Justin Fields’ hopes of winning this year’s Heisman Trophy have officially come to an end.
The Ohio state quarterback finished seventh in the vote for this year’s Heisman Trophy, ESPN revealed during its show announcing this year’s Heisman finalists on Thursday night.
Fields, who finished third in the vote for last year’s Heisman Trophy, emerged as one of the pioneers of this year’s Heisman Trophy after launching 11 touchdown passes and only 11 incompletions in Ohio’s first three games. His candidacy for the award fell apart in the past six weeks, however, as the Buckeyes had three of their six final games before Heisman’s vote canceled and Fields fought in two of the other three, throwing three interceptions against Indiana and two against Northwestern.
Winning Heisman was one of Fields’ stated goals earlier in the season, and if Ohio State had been able to play more games this fall, he would probably be right in the middle of the race for the prize. Fields has said all along that his biggest goal is to win a national championship, and he still has a chance to achieve it if he can take Ohio State to two wins at the College Football Playoff, starting with next week’s Sugar Bowl against Clemson.
“Of course I want to win Heisman and do all these things, but the team comes first, so if none of that happens, I’m fine with the national championship trophy sitting in front of Woody,” said Fields in August.
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Alabama DeVonta Smith wide receiver and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask are the four finalists for this year’s Heisman Trophy, which will be awarded on January 5. Alabama running back Najee Harris finished fifth in the Heisman vote, while Iowa State running back Breece Hall finished sixth.