How COVID-19 cost Trevor Lawrence the Heisman Trophy
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence has been considered the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy for much of the 2020 season, but things have begun to shift against him as of late in terms of media narratives.
Trevor Lawrence was the major star and face of College Football back in September when only the ACC, SEC and Big 12 were playing, but there has already begun to be a shift in media narratives, talking points and discussion and that happened well before Lawrence tested positive for COVID-19.
However, that positive test may have very well cost him the Heisman.
The media narrative over the past two weeks has been to push Justin Fields over Trevor Lawrence
The one thing that Lawrence had working for him in a head-to-head comparison of Fields was the fact that he was going to play a lot more games.
Unfortunately, with him missing at least two games, that discussion point has become almost moot.
Though Fields has only played two games himself, he is already being pushed as the Heisman front-runner. National media members are talking about his poise, stat line and how he was the savior of the Big Ten. (Of course, they conveniently forget that Trevor Lawrence was the savior of College Football.)
It’s unfair, but that’s how the Heisman works.
It’s nothing more than a popularity contest and media members have been looking for reasons to push Fields over Lawrence for quite some time. Lawrence missing two games was simply the opening they needed.
There’s no doubt that Lawrence is the best quarterback in the nation and he has been a great leader, but there’s also no doubt what the national media are trying to push and more times than not, the narrative they set is what influences voters in the end when it comes to the Heisman.