Preseason Heisman Watch (Favorites)

As one of the most prestigious awards in college football, the Heisman Trophy is one of the most sot after awards and the most watched.  Here are ten players who have the best shot at bringing home the hardware.  Will the next winner be in this group or will they come from nowhere like the previous couple of years.

Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville

Why he could win:  Bridgewater is the top quarterback in college and we all know this is a quarterback's award.  The Cardinal offense is built around him and his pin point accuracy makes it easy to get the ball in the hands of their play makers.  Add in that they are coming off a BCS Bowl victory and have a shot at a perfect season and he should be in the thick of the race.

Why he won't win:  Louisville may go undefeated, but they don't really play anybody too tough.  Not having a signature win cold really hurt his case.  Another reason is their offense.  Louisville runs a conservative West Coast Offense that won't allow him to put up gaudy numbers that really gets voters attention.  Pairing those two together and it could be an uphill battle for Teddy.

Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina

Why he could win:  Cloweny is easily the best player in college football.  He is a freak of an athlete and has dominated the SEC at times.  The past few years we've seen a defensive player in the finals and votes are more willing to vote for defenders now.

Why he won't win:  A defender has never won the trophy.  Times are changing, but that's still a lot to get over.  Add in that offensives can scheme around Clowney or double him on a constant basis and that could really hurt his impact.  You also have to factor in that he's lost a lot of that defensive talent around him that was helping to free him up.

MarQuise Lee WR USC

Why he could win:  He's a difference maker who turned Robert Woods into a complimentary piece.  Lee is explosive and can do it all at the position.  He's easily the best wide receiver in college and will likely be the focal point of the Trojan offense.

Why he won't win:  Gone is Matt Barkley who was one of the better quarterbacks in college last year and unproven Max Wittek.  With that the Trojan offense is likely going to have to rely on the ground game which will take touches away from Lee. USC also isn't going to be challenging for the Pac 12 Title, so that could take added attention away from Lee.

Jordan Lynch QB Northern Illinois

Why he could win:  Lynch lead the Huskies to a 11-2 record and the school's first ever BCS Bowl.  He did it by rushing for 1,815 yards and throwing for another 3,138.  Lynch will be the focal point for the offense again and the Huskies should be making a charge at a perfect season.  If the Huskies can do that and Lynch puts up similar numbers he could get voters attention.

Why he won't win:  No player has won the Heisman from a non BCS conference school since Ty Detmer in 1990 and that was when college football was a lot different.  For Lynch to actually win, he's going to have to put up monster numbers.  And even with that they don't play anybody that is going to give him a signature win.  It's going to be an uphill battle for him.

Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M

Why he could win:  Why not, he's already done it once why not again.  He plays in the SEC and on a team that will contend for the league crown.  The players that are usually finalists are the best players on the best teams.  Manziel fits that.  Also, A&M returns a lot of the pieces from last year's offense which should keep Manziel and the offense running at a high level. 

Why he won't win:  Only Archie Griffin has won the award twice.  We're seeing voters lighten up on who they vote for, but it's going to take a HUGE season for somebody to do that.  Manziel is also due for a set back.  He'll still be good, but you have to know that SEC defensive coordinators have been working this summer on how to slow him down.  You also have to question his maturity and whether he can handle the increased spotlight.

Marcus Mariota QB Oregon

Why he could win:  Oregon's offense is one of the most efficient in the game and Mariota is the straw the stirs the drink.  He doesn't have a cannon for an arm but he is a precise passer and can get the ball to their weapons.  Oregon should be loaded with weapons again this year, so don't be surprised to see Mariota exceed the 3,429 yards he put up last year.

Why he won't win:  Chip Kelly is gone and Mark Helfrich is in.  Helfrich was Kelly's right hand man, but how will he do as a play caller for the first time?  How about the fact that Oregon is loaded with playmakers at running back and receiver.  Those players could end up overshadowing Mariota.

Taylor Martinez QB Nebraska

Why he could win:  Martinez is going to be a four year starter and has improved each year.  Their uptempo offense is built around his dual threat skills and puts him in situations to succeed.  But what could help him out the most is the weapons around him.  Their receiving corps is one of the best in the nation and Martinez shouldn't have an issue finding somebody open.

Why he won't win:  The threat of of turnovers.  Martinez has improved, but he has also been bailed out quite a bit the past year.  When one comes, they seem to pile up.  Especially when the team gets down and he starts forcing it.

AJ McCarron QB Alabama

Why he could win:  McCarron is far better than the game manager label he's been given.  He has a strong arm, good accuracy, and reads defenses well.  Despite all the talent they've had in recent years, this should be their best offense and a lot of it is because of McCarron.  They'll be in the National Title hunt and that always increases his viability to voters.

Why he won't win:  Sometimes perception can really hurt you.  Even with all the talent McCarron has, everybody assumes he's just a game manager handing the ball off and  making easy throws.  Add in that McCarron isn't overly flashy and not a dual threat and that could cause some voters to look past him.

Braxton Miller QB Ohio State

Why he could win:  Miller finished in the top five in voting last year and that exposure only increases the attention to him.  He's a dynamic athlete that is a perfect fit in Urban Meyer's spread offense.  The Buckeyes finished with an undefeated record last year and have just as good of a shot this year to do the same.

Why he won't win:  Even though the Buckeyes are the favorite to win the Big 10, they don't have a lot of weapons around him and they have to rely on him way too much.  This has lead to a lot of injuries last year and kept him on the sideline at times.  Miller has also had a tendency to not rack up yards on inferior teams which is a must.

Sammie Watkins WR Clemson

Why he could win:  One of the most explosive weapons Watkins is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball.  With DeAndre Hopkins now in the NFL, Watkins will be looked to be the leader and that could result with big numbers.  Contending for the ACC Championship and a dark-horse National Title contender can only help his chances.

Why he won't win:  Injuries and a suspension were a big hindrance to his production last year.  If he gets nicked up or isn't fully matured he could suffer the same fate.  But the biggest obstacle to him winning the Heisman could be his teammate Tajh Boyd who could overshadow Watkins because of better numbers and the fact that the Heisman is practically a QB award and a WR hasn't won the trophy since Tim Brown in 1987.