 third)

WK 3: 65 PTS (6 first, 8 second, 1 third)

WK 4: 74 PTS (14 first, 1 second, 0 third)

Wk 5: 66 PTS (6 first, 9 second, 0 third)

Wk 6: 4 PTS (0 first, 0 second, 0 third)

Wk 7: 25 PTS (0 first, 2 second, 0 third)

Wk 8: 47 PTS (6 first, 2 second, 3 third)

Wk 9: 51 PTS (4 first, 5 second, 2 third)

Wk 10: 65 PTS (9 first, 4 second, 1 third)

Wk 11: 69 PTS (11 first, 2 second, 2 third)

Wk 12: 70 PTS (11 first, 3 second, 1 third)

Wk 13: 69 PTS (9 first, 6 second, 0 third)

Heisman trophy wk: 66 PTS (9 first, 3 second, 3 third)

Heisman-worthy moment

Florida at LSU:

Jayden Daniels throws three touchdowns and runs for two more.

Michael Penix Jr.

QB, Washington

This Hoosier-turned-Husky managed to turn the entire second half of the season into his own personal escape room challenge. Beginning with Washington's 31-21 win over Arizona in Week 5, all but one of the team's past nine victories have been by single-digit margins, and the only game that wasn't was won by only 10, after entering the fourth quarter tied with USC and Caleb Williams. Penix jumped into our midseason Tracker lead after outlasting Oregon and Bo Nix in a Week 7 Heisman showdown, but that momentum eroded via all those skin-of-the-wet-dog-nose November wins, as did America's and (Las Vegas's) confidence that Big Penix Energy (thanks again for that, Desmond Howard) could beat the Ducks again in the Pac-12 title game. Penix responded with 319 yards passing and a TD for good measure, enough to boost UW into the CFP and send their QB to NYC. But in the eyes of our Heisman Tracker contributors, despite four first-place votes, he'll fall just short of bringing back Washington's first stiff-armed reward, instead joining real-life Incredible Hulk Steve Emtman as their alma mater's only Heisman finalists. ESPN points awarded: 59

2023 season Conference title vs. Oregon

Preseason: 6 SECOND, 4 THIRD

Wk 0: 32 pts (0 first, 2 second, 4 third)

Wk 6: 70 PTS (10 first, 5 second, 0 third)

Wk 7: 75 PTS (15 first, 0 second, 0 third)

Wk 8: 58 PTS (4 first, 8 second, 0 third)

Wk 9: 61 PTS (7 first, 4 second, 2 third)

Wk 10: 54 PTS (3 first, 7 second, 2 third)

Wk 11: 43 PTS (1 first, 4 second, 2 third)

Wk 12: 39 PTS (0 first, 2 second, 8 third)

Wk 13: 43 PTS (0 first, 0 second, 13 third)

Heisman trophy wk: 59 PTS (4 first, 7 second, 3 third)

Oregon vs. Washington:

Michael Penix Jr. connects with Jalen McMillan for a 45-yard reception in the Pac-12 title game.

It is very easy to root for Nix, who arrived at Auburn in 2019 as a Mr. Alabama high school star and legacy QB (son of former Tiger Patrick Nix). He shouldered the load of both promise and expectations on the Plains, only to become a War Eagle social media pinata and transferred 2,600 miles away to Oregon. His love of the game and of the Ducks was apparent to anyone who watched the Pac-12 championship as he wept during the closing seconds of his team's second loss to Washington, their only two L's of 2023. His 4,145 passing yards are second in the nation behind Penix, and his 40 TD passes are tied for tops in FBS with Daniels. At the end of October, he was tied for fourth in this poll with FSU's Jordan Travis and closed out the regular season sitting second in this poll, only three points behind Daniels. But his second head-to-head defeat to Penix -- in which he had three TD passes and a dramatic run that set up the Ducks' final score -- proved to be too much to overcome in this race in the eyes of our voters, though he did top two of our 15 ballots. ESPN points awarded: 52

2023 season Conference title vs. Washington

Preseason: 5 SECOND, 2 THIRD

Wk 0: 2 pts (0 first, 0 second, 0 third)

Wk 1: 5 pts (0 first, 0 second, 0 third)

