Ken Ruinard / staff, The Greenville News via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Paul Finebaum Names Major SEC QB Who is Not a Heisman Contender

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 10:00 PM ET

The Heisman Trophy is the most prestigious award in college football and one of the most recognizable honors in all of sports.

Almost every child grows up dreaming of that moment and practicing their Heisman poses in the yard or around the house. This year, a new member will join that illustrious fraternity.

The top five favorites for the award, according to BetMGM, are:

1. Arch Manning, QB, Texas, +600
2. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU, +850
3. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State, +1000
4. Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson, +1000
5. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State, +1400

One name not mentioned is Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed. He threw for 1,864 yards, with 15 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He also showcased his strong running abilities, rushing for 543 yards and scoring seven touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He took over as starting quarterback after Conner Weigman struggled during the season; Weigman has since transferred to the Houston Cougars.

On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst was asked whether he thinks Reed is a legitimate contender.

"I didn't see enough from Marcel last year overall, yeah, in individual moments like the LSU game, some of the earlier games in the season, he was sensational," Finebaum said. "Can he do that consistently is my question."

Finebaum believes that to win the Heisman Trophy, a player must demonstrate more than just flashy skills. He argues that a player needs to have impressive statistics, similar to Colorado Buffaloes star cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter, who won the award last year with 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. On top of that, Hunter contributed on defense with 36 tackles and four interceptions.

Finebaum acknowledges that Hunter showed it is possible for a player to win the Heisman even if they are not on one of the top teams, but he insists the player must excel at an extraordinary level. For this reason, Finebaum does not include Reed on his Heisman list, placing several other players ahead of him.

The Aggies and Reed will kick off the season against the UTSA Roadrunners on August 30 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: