B/R's 2025 Heisman Trophy Rankings After Week 1

If you needed a reminder of how quickly the Heisman Trophy conversation can change, Week 1 provided an immediate warning.

Hype is volatile.

All offseason long, Texas quarterback Arch Manning drew the headlines. Clemson's Cade Klubnik—my personal pick for the honor in 2025—and Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith arrived with similarly sky-high expectations.

But games and awards, of course, are not determined on paper. The first 60 minutes of the season, unsurprisingly, have changed the story.

The following ranking is subjective—and very subject to change—and based on historical voting trends, such as individual production and team success.

Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson

The issues in the biggest games continued for Clemson and Cade Klubnik, who could not solve LSU's defense. He completed only 19-of-38 throws for 230 yards with no touchdowns and an interception, and the mobile Klubnik didn't make an impact on the ground in the loss, either.

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Miami locked down Jeremiyah Love, who gained 33 yards on 10 carries during the loss to the Hurricanes. He added four receptions for 26 yards in an otherwise quiet evening. Notre Dame remains a contender, but Love and the Irish need a bounce-back game against Texas A&M in two weeks.

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

After mustering a lone three-yard catch against Texas in the CFP semifinals last season, Jeremiah Smith was relatively quiet again. Most importantly for the Buckeyes, they won. But he reeled in six passes for just 43 yards and dropped a couple of targets, too.

Arch Manning, QB, Texas

Safe to say Arch Manning didn't envision his debut as the Longhorns' full-time starter going that way. He stumbled to a 17-of-30 line for 170 yards with one touchdown and an interception in the 14-7 loss at Ohio State.

Jackson Arnold, QB, Auburn

Sometimes, you just need a new setting. Jackson Arnold had a frustrating 2024 campaign at Oklahoma, hit the portal and landed at Auburn. He guided the Tigers to a very respectable 38-24 win over Baylor, throwing for 108 yards and rushing for 137 yards with two touchdowns. Auburn has a pair of couple tune-up games to prepare for a Sep. 20 clash at Arnold's former school.

Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech

Likely to be a thorn in the ACC, Georgia Tech kicked off the campaign with a victory at Colorado. Haynes King threw for 143 yards with an interception but carried the Jackets on the ground, running for 156 yards and three scores. Tech takes on lower-division Garnder-Webb before hosting Clemson in Week 3.

Devon Dampier, QB, Utah

You could hardly have drawn up a better start for Devon Dampier, who guided Utah to a 43-10 demolition of UCLA. While completing 21-of-25 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, he rushed for 87 yards and another score. Utah looks like it should be a strong contender in the Big 12 with Dampier.

As with the highest-ranked player on the list, Carson Beck wouldn't be deserving of the hypothetical Week 1 Heisman.

But toppling No. 6 Notre Dame is the kind of victory that sparks a resume.

The high-profile transfer put together a strong debut at Miami, completing 20-of-31 throws for 205 yards and two scores. He looked comfortable in a new system and helped the 'Canes open on a highly encouraging note.

Miami figures to cruise past Bethune-Cookman next weekend before a tricky back-to-back against South Florida and Florida.

Short and sweet for Drew Allar, really.

Second-ranked Penn State rolled over Nevada, building a 27-3 halftime lead en route to a comfortable 35-point win.

Allar, who watched the fourth quarter from the sideline, completed 22-of-26 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He chipped in 20 yards on the ground in a quietly impressive game for the senior.

Up next are more stat-padding opportunities with Florida International and Villanova. Penn State doesn't have a major test until Oregon visits on Sep. 27.

It wasn't always beautiful, but LaNorris Sellers did enough.

During a 24-11 victory over Virginia Tech, he went 12-of-19 for 209 yards with a touchdown and zero turnovers. The box score only shows 25 rushing yards, but remove sacks and he scampered for 61 with a score.

Sellers impressed with his ability to shake tacklers, both in the pocket to evade pressure and on designed runs. He launched a perfectly placed downfield shot to Nyck Harbor for a game-sealing 64-yard touchdown pass, too.

South Carolina is set to face a relentless schedule in 2025, but Sellers' playmaking ability gives the Gamecocks a chance to navigate it.

You don't win a Heisman for blowing up lower-division teams, but a nice evening of stat-padding sure boosts the resume.

John Mateer set an Oklahoma record with 392 passing yards, the most in team history for an opening game. The transfer diced up the Illinois State defense in a 35-3 rout, completing 30-of-37 attempts with three touchdown passes.

Soon enough, we'll see more of his dual-threat ability. It wasn't needed often, so Mateer settled for 24 yards and a fourth score.

The spotlight is about to get awfully bright, too.

Oklahoma is set to host Michigan in a prime-time matchup of Top 25 teams, a stage that Mateer could use as a launching pad of a true national ascent.

No, it wasn't a Heisman-level performance.

Because of Garrett Nussmeier's spot as a preseason front-runner, though, he's swiftly moved atop the rankings.

Nussmeier completed 28-of-38 passes for 230 yards and a score as LSU edged Clemson. That touchdown, an eight-yard pass to Trey'Dez Green, gave LSU a fourth-quarter lead it would not relinquish.

While the competition dips in Week 2 at home against Louisiana Tech, it quickly rises with rival Florida coming to Baton Rouge in Week 3.