Wk 2: 6 pts (0 first, 0 second, 0 third)

WK 3: 20 PTS (0 first, 0 second, 2 third)

WK 4: 37 PTS (0 first, 2 second, 6 third)

Wk 5: 33 PTS (0 first, 0 second, 8 third)

Wk 6: 30 PTS (0 first, 1 second, 5 third)

Wk 7: 25 PTS (0 first, 2 second, 5 third)

Wk 8: 7 PTS (0 first, 0 second, 1 third)

Wk 9: 23 PTS (0 first, 3 second, 1 third)

Wk 10: 21 PTS (0 first, 0 second, 2 third)

Wk 11: 42 PTS (1 first, 5 second, 2 third)

Wk 12: 60 PTS (4 first, 7 second, 4 third)

Wk 13: 66 PTS (6 first, 9 second, 0 third)

Heisman trophy wk: 52 PTS (2 first, 4 second, 8 third)

Oregon State at Oregon:

Bo Nix throws two touchdowns and runs for another in the first half against rival Oregon State.

Jalen Milroe

QB, Alabama

We wanted to make a big deal out of the fact that Daniels wasn't even on this list in September, but that climb feels quaint compared to this one. Just two weeks ago, Milroe didn't receive a single vote from our panel, followed by only one fifth-place vote heading into the SEC title game against Georgia. Even that felt like little more than a nice attaboy for pulling off the fourth-and-31 "Gravedigger" miracle in the Iron Bowl. Now, after throwing a pair of TD passes to upset top-ranked Georgia in Atlanta, the Alabama sophomore is solidly in our top four and seemingly in position to enter 2024 as an early Heisman favorite. That "seemingly" will become "surefire" if he manages to win the Rose Bowl over another No. 1 in Michigan and helps Saban seize his eighth natty via a game played in Houston, which also happens to be Milroe's hometown. Not bad for a guy who was benched after two weeks because his coaches believed he needed an attitude adjustment. That tack appears to have worked. It's as if Nick Saban knows how to coach football. ESPN points awarded: 18

2023 season Conference title vs. Georgia

Preseason: 1 FIRST, 2 SECOND, 5 THIRD

Wk 11: 1 PT (0 first, 0 second, 0 third)

Wk 13: 1 PT (0 first, 0 second, 0 third)

Heisman trophy wk: 18 PTS (0 first, 0 second, 0 third)

Alabama at Auburn:

Jalen Milroe finds Isaiah Bond on fourth-and-31 to save Bama's season.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

WR, Ohio State

The lone non-QB to make our Heisman Tracker cut (sorry, Rome Odunze and Ollie Gordon) was, like Daniels, forced to sit at home and watch the other three on this list play in conference championship games. After starting autumn on everyone's preseason Heisman watch lists, the anchor of the Buckeyes' O disappeared for a while but rematerialized in October and never went away again. Even in the heartbreaking loss to Michigan in The Game, Harrison hauled in five catches for 118 yards and a crucial fourth-quarter TD that cut the Wolverines' lead to three. Harrison's entire Ohio State career has been about what could have been, from OSU's near-CFP win over Georgia in 2022 to his 0-3 record against Michigan to that rival also denying him even a Big Ten division title. Now, it would appear, you can add a close-but-not-enough Heisman campaign to that list. Is it too late to try and convince you to come back for one more try at all of the above, Marv? Pretty please? ESPN points awarded: 16

2023 season Week 13 at Michigan

Preseason: 3 THIRD

Wk 0: 27 pts (1 first, 1 second, 2 third)

Wk 2: 3 pts (0 first, 0 second, 1 third)

WK 3: 1 PT (0 first, 0 second, 0 third)

Wk 7: 2 PTS (0 first, 0 second, 0 third)

Wk 8: 39 PTS (2 first, 2 second, 4 third)

Wk 9: 41 PTS (3 first, 1 second, 6 third)

Wk 10: 41 PTS (3 first, 2 second, 5 third)

Wk 11: 49 PTS (2 first, 4 second, 7 third)

Wk 12: 32 PTS (0 first, 3 second, 2 third)

Wk 13: 13 PTS (0 first, 0 second, 2 third)

Heisman trophy wk: 16 PTS (0 first, 1 second, 1 third)

Michigan State at Ohio State:

Marvin Harrison Jr. scores three touchdowns -- two on receptions, another running.

