Welcome to Glass Slipper! Perhaps the Yankees will finally win a baseball game today; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

**NOTICE: Glass Slipper will arrive on Tuesday and Friday next week.

College football is 50 days away. We’re inching closer. It’s time to predict who the 2025 Heisman finalists will be.

I did this same exercise a year ago, and two of my four selections were correct. That’s not bad, but also not perfect. Let’s try and do better this time around.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU QB

Remember when JaMarcus Russell declared for the draft, and LSU proceeded to be mediocre or worse at quarterback for 12 seasons in a row? Zach Mettenberger was alright. Matt Flynn was serviceable. Jordan Jefferson was a mess, but at least he got his baby brother to the Bayou. Even the 2018 version of Joe Burrow was nothing special. It’s rare to see an elite program struggle at the sport’s most important position for that long.

The drought is now ancient history, and it will never happen at LSU again. Not after this recent run of dudes; if Nussmeier hoists the trophy in New York, it’s three winners in a seven-year span for Tigers signal-callers. That’s absurd.

Garrett needs to clean up the interceptions to have a legitimate chance at this. The dozen that he threw a season ago is more than any quarterback has logged in a Heisman campaign since 1996. Far too often, he torpedoes a promising drive with a careless mechanical error. If Nussmeier can avoid mistakes on big stages - starting with that trip to Clemson in Week 1 - he’ll be firmly in the discussion.

Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State WR

Look, I don’t feel the need to spend too much time here. We just watched a generational recruit walk into college football, absolutely obliterate Ohio State’s freshman receiving records, and bring a national championship ring back to Columbus. Of course he’s one of my finalists.

There’s no such thing as a lofty long-term projection for Jeremiah. If we fast-forwarded a decade and you told me that he was going toe-to-toe in Calvin Johnson debates, I would believe you instantly. Smith is among the most naturally gifted humans on Earth, and he cares about the right stuff. I can’t believe I get to watch him wear Scarlet and Gray for two more seasons.

Anthony Hill Jr., Texas LB

If you want a reference point for how searing-hot of a take this is, just know that three(!!) Buckeyes QBs have shorter odds to take home the award than Hill. In fact, the kid isn’t even listed. Like, you literally can’t bet on him.

Television networks - primarily the one known by its four big red letters - love to force-feed us content about the Manning family. It will be incredibly difficult for any non-Arch Longhorn to grab the spotlight, let alone a linebacker. I think Anthony has the requisite talent to steal the show, though. Eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and a second-team All-America nod as a 19-year-old? The SEC is in grave danger this fall.

We’re due for a full-time defender earning an invite to the ceremony. Caleb Downs is clearly the best in America, but he’s so intimidating that Big Ten offensive coordinators specifically structure their gameplans around limiting his big-play opportunities; it’s the collegiate equivalent of spamming a two-high shell against Patrick Mahomes. With Colin Simmons on the edge and Malik Muhammad behind him, Hill doesn’t have to deal with that same level of attention from opposing staffs. He’s teed up for a massive season in Austin, and I think the numbers will be historic.

DJ Lagway, Florida QB

It’s only July, but the hype train in Gainesville is already moving at breakneck speed. I haven’t seen Florida folks this juiced for a football season since the late-2000s glory days. There is one human being responsible for bringing excitement back to the Swamp.

Man, he’s special. Lagway finished his legendary high school career with 129 total touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He then takes the reins for a flailing Gators squad as a true freshman, and goes 6-1 in his starts. That one loss doesn’t count, by the way; DJ was up 10-3 on No. 2 Georgia, and exited in the second quarter with an injury. I’m convinced he was going to pull off the upset.

It’s quite amusing to see rival fan bases hold onto hope that Lagway isn’t a superstar. We’ve all had to utilize the he’s-not-even-that-good coping mechanism at some point in our football-watching lives. As a Bengals diehard, I dusted it off during Lamar Jackson’s first full season as the man in Baltimore. Deep down, we’re all thinking the same thing in these moments. Uh-oh. Oh no. I have to deal with this dude for the foreseeable future, and there’s not a thing I can do about it. My readers from Athens, Tallahassee, and Coral Gables are solemnly nodding right now, as Lagway highlights begin to roll in their minds. Don’t worry, guys. There’s no shame in having to access that state of denial every once in a while.

Gainesville is buzzing, and the excitement is justified. If all goes according to plan, DJ will be accepting the key to the city in six months.

I’m expecting another extremely tight race here in 2025. Ultimately, I’m taking Jeremiah Smith to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy. We’re seven Saturdays away from paradise.

Pressroom

Spin It

“Summer Lovin’” by The Tuesday Crew. Enjoy.