Heisman launches new platform

The Heisman Trophy is opening its season-long conversation to more players, programs and fans with the launch of Heisman Hopefuls, a first-of-its-kind analytics, storytelling and fan-voting platform.

Designed to highlight student-athletes from every program and position, the new hub will combine season statistics, player rankings and stories in one place. It will cover more than 11,000 college football players and give fans a new way to follow emerging contenders and breakout performances throughout the season.

“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,” Heisman CEO Jeff Price said. “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.”

The platform’s central feature is the Heisman Hopefuls Fan Vote, which opens September 9. Fans may vote once each day during the season, but each vote will not necessarily carry equal weight.

Developed with the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Center, the voting system will place greater emphasis on ballots submitted later in the season, when players have produced a larger body of work and conference races have intensified.

“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.”

The results will determine the first-, second- and third-place selections on one official fan ballot included in the Heisman Trophy tabulation.

In another change to the process, the fans will make their selections first. The three Fan Vote finishers will be revealed live on ESPN during Conference Championship Weekend, before the Heisman electorate begins voting. Organizers say the timing will allow electors to consider the collective voice of college football fans when completing their own ballots.