Looking ahead

As Marvin Harrison Jr. mulls over that last request, we now look ahead to the Heisman Trophy race of 2024. Will Jalen Milroe indeed be the favorite to bring Bama its fifth Heisman since 2009 after going 0-for-72? Will Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, who spent a huge chunk of this season on the Tracker, return to Ann Arbor with an eye on joining Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson and Tom Harmon in the Blue Heisman club? Will Dillon Gabriel make a Heisman run from what is expected to be his third FBS school? Or will someone we haven't even thought of be making a climb up our fancy digital Heisman Tracker hill one year from now? If 2023 has taught us anything, it's that we have no idea what might happen. Reports of the bronze footballer's demise were most definitely exaggerated. Not only is Mr. Heisman not outdated, he would appear to be just getting started.

Best of the Rest: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas; Carson Beck, QB, Georgia; Rome Odunze, WR, Washington; Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State

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‘Full circle moment’: USC legend Reggie Bush speaks after Heisman Trophy reinstatement

by: Austin Turner

Posted: Apr 25, 2024 / 09:48 AM PDT

Updated: Apr 25, 2024 / 11:47 AM PDT

Reggie Bush, the legendary University of Southern California running back who helped guide the Trojans to two National Championships in the mid-2000s, spoke to the media on Thursday for the first time since his 2005 Heisman Trophy was returned this week .

“It’s a full circle moment for me right now,” Bush told reporters at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Thursday. “I can close my eyes and I can right away place myself on that football field in the No. 5 jersey.”

Bush, a San Diego County native who played for USC from 2003 to 2005, forfeited college football’s most prestigious award in 2010 in light of the discovery of “ improper benefits ” in the form of money and other items being awarded to him during his career, according to the L.A. Times.

While speaking on Thursday, Bush adamantly said the trophy was “wrongfully” taken, and said the insinuation that he “cheated” as a young player was what hurt him the most during the 14 years in which he wasn’t an official Heisman winner.

“You can’t get to this or a National Championship by cheating, I promise you,” Bush said, while pointing to the Heisman Trophy.

In addition to the stripping of the title of “Heisman Trophy winner,” the 2004 BCS National Championship and all wins from that 13-0 season were vacated from USC itself. Those wins remain vacated as of Thursday.

“This trophy is not just a representation of me,” Bush said. “It’s a representation of my teammates as well who helped me fight to get there.”

On Wednesday, the Heisman Trophy Trust decided to give the trophy back to Bush and the replica back to USC after a “deliberative process” in light of the massive structural changes to college athletics.

“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” said Michael Comerford, president of the trust. “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back.”

Bush’s astounding 2005 season was marked by 1,740 rushing yards, 478 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns. USC finished the season at No. 2 in the BCS rankings after falling to Texas in the National Championship game, which is now remembered as one of the greatest games in college football history.

Bush, now 39, won the Heisman Trophy in a landslide vote over Texas quarterback Vince Young.

The Heisman Trust said in addition to being re-awarded the hardware, Bush will be invited to all future Heisman Trophy ceremonies, beginning with the next one this December.

Former winners rejoiced at the news that Bush was rejoining the Heisman family.

“Thank you to the [Heisman Trophy] for doing what’s right and welcoming a storied member of our history back into the fold,” former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 winner, said on X . “There were many voices throughout this process that stood on the table for Reggie simply because of the kind of human being he is. I look forward to being on that stage with you this December.”

Bush’s teammate Matt Leinart, who was the Trojan’s quarterback from 2003 to 2005, said Wednesday was a “huge day for college football” in a video posted to his social media accounts. Leinart won the Heisman in 2004, one year before Bush.

“Everybody knows how long of a road this was,” Leinart said. “Over 10 years in the making … Now the trophy is back in the hands of where it belongs.”

While speaking on Thursday, Bush said it was the first time his three children, all born after the Heisman was stripped, had seen the trophy.

“The first thing they said was, ‘Dang, it’s big,'” Bush said to a round of laughs. “Those are the moments I couldn’t wait for.”

