Ohio State at Texas will be a showcase game with playoff implications, but also Heisman Trophy ramifications.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith rank among oddsmakers' frontrunners for college football's top award.
A signature victory in Week 2 would be fuel for a Heisman campaign.
On the latest edition of "College Football Unfiltered," a USA TODAY Sports podcast presented by Sports Seriously, host Blake Toppmeyer and his colleagues John Brice and Paul Myerberg address how this game will affect Manning's Heisman chances.
Can Arch Manning LOSE the Heisman Trophy against Ohio State?
Toppmeyer: Heisman
voters will remember what happens in this game. That said, Manning (or Smith or Sayin) can't win the award Saturday. Reality is, November (and December conference championship game) performances carry outsized weight in the Heisman race. So, nobody can win the award on Sept. 12. But, a bad performance in a loss could harpoon Manning's chances. He can't win it, but he can lose it, depending how this game goes.
Brice: We saw Manning's uncle, Peyton, lose it with early season struggles against Florida. Manning went 0-4 in his Tennessee career against the Gators. That hurt him. So, yes, Manning absolutely could lose the award in September if the Longhorns struggle against Ohio State, as they did last year. He can't win it, but he can solidify his stance as a frontrunner if Texas topples Ohio State. Or, he could sink his chances with a bad performance.
Myerberg: It's not really fair, but you can lose it in Week 2. You can't win it. If Manning struggles and throws two interceptions in a loss, yeah, he's probably not going to win the Heisman, because that'll be a legacy moment that people won't soon forget. He'd have to do some monster work in SEC play to overcome that.
Of all the stars in this game, who's most likely to win Heisman?
Toppmeyer: Smith. It's tough for a wide receiver to win the award, but Smith (or Miami's Malachi Toney) have the talent to pull it off.
Brice: Smith. He's the best player in college football and could provide the most sensational highlights throughout the course of the season.
Myerberg: Manning. Smith is indeed incredible, but this remains primarily a quarterback award, and Manning benefits from 100% name recognition.
Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream episodes on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts, Spotify or iHeart.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Arch Manning can lose the Heisman (but not win it) vs Ohio State
