Heisman Calculator
The Heisman Calculator is a one-of-a-kind regression model that processes simulated 2016 Heisman votes. By using player and voter data from years past, we can identify statistical influencers that drive Heisman votes.
For the second consecutive year, HeismanWatch.com foretells the Heisman Trophy outcome with greater accuracy than ESPN’s panel of experts and USATODAY’s Gannett Heisman [voter] survey. Regression models can struggle when determining a coefficient ceiling so we weren’t all too disappointed that the Heisman Calculator didn’t calculate a +2100 vote/point outcome for Lamar Jackson. With that said, the marginal difference between Jackson and Deshaun Watson were virtually identical, and to us, that’s whats most important. We specifically designed the calculator to tell us how many vote/points separate candidate-to-candidate. That is exactly what it did and we’re very excited about that. We also listed out the top 6 finishers in perfect sequential order.
Lamar Jackson
Quarterback, Louisville
Deshaun Watson
Quarterback, Clemson
Baker Mayfield
Quarterback, Oklahoma
Dede Westbrook
Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
Insight & Analysis
Heisman Watch calls out the weekend’s polarizing performances and how they impact the Heisman Trophy race
The All Too Soon 2017 Heisman Favorites
If one thing is 100% accurate about this article: this will be the most irrelevant article you will have read in 2017. The best part about a list this early is that we have so much time to discuss what we like and really like about it. So without further adieu I give you the[…]
Lamar Jackson and the Heisman Review
Leonard Fournette is going to win the Heisman Trophy. Well, at least that’s what we all thought before the first snap of the season. Clearly one of the best returning players from a year ago, Fournette was the Heisman front-runner for the majority of the 2015 season. It took one bad week along with one[…]
Grading the 2016 Heisman Calculator
For our second consecutive year, HeismanWatch.com foretells the Heisman Trophy outcome with greater accuracy than ESPN’s panel of experts and USATODAY’s Gannett Heisman [voter] survey.
Former Heisman Winner Rashaan Salaam Has Passed
Sad news for the Heisman family, football fans across the country, more importantly the family and friends of Rashaan Salaam who has passed away at the age of 42. Salaam’s body was found in Boulder, Colorado park on Monday night. Right now there is no further information as to cause of death. Salaam won the[…]
Heisman Firsts…
Lamar Jackson is trying to be the first player since Tim Brown in 1987 to win the Heisman after losing their final two games. N.D. was a top-10 team all season before a one point loss @ Penn St. and a 24-0 blowout to eventual National Champion, Miami. Jackson and Louisville lost @ Houston and[…]
Heisman Finalists
Going to New York City, NY for the Heisman Trophy Award Ceremony on Saturday, December 10th at 8 pm ET: Lamar Jackson: 8th in FBS in rushing yards (1,538) t-4th in FBS rushing TD’s (21) 12th in FBS in passing yards (3,390) 11th in FBS in passing TD’s (30) ACC Player of the Year ACC[…]
Lamar Jackson’s Heisman Résumé
Why Lamar Jackson will win the Heisman: Stats, stats and more stats. Jackson is averaging 282.5 passing yards per game and 128.2 rushing yards per game. He’s averaging 25.7 points responsible for per game. Compared to entire teams, Jackson averaged more passing yards than 104 teams, more rushing yards than 14 teams, and more points[…]
What We Learned From Championship Weekend
Playing this weekend without Lamar Jackson stealing the highlights was a first for many of the Heisman candidates. With the bright lights and the big stage, who improved their position, who showed their true Heisman colors and who stumbled underneath the immense pressure HeismanWatch.com puts on college football players to make our website great. Jake[…]
Heisman and the Rankings
Do rankings have an influence as to how voters view the Heisman candidates? Simply put: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Here’s why (in short, the credentials for a Heisman winner change each and every year but keep reading for examples): As much as this season for Lamar Jackson feels like a once-in-a-lifetime affair, his run towards the Heisman is[…]
Heisman Moments
He has the numbers. He has the highlights. He has whatever this “it” factor is everybody talks about but nobody can explain. But if there’s one thing lacking from this Heisman campaign for Lamar Jackson, there’s no clear ‘Heisman moment.’ Many former Heisman winners had a play or a game where we said, “yep, there’s[…]
Heisman Scenarios
We here at HeismanWatch.com came up with two brilliant scenarios we forecast on the Heisman horizon. Both with similar logic but contrasting conclusions. Let’s begin with a rather obvious observation that’s relevant in both scenarios: there’s no clear #2 contender. There hasn’t been for some time. Lamar Jackson has been everyone’s ‘front-runner’ for at least[…]
The Heisman Door is Officially Open
Did Lamar Jackson fumble away the Heisman? One week after playing his worst game of the season, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson put together a game that may embody his entire Heisman campaign; big plays, big stats, but at the end of the day, a disappointing outcome. Jackson finished the game on Saturday with 281 yards passing,[…]
Opportunity Lost
Last Thursday, Heisman front-runner Lamar Jackson had his worst game of the season. That’s truly saying something because his ‘worst’ game of 211 passing yards was still better than 70 other starting FBS QB’s. Still, Louisville lost their playoff luster getting stampeded by the Houston Cougars, 36-10. So for the first time since mid-September, the[…]
Saturday Round Up: Week 12
Heisman Watch calls out the weekend’s polarizing performances and how they impact the Heisman Trophy race.
Overreaction Friday
“Down goes Jackson! Down goes Jackson!” Not just a popular catch-phrase referencing an upset in the sports world but ESPN play-by-play announcer Dave Flemming was literally saying that over and over again. Eleven, count ’em, eleven sacks on the night for the ‘unranked’ Houston Cougars as they manhandled ‘Heisman front-runner’ Lamar Jackson, 36-10 on Thursday[…]