Why did the Heisman trophy turn into a team award over the last couple of decades?

He’s gonna win

They used to just pick the best player on Notre Dame and that was that. It's now more about being on a great team, not necessarily the best player. If JD5 doesn't win then it's a joke.

I get where you’re coming from and am right there with you in support of JD. But, what media are you paying attention to? Bc the majority of the National media is pushing JD.

Also, I’m not sure that you are accurate. The last decade+ of Heisman winners were pretty on point with the best player in football.

2022 - Caleb Williams - Easy call
2021 - Bryce Young - Best player on best team. Dude threw for nearly 5000 yards in SEC
2020 - Devonta Smith - arguably could’ve been Trevor Lawrence, but he was kinda meh at times and Devonta was a monster
2019 - Joey B - Duh
2018 - Kyler - argument for Tua but that would’ve been best team. Also Kyler’s #s we’re stupid and similar to JD’s this year.
2017 - Baker - Best player
2016 - Lamar - No question
2015 - Derrick Henry - sucks bc Leonard but he was #1
2014 - Mariota - Pretty much a no brainer, arguably should’ve been Melvin Gordon
2013 - Jameis - Best player by far - 2 was AJ Mac and 3 was Jordan Lynch (barely even remember this Jabroni)
2012 - Johnny Football - Best player on not best team
2011 - RGIII - Best player on not best team
2010 - Cam - No Brainer, best player on best team

Bryce Young was not the best player on that Alabama team. It wasn’t close.

Anderson and Jameson Williams were better than he was, Anderson especially

Jayden Daniels should win it, but it's far from a lock. The last game the voters will likely see is Bo Nix against Penix. If one of them has a big day and gets his team into the playoff on a cold, rainy day in a conference championship game, it may seem like Daniels is a distant memory. Voters react emotionally to what happened most recently. They're prisoners of the moment, so the past 12 weeks may fade away.

Charles Woodson changed it all. Best player on one of the best teams and had a superior Heisman moment against OSU.

Mannings reaction to Woodson announced the winner was epic.

Manning was easily the best player that year, but they could never beat Florida.

I realize Tebow and Jackson won on 3 loss teams, but they were considered "unicorns" in college football, but now we know they weren't. JD will have an uphill battle against the two Pac-10/12/2 QBs.

If he has another good game this week and we can expect CBK to let him run loose, it’s his award

It’s not a team award. If it was, Jayden Daniels would not be in the running.

Maybe so, but if you watched the way he man handled our defense, and walked away saying that he was anything but the best player in the country then your eyes were closed.

He also averaged 218 ypg rushing over his last 4 SEC games when SEC defenses were still actually good, and every single player knew where the ball was going.

The end of his season was insane.

Woodson is the first I remember. Michigan at 9-3 and Manning would have won it.