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Reggie Bush Shares Initial Reaction To Getting Heisman Trophy Back

E arlier this week, it was announced that Reggie Bush would get his Heisman Trophy reinstated. On Friday, he appeared on "The Pat McAfee Show" to discuss this development.

Bush told McAfee that he was excited to get his trophy back. He also said that he was willing to wait several years because of how important this fight was to him.  

"When I first got the news, I was excited, obviously, because this was a fight that we've been fighting for a very long time," Bush said . "I'm happy the Heisman Trust made the right decision, did the right thing. Obviously, I was excited when I got the news. I always felt like I was gonna get my Heisman Trophy back - always. I just didn't know how long it was going to take. 

"It didn't matter to me how long it took. I was going to fight even if it took another 20 years. I'm just glad it happened now." 

The fans watching McAfee's show chanted "you deserve it" before Bush made these remarks.  

Bush will be invited to future Heisman Trophy ceremonies, so there's a good chance we'll see him this December. 

Although it took a while, we salute the Heisman Trust for finally making the right decision. 

Sports | The Audible: Reggie gets his Heisman back, and…

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Sports | The Audible: Reggie gets his Heisman back, and what to make of the Clippers and Lakers?

Columnists jim alexander and mirjam swanson discuss some of the week's sports issues.

Jim Alexander: Breaking news this morning – Reggie Bush will get his Heisman Trophy back. And my first reaction was: It’s about damn time.

The Heisman Trust announced that after what it termed “a deliberative process” in determining that the landscape had changed, it saw no more reason to deny Bush his due because of the outdated, arcane and unevenly enforced (italics mine) amateurism rules that were then in play.

Actually, it shouldn’t have been that “deliberative.” When Caleb Williams, the presumptive No. 1 pick in Thursday night’s NFL draft and USC’s most recent Heisman winner, cleared around $10 million in NIL earnings this past season, I think the contrast and the unfairness should be obvious.

Three minutes of Reggie Bush USC highlights to start your Wednesday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jCObNJg1oM — Overtime (@overtime) April 24, 2024

And I have to think that the Heisman Trust at least consulted with the NCAA before making this announcement. So there are two steps I think should still be taken: Un-vacate the 13 on-field football victories involving Bush – you know, the ones we saw with our own eyes, including the 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the 2005 Orange Bowl that won USC a national championship – and somehow find a way to compensate the school for the four years of probation, two year bowl ban and 30 lost scholarships that basically set the program back for the better part of a decade.

You want fair? That’s fair.

Anything I forgot, Mirjam?

Mirjam Swanson: That sounds like a reasonable plan, Jim. I guess here at home, USC can go ahead and re-retire Bush’s No. 5 jersey, hang it up in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum next to Williams’ when it goes up. (Williams, on social media this morning, quote-tweeted the news and added his two cents: “Yes sirskii. It’s timeee.”)

Let Bush lead the team out of the tunnel soon too.

And let us – please and thank you – stop obfuscating reality. Finally, we’ll have an end to the annual absurdist presentation, wherein ESPN’s Chris Fowler would announce the Heisman winner and note during the broadcast that USC had eight of them, but the Heisman Trust would relay that the school had seven – the same number that Yahoo Sports used, and CNN. Even though the Guardian and us, the Southern California News Group, got it right: The Trojans had eight. HAVE eight.

Yes sirskii.

I bet there are some folks who wonder what the big deal is, of course. And, sure, in the scheme of things, an individual sporting award is just that, even if it’s THE award in a particular sport.

But if you ever heard Bush talk about how much it meant to him, and how wronged he felt, you’d understand why it matters: “Every day we worked our butts off,” Bush said at a news conference at the Coliseum last year. “I showed up to work, put my helmet on, and everything that was asked of me, I did it. Every time that No. 5 was called on, I delivered, and I kept delivering. And it’s unfortunate that that hard work that was put in, that was built – not only by me, by coaches and teammates, we all helped build this thing here – it’s unfortunate that it was all torn down so easily.”

And put painstakingly, deliberatively back together, at last.

