Heisman Trophy contenders: The ACC, plus Notre Dame, Top 5 candidates in 2023

USC’s Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and is the betting favorite to become just the second two-time winner, joining only Ohio State’s Archie Griffin. 

Over the next week, we’ll look at the Top 5 candidates from each Power 5 conference (and Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman). 

We kickstarted the series with the SEC, and yesterday we looked at the Big Ten’s likeliest contenders. Today, we look at the ACC, as well as faux-member Notre Dame, and its potential candidates for college football’s prestigious award. 

It’s a QB-driven award these days, and the ACC has several viable contenders at the sport’s most important position. 

*** Note: It’s fun (and easy) to toss out pie-in-the-sky picks, but each list this week is at least attempting to identify potential candidates who have a somewhat-realistic case to contend for the award. So you won’t see any defensive players, as the Heisman Trophy voter pool refuses to even invite a guy like Will Anderson to the ceremony (reminder: Alabama’s pass rusher had 101 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks in 2021). 

You also won’t find me listing guys like KJ Jefferson or Jalon Daniels — two really good college QBs, but players who are on teams that aren’t expected to win a whole lot in 2o23. 

Last season, Caleb Williams became the first Heisman Trophy winner since Lamar Jackson in 2016 to not lead his team to the College Football Playoff. With few exceptions, this has become a QB award going to the guy on one of the country’s best teams. Maybe that will change this fall. I doubt it. 

The ACC’s Top 5 Heisman Trophy candidates in 2023

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Outside of the reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, there’s no more talented QB in the country than UNC’s Drake Maye. As a redshirt freshman, Maye threw for over 4,300 yards with 38 touchdowns and just seven picks. He also led the Tar Heels with 698 rushing yards, adding seven scores on the ground. 

Maye lost his OC Phil Longo and top receiver Josh Downs, but there are still enough pieces in place for him to have a monster sophomore season before heading to the NFL. If North Carolina can continue to contend for an ACC title in 2023, then Maye is among the frontrunners to get invited to New York come December. 

QB Jordan Travis, Florida State

Jordan Travis enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022, recording 32 total touchdowns en route to helping Florida State go 10-4. The sixth-year senior has improved every year, and now he’s surrounded by the best offensive line and set of skill-set talent he’s ever had at his disposal — headlined by the Seminoles’ addition of marquee transfer wideout Keon Coleman and tight end Jahiem Bell. 

Travis has a chance to make a statement in Week 1 in a neutral site affair against a Top 10 LSU, and with an FSU squad poised for a potential ACC Championship run, the veteran starter should be in the mix all fall. 

QB Sam Hartman, Notre Dame

The ACC’s all-time record holder in passing touchdowns is now the QB1 at Notre Dame, which instantly makes Sam Hartman a possible Heisman Trophy candidate in 2023. 

No longer at Wake Forest, Hartman’s talent will be shown on a bigger stage, especially against a schedule that features huge showdowns with Ohio State, USC and Clemson — all Top 10 teams. The Irish have a new OC, but they’ve reloaded the receiver room and have one of the better offensive lines in the country. 

Hartman has put up gaudy stats against lesser competition, but if he has similar production while helping Notre Dame contend for a College Football Playoff spot this fall then the senior QB will absolutely be in the mix for the nation’s most prestigious award.

QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson

This is a classic example of upside + positional value + team expectations = potential Heisman Trophy shortlist candidate. Cade Klubnick has limited experience, and the former 5-star recruit ran hot and cold during his short run as a starter for the Tigers. But he has immense talent, and there’s optimism his true potential will shine through under new OC Garrett Riley.

Klubnik led Clemson to a blowout win over North Carolina in the ACC Championship (20 of 24 for 279 yards and two total touchdowns) but then struggled to throw the ball into tight windows against Tennessee in a loss in the Orange Bowl (just 55.6 completion percentage, 5.9 per attempt with two picks). If he can help lead a resurgent Tigers offense back to the ACC Championship then he’ll be among the contenders for a NYC invite.

RB Will Shipley, Clemson 

Yes, this is a major long shot, especially since a tailback hasn’t won the Heisman Trophy since 2015. But what if Cade Klubnik is just fine in Year 2 and Garrett Riley opts to lean on a dynamic veteran tailback?

Despite playing in a sandbox offense last season, Shipley returns as the ACC’s leading rusher in both yards (1,182) and touchdowns (15), and he should have even more room to operate in Riley’s Air Raid scheme. Shipley had 38 receptions in 2022, but he stands to be a more integral component of the passing game this fall, too.

If Shipley can muster something akin to 2,000 total yards and 25 touchdowns on a team that’s in the hunt for a playoff spot come December, then he’ll be among those mentioned in Heisman conversations.