Heisman Launches “Heisman Hopefuls” Platform
HEISMAN LAUNCHES “HEISMAN HOPEFULS,” A FIRST‑OF‑ITS‑KIND DATA, STORYTELLING, AND FAN VOTING PLATFORM EXPANDING THE HEISMAN CONVERSATION ACROSS COLLEGE FOOTBALL
New season-long analytics hub, storytelling engine and enhanced Fan Vote expands the Heisman conversation to more than 11,000 student-athletes, with fans casting the first official ballot in the Heisman Trophy voting process.
Heisman today announced the launch of Heisman Hopefuls, a first‑of‑its‑kind, season‑long analytics and storytelling platform designed to give student-athletes from every program and every position the opportunity to be part of the Heisman discussion.
“We surveyed college football fans, and they told us clearly that they want more data on more players and more ways to engage with the Heisman Trophy throughout the season,” said Jeff Price, CEO of Heisman. “Heisman Hopefuls delivers that. Every player who steps onto the field this fall begins the season as a Heisman Hopeful with the chance to earn the award on the field of play. This platform, working hand‑in‑hand with the schools, helps us shine a light on those players and bring their stories forward all season long.
At the center of the hub is the Heisman Hopefuls Fan Vote. Beginning September 9, fans can vote once per day throughout the season, with results determining the top three finishers on the single official fan ballot. The fan vote uses a season-long weighted model, developed in partnership with the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Center, that gives greater weight to votes cast later in the year as the body of work grows and conference races intensify.
“Using historical college football data, we’re creating a methodology to dynamically weight fan votes based on data observed throughout the season,” said Ron Yurko, Director of the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Center. “While fans will be allowed to vote each day throughout the season, CMSAC’s data-driven approach will guide how much weight to give votes each week.”
Alongside the fan ballot, the Heisman Hopefuls Field brings season stats and player rankings together in one place for the first time within a Heisman platform, covering more than 11,000 student-athletes across every position. Built on official NCAA data from Genius Sports and regularly-updated EA SPORTS College Football player ratings, the Field gives fans and schools a dynamic way to track breakout performances all season.
This year, the fans go first. On Conference Championship Weekend, Heisman will unveil the season-long Heisman Hopefuls Fan Vote results live on ESPN. The top three finishers, ranked first, second and third, become the single official Fan Vote ballot in the Heisman Trophy tabulation. For the first time, the Heisman Hopefuls Fan Vote results will be announced before the Heisman electorate begins voting, ensuring the voice of college football fans can be considered as the electors cast their ballots.
“While remaining neutral in the process, we are also building stronger, more connected and collaborative relationships between Heisman and the schools,” Price said. “Heisman Hopefuls gives every program exciting new ways to spotlight their athletes and engage their fans all season long.”
“At its core, the Heisman Hopefuls platform is about broadening the Heisman conversation,” Price said. “Every season begins with incredible performances, at every position and in every program. Our goal is to give fans more ways to discover those performances and to give schools another platform to tell those stories. Through the enhanced Fan Vote, the voice of college football fans will have a more meaningful role in the process. Ultimately these enhancements will ensure the season-long conversation around the Heisman Trophy is more engaging than ever.”
In addition to EA SPORTS and the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Center, Heisman Hopefuls is supported by other best‑in‑class partners, including Next League, the Heisman’s AI and technology service provider, which built the fan voting experience; Yangaroo, which hosts the fan vote ballot; and CLC, which enables approved merchandise featuring eligible student‑athletes.
“Together, these partners help create a richer, more dynamic platform that elevates engagement, fuels informed debate, and brings new energy to the discussion around the “most outstanding player in college football,” Price added.