Jim: Meanwhile, we still have playoff series to obsess over. And from the tenor of your column this morning from last night’s Clippers-Dallas Game 2, can we suggest that the Clippers –in spirit, anyway – lead the series 1-1 even after losing to the Mavericks, 96-93 ? Kawhi Leonard is back, and the pride of Moreno Valley (and Riverside, and let’s face it, a good slice of the Inland Empire) should be a difference-maker as soon as he shakes off the rust.

And amid this saga of injuries and missed opportunities, the nugget you unearthed last night floored me: This was the first time, since Kawhi joined the team in the fall of 2019, that he had participated in a home playoff game with a real, live, full-throated Clipper-partisan crowd in the building. It’s another reminder of how weird the 2020 and ’21 postseasons were.

Kawhi Leonard getting introduced to a fully packed Clippers postseason crowd for the first time in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/VODzy5SFDO — Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) April 24, 2024

Two questions: How good, really, are the Clippers when Kawhi is healthy and at peak performance?

And just what was it that Luka Doncic was screaming at the fans after his big-time 3-pointer late in the game last night? I have an idea but my lip-reading skills aren’t that great, and this is a family website, right?

Mirjam: I don’t know whether the Clippers will win a championship this year with Kawhi, but it’s at least in the realm of possibility. I do know, though, that they can’t win without him. So it was important to bring him back and let him go – even though he wasn’t particularly great Tuesday night.

Rusty and more winded than he’d normally be after 23 days without basketball – and he dove head first into the playoff fray, anyway. Played 35 minutes. Put up 17 shots. Tried to force the action. Stalled sometimes, sure. So it was sort of a strange situation: His presence on the floor didn’t win them this game, but his presence on the floor could help them win more games, and the thing I’ve always appreciated about Coach Tyronn Lue is how he has a handle on the big picture. And he had a little twinkle in his eye that I’ve seen before, so I believed him when he suggested he’s feeling great about where things stand.

But we’ll see! Right now, I think Clippers fans should be rooting hard for Leonard’s previously stubbornly inflamed knee to behave itself for a few more precious weeks.

Jim: It’s like walking a tightrope at this time of year. You’ve assembled your team, put the pieces where they belong and should best fit, and now you just hope you can get from start to finish without the whole thing falling apart. Is it any wonder why the playoff process is at once so enticing and agonizing?

I think we’ve both agreed all along this season that the Clippers are far more capable of winning a championship than the Lakers as long as they’re whole. The Lakers’ Game 2 loss at Denver the other night, in which they frittered away a 20-point lead and lost on Jamal Murray’s dagger at the horn , only reinforced to me the idea that there just are not enough dependable pieces on their roster. For example, how many fans are ready to throw a brick through their TV screen the next time Rui Hachimura misses a shot from inside two feet ?

Didn’t catch this live As if Rui blowing the layup wasn’t torture enough, this man hangs on the rim for a full 1.5 seconds, which results in the entire backboard/rim shaking once he let go And that prevented AD from converting the Putback This is hell man pic.twitter.com/McO7OIpEwM — LAbound (@LAbound2) April 23, 2024

The other takeaway? The Nuggets might not be the Lakers’ daddies, as the Denver crowd loves to chant, but right now Michael Malone owns Darvin Ham as completely as Kyle Shanahan has owned Sean McVay in recent years. One defensive switch shouldn’t be kryptonite, but when Malone switched Aaron Gordon onto Anthony Davis in the second half the other night it might as well have been because the Lakers seemed to have no counter.

The bottom line: A 39-year-old LeBron James can’t do it by himself. Davis’ consistency … well, comes and goes. And the supporting cast, which went AWOL in Game 1, isn’t as good as that of the defending champs. The series resumes in downtown L.A. tomorrow night, and quite frankly I don’t see it returning to Denver. I’d be happy to be wrong, but I just don’t see it.

Tell me I’m wrong, please.

Mirjam: You’re wrong … about the supporting cast, Jim. And about A.D.

But whether they’re going back to Denver? Well, when you’ve run an experiment 10 times and gotten the same result every time … it’s hard to feel good predicting anything different the 11th or 12th times.

The Lakers can absolutely play with Denver. And A.D. absolutely could muster monster second halves too, if he got the ball.

