Top 5 SEC Heisman Trophy contenders ahead of 2024 college football season ft. Carson Beck

The SEC, aside from being the dominant conference of college football, has produced five of the last 10 Heisman Trophy winners. That number would jump to seven of 10 had current SEC member Oklahoma then been in the fold.

If you're looking to handicap the 2024 Heisman race, the SEC is a fine place to start. Here are five SEC Heisman hopefuls who could nab the trophy.

Top 5 SEC Heisman Trophy contenders for 2024

It's not normal for a QB with one college start to be in the Heisman conversation. But Nico Iamaleava isn't normal either.

5. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin's Rebels are a formidable presence in the SEC, and Dart will likely be in the middle of their production. Last year, Dart threw for 3,364 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also rushed for 389 yards and eight more scores.

Ole Miss has been shut out of the College Football Playoff in the past, but in a 12-team world, the Rebels are a viable playoff contender. If they can make it and Dart puts up a season with, say, 4,000 passing yards and 35 touchdowns, he could well end up winning the Heisman.

4. Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee

This is an exalted position for a player with 45 career passing attempts. But if Josh Heupel's tenure in Knoxville has proven anything, it's that he'll lead an offense that throws for a ton of yards and make his quarterback a star. Hendon Hooker, Joe Milton and now Iamaleava, apparently.

Iamaleava is a highly touted player and performed well in Tennessee's bowl win last year. But first, he's never been "the man" for a season, and second, Tennessee's situation in the SEC isn't exactly a sure thing. Adding the Horns and Sooners might just shove the Vols back to the middle of the pack, hurting Iamaleava's chances.

3. Jalen Milroe, Alabama

Milroe was sixth in the Heisman voting in 2023 when he led Alabama to the College Football Playoff. He passed for 2,834 yards and 23 scores in the air and rushed for another 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Take those skills and put him in Kalen DeBoer's system now that the former Washington coach has the Alabama job.

If there's a strike against Milroe, it's that there's more turmoil around this Alabama season than any in recent years. DeBoer was an inspired hire, but he's not exactly a known quality in the SEC. How will Alabama play for him and respond to him? We're all waiting to see.

2. Quinn Ewers, Texas

Is it still weird to include Texas in the SEC? When Ewers starts winning games this fall, it'll start to seem much more normal. The outstanding UT signal caller made great strides last season, passing for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns. He did lose some talent at receiver, but Ewers still has plenty of standouts to target.

If there's a big-picture question for Ewers, it's whether Arch Manning might eat into his numbers a bit. The latest star of the Manning family is just too talented to not have a role for the Longhorns. It may be a situation like Chris Leak and Tim Tebow at Florida when Leak was a senior and Tebow was a freshman. In any case, it's a minor cause for concern on Ewers' Heisman candidacy.

1. Carson Beck, Georgia

Georgia football had been outstanding even with "game manager" QBs like Stetson Bennett running the show. Last year, Beck got his shot and showed that he was worth waiting to see. With 3,941 passing yards and 24 scores through the air, Beck gave Georgia the big-play threat that complemented its grinding running game.

Add in the Bulldogs being a daunting preseason, with two losses over the past three seasons combined, and you've got a pretty good case for why Beck is suspect No. 1 in the preseason hunt for the Heisman winner.

Which SEC player do you think can win college football's biggest individual prize? Weigh in below in our comments section!