The NCAA season had officially ended, moving into the off-season as preparations began for the upcoming one. But before that, major leagues and national awards were being announced, summarizing the NCAA season and building anticipation for the NFL draft.
Among them, the Heisman Trophy, the highest honor in college football, stood as the crown jewel.
Like soccer's Ballon d'Or, the Heisman is awarded based on votes from professional journalists, former Heisman winners, and an additional vote from the sponsor Nissan, which polls fans via ESPN for their choice, counting as one vote in the final tally.
Each voter selects three players, ranking them from first to third. The points awarded are three for first place, two for second, and one for third, with the player accumulating the most points winning.
Since its inception in 1935, the Heisman Trophy has entered its 81st year, and as the most storied and prestigious award in college football, it remains the ultimate goal for countless college players.
This year was no exception.
Lance, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, Baker Mayfield, Christian McCaffrey, and Jake Browning, among others, all competed fiercely, gaining attention even from the NFL, with professional players watching closely.
However, college and professional football are two very different worlds. Great college performances often don't translate to the pros, and the prestige of the Heisman can sometimes become a burden. Since the turn of the millennium, the Heisman has become known as something of a "curse."
In 2000, quarterback Chris Weinke won the Heisman, but was drafted in the fourth round by the Carolina Panthers, and after losing 17 consecutive games following his initial win as a starter, he faded from the spotlight.
In 2003, Heisman-winning quarterback Jason White went undrafted in 2005 and struggled even to secure a tryout with an NFL team. He is the only Heisman winner in history who never played professionally.
In 2006, quarterback Troy Smith won the Heisman with 91.63% of the votes, yet after a loss in the National Championship and concerns over his height at six feet, his draft stock plummeted, and he was picked in the fifth round by the Baltimore Ravens. Injuries marred his career as he moved between starting and backup roles.
The 2007 winner, quarterback Tim Tebow, was a college legend whose limited passing skills proved a barrier in the complex NFL playbooks, leading him to an early exit. He transitioned to a commentator and even tried his hand at baseball, though he remained a public figure.
Additionally, other winners like Sam Bradford (2008), Mark Ingram (2009), and Robert Griffin III (2011) were all set back by severe injuries, while 2012's Johnny Manziel became infamous as a negative example, failing to grasp the intricacies of the game's tactics.
Aside from Carson Palmer (2002) and Cam Newton (2010), Heisman winners over the past fifteen years have largely struggled in the NFL, fueling talk of a "Heisman Curse."
Still, despite this so-called "curse," both the NCAA and NFL continue to focus intensely on the Heisman each year. No one wants to miss it.
This year was no different—
Jackson led the Heisman race all season, only to falter at the end.
Lance's season was impeccable, though he was a running back and a rookie in his first football season.
Watson, a quarterback, performed excellently but was bested in the championship game's final seconds.
So, who would win?
The answer was finally revealed.
Lance!
A surprise, but also not quite a surprise.
For the second consecutive year, the University of Alabama claimed the Heisman Trophy, marking the Crimson Tide's third Heisman win—all three from running backs. This was also the first time in six years that a running back had won, marking a back-to-back victory after five consecutive wins by quarterbacks.
Among the records broken, an Asian player winning the Heisman for the first time stood out as a true milestone, making front-page news across major media outlets.
Yet the real shock came in the vote tally.
Lance's victory might have been expected, as both Saban and Donald had predicted. Lance's performances had spoken for themselves—
Beyond the Heisman, Lance had already racked up a list of accolades:
Maxwell Award, AP Player of the Year, Walter Camp Award, CBS Athlete of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, and selections to the NCAA All-American First Team across nine different platforms. He swept awards from the SEC to the national level, steadily extinguishing any suspense surrounding the Heisman vote.
But the true astonishment lay in his vote count.
A staggering 93.8%, 2,608 points.
With an overwhelming victory, Lance left no chance for Jackson, Watson, or anyone else, surpassing both Reggie Bush and Troy Smith to set a new record for the highest percentage of votes in the Heisman's 81-year history.
What did it mean to dominate?
What did it mean to take the trophy by storm?
Everyone had expected a close contest between Lance, Jackson, and Watson, with a tight race among them.
But instead? Just this?
The reaction was one of complete shock and awe.
Following the Heisman announcement, Lance made it official: he would declare for the 2017 NFL Draft.
The news created waves!
It wasn't exactly unexpected; most had anticipated this announcement. Lance's dominance was clear, having broken the records set by Derrick Henry just a year prior, making the jump to the pros a natural step.
But now, everyone wondered—
Could Lance break the "Heisman Curse?"
Especially as a rookie who had only one year of football experience before moving from the NCAA to the NFL, Lance faced an unprecedented challenge. Could he withstand the pressure?
The suspense was just beginning.
Note: The Heisman results are generally announced in early December, but the timing has been adjusted here for narrative purposes.
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Powerstones?
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