But credit Denver and, well, Malone and his staff, because the Nuggets seem always to manage to make adjustments that leave the Lakers discombobulated – Davis: “We have stretches where we just don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor” – and that costs them.

Our colleague Khobi Price just wrote a great breakdown of the recent breakdowns that I highly recommend.

If only the Lakers could gather their late-game wits, come up with some countermeasures that would continue to put pressure on Nikola Jokic, continue to give Davis opportunities to impact the game like we know he’s capable, continue to keep Austin Reaves involved in playmaking in a way that takes some of the burden off of James, so it isn’t all exhausted and often ill-conceived hero ball down the stretch. …

They have the manpower. I think they do. What they seem to be missing is the strategic chops to make the most of their potential, because yes, they’ll need to maintain a level of excellence for a full game to beat Denver. And we haven’t seen them do it yet, so it’s hard to imagine them doing it … but they have it in them.

Jim: I think I remember suggesting this before, that even though management seems to still have faith in Ham there’s a sense he might be coaching for his job now. I’d love to see him pull a few rabbits out of his hat in this series – it’ll take more than one against this bunch, I’m afraid – and I really believe he can grow into an outstanding strategic coach. This is just a tough matchup in a lot of ways.

But here’s my suggestion for Lakers fans at this point: I don’t think you’re going to win that 18th title this year, so you might want to root for anyone who plays the Celtics to keep them from an 18th banner.

(And if that means you wind up having to root for the Clippers in the Finals? Well, suck it up.)

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Why NCAA's Reggie Bush Decision Means So Little to USC Fans

Former USC Trojans superstar running back Reggie Bush has finally received his 2005 Heisman Trophy back after a 14-year absence, reports Peter Thamel of ESPN . The two-time national champion was forced to return the award in 2010 for infractions related to NCAA earnings violations while in school (USC was also hit with major sanctions) but now, thanks to the advent of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals across the college landscape, the Trophy is finally back where it belongs.

"Personally, I'm thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I'm honored to return to the Heisman family," Bush said, per a statement sent to ESPN. "I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization."

In that Heisman-winning season, he ran for 1,740 yards across 200 carries, while notching 16 touchdowns. He also grabbed 39 receptions over 481 yards. All told, he was a two-time First Team All-Pac-10 honoree, the two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, and a two-time consensus All-American pick while being named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year in '05. In addition to his Heisman that season, he also earned the Doan Walker Award and the Walter Camp Award.

"We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments," the president of The Heisman Trophy Trust Michael Comerford declared. "We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back."

Now, fans all across the football landscape are weighing in on the big moment... with a resounding shrug.

Newsweek's own J.P. Hoornstra observed that the NCAA's decision to penalize Bush so harshly for behavior that most big-time athletes were doing (earning big bucks for play that padded their schools' coffers) wasn't taken particularly seriously even in 2010. Whether or not he had the Heisman for that season, there was no doubt he was still the best player in the college game that year.

The USC people I know had the same initial reaction to the NCAA vacating Reggie Bush's Heisman: laughter bordering on ambivalence. He won the trophy, he rushed for all the yards, he did nothing few others were doing at the time. If this describes you, does today change anything? — J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) April 24, 2024

One fan on X, who goes by the name Shooter McGavin and is thus clearly a "Happy Gilmore" appreciator, perfectly encapsulated the general mood surrounding the news by summing up the NCAA's mea culpa:

The NCAA apologizing to Reggie Bush and giving him his Heisman Trophy back pic.twitter.com/GSLJVhyXBW — Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) April 24, 2024

With Reggie Bush back in the good graces of the Heisman House, former "The Daily Show" comedian Roy Wood Jr. imagined that he would get an opportunity to appear in Nissan's "Heisman House"-themed commercials, which lately have featured 2022 winner and presumed 2024 No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams and former Michigan Wolverines great Charles Woodson, among other.

Reggie Bush stepping up in the next Heisman House commercial pic.twitter.com/LSuG2VRSu6 — Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) April 24, 2024

Another fan could smell what Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was cooking in gif form, expressing relief that our long national nightmare is at last behind us:

pic.twitter.com/bFRPQefHwn — Chef Brian 🦒👑 (@Brian_Eubanks) April 24, 2024

Another Bush fan put it all pretty succinctly:

Bout time, how dare they take away something he earned because they couldn’t control his pockets lol that be crazy to me — Dontworryboutmeman (@dontworryfool) April 24, 2024

This sentiment was common among the general fan consensus on X:

What a joke. They never should’ve taken it away. — Fer Coach Davis (@Ferdavis9113) April 24, 2024

The length of time it took the NCAA to reverse its 2010 decision came under fair criticism from another fan, who compared it to the schedule of long-delayed sequel "Bill And Ted Face The Music:"

I gotta be honest. This is like the Bill and Ted's sequel. Way too late And people that are old enough to care probably don't care that much anymore lol — 'Za Maestro (@PizzaGuyKyle) April 24, 2024

The sports world at large seems to have moved on from the debate over whether college students deserve to profit off their own hard work (they do). It's nice to see the NCAA catching up with general temperature, albeit a bit belatedly.

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Caleb Williams, 2023 Trojan HoopLA

In a memorable photo, USC Trojans basketballer Brandon Gardner took a leap over the quarterback to dunk during the USC Trojan HoopLA event at Galen Center on October 19, 2023 in Los Angeles. While Gardner went for lime green shoes, Williams went for Adidas x Wales Bonner Samba “Silver” sneakers. 

Adidas and Wales Bonner reinvented the Samba sneakers with a futuristic touch, using silver-tone patent leather and crochet 3-Stripes. A Wales Bonner print adds harmony. A dual-branded tongue emphasizes the collaboration.

Caleb Williams, 2023 USC Practice

The USC footballer headed to Dedeaux Field for practice in a pair of Nike Men’s Vapor Edge Speed 360 Football Cleats. Their breathable fabric uppers keep your feet cool and comfortable, while the NikeSkin overlays provide enhanced durability. The heel pads offer cushioning, and the internal plates ensure flexible support. Widely placed TPU cleats dig into the ground for a secure grip, enabling agile and aggressive cuts.

Caleb Williams, 2023 F1 Grand Prix of Monaco

Caleb Williams attended the 2023 F1 Grand Prix of Monaco selecting ASICS Grey & Silver Gel 1130 Trainers complete with Gel technology for long-lasting cushioning, mesh and synthetic leather panels with a chunky rubber outsole and retro runner style.

Caleb Williams, 2022 NCAA Womens Basketball Game

The Heisman Trophy winner joined John Jackson III before a NCAA Womens basketball game between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 15, 2022. 

He kicked back in Jordan 1 Retro Low OG SP Travis Scott Black Phantom sneakers. The silhouette returns with a new contrast stitch design. The black nubuck sneakers feature Nike Air and Air Jordan logos. Red, Black, and White/Black laces are included. An embroidered Bee on the heel tab is inspired by Travis’ daughter, Stormi.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: MAR 20 USC Trojans Pro Day

Williams performs drills in front of NFL scouts during the USC Pro Day on March 20, 2024 at Loker Stadium in Los Angeles. He kicked back in  Nike Mercurial Zoom Vapor XV Pro AG Football Boots.

Nike’s new soccer-specific Air Zoom unit provides responsive cushioning for players on tough terrains. The thin but strong speed cage secures the foot without adding weight. The comfortable lining provides a close, natural fit.

Caleb Williams, 2023 UCLA v USC

Williams debuted the Nike Lebron IV Vapor Edge Cleats the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2023.

They feature a sleek, futuristic design with a foamposite upper that sets the stage for the avant-garde elements. The black phylon wrap enhances the shoe’s allure, while the black mesh inner bootie offers comfort and breathability, catering to the needs of players on the gridiron.

THE PLAYERS Championship – Round One

The NFL prospect watched the first round of The Players Championship at Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 14, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He went for the classic Asics silhouette again. 

Asics, founded on September 1, 1949, started by Kihachiro Onitsuka, initially made basketball shoes. By the 1950s, the company expanded to include a wide range of athletic footwear.

NFL Combine – Portraits

Williams posed for portraits at the Indiana Convention Center on February 29, 2024 in Indianapolis wearing ASICS Gel Kayano 14s showcasing a mesh upper, suede overlays, a padded collar, Asics logo patch on tongue, leather stripes on side panel and GEL technology cushioning with a rubber outsole.

Caleb Williams, 2022 Heisman Trophy Presentation

During a press conference after winning the 2022 Heisman Trophy at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on December 10, 2022 in New York City, Williams slipped on shiny dress shoes.

The trend of patent leather shoes has been popular in recent years as the style of footwear combines the classic shine of patent leather with the edginess of a chunky sole, creating a unique look that is both stylish and practical. They also offer a modern twist on classic styles, making them a versatile addition to any wardrobe.

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Caleb williams sets goal of 'immortality' with bears: 'only way to reach that is winning championships'.

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At long last, the Bears turned the expected into reality on Thursday night by drafting quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The selection was a historic pick -- Chicago's first at the very top of a draft since 1947 -- and it's one both the club and Williams hope is the impetus to rewriting the recent history for a Bears franchise that's been too often peering up at the rest of the NFL world.

"The history since I've been alive hasn't been necessarily where they are winning big games and Super Bowls and things like that," Williams admitted in his post-draft news conference, per NBC Sports Chicago .

Born in 2001, Williams was five years old the last time Chicago played (and lost) in a Super Bowl. The Bears have reached the playoffs six times, with five NFC North crowns and 16 seasons at .500 or worse during Williams' 22 years. Even beyond that, the franchise has never had a 4,000-yard passer or QB throw for 30 touchdowns in a single season.

A generational prospect, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has the moxie and the skills in his repertoire to change that. Between one season starting at Oklahoma and the last two years spent with USC, Williams threw for 10,082 yards, 93 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his collegiate career. He added another 966 yards and 27 scores on the ground.

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He can make all the throws -- sometimes to his detriment as he waits too long for a heroic hurl rather than a simpler one -- and has the mobility to make a defense pay should it crash in and leave a lane of escape or turn backs to the line of scrimmage in coverage.

He's forever a member of the Heisman club, but he never won a championship with USC in the Pac-12 or nationally. His goal in joining Chicago is to change such a narrative, knowing doing so with regularity long-term could eventually place him among the signal-calling greats.

"To be the greatest or to be able to sit at the table," Williams said regarding what he foresees in his future in Chicago. "You put dreams and goals in front of you that you aren't able to reach within a year or two, and you try to go get 'em. You have to consistently not get tired with consistency. Being able to be the same guy, being able to go in there and lead the guys and hold them accountable, and they hold me accountable to go get it. Having those team goals. The only way you can reach them.

"My last goal is immortality. The only way to reach that is winning championships. That's big for me and something that is the reason I play the game. I'm excited."

It's a lofty aim, and one recent first-round draft quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields surely never accomplished with Chicago.

The Bears' struggle to draft and develop a franchise QB caused some early in the process to wonder if Williams, presumed for months to be the No. 1 pick, would warm to playing in the Windy City.

He said he was game throughout the process, though, and on Thursday night went into specifics about how the Bears brass won him over.

"What they told me was that, you know, they haven't always put people in the right position, and that's their fault," he said. "The plan is to change that around. As y'all have seen, the new stadium. As y'all have seen, the coaches that they have brought here, the executive staffs. Things like that. Bringing people like that from winning cultures and winning places that want to win, and as a holistic family of the Bears but also stadium, team, coaches, executive staff. Everybody wanting to win and change the culture."

By admitting previous shortcomings, the Bears have been able to take corrective action. Things will always look brightest in April, but it's nevertheless undeniable Chicago is putting its newest QB in a spot to shine.

Although the Bears only have two picks remaining in the 2024 draft, they've already secured yet another top pass catcher in No. 9 overall selection Rome Odunze , creating a monstrous wideout trio befitting the Monsters of the Midway. Odunze joins DJ Moore , acquired in a trade last offseason, and Keenan Allen , added in a deal in March, in a passing offense that suddenly looks primed to shatter the output from its 27th-ranked operation last season.

There's also tight end Cole Kmet , and the newly-signed running back D'Andre Swift to pair with Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert .

The pieces are already well in motion to let Williams reach his ceiling.

Years from now, we will know if that means reaching football immortality, too.

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