Heisman Watch Week 3

Another week of college football means another edition of the Heisman watch. Let's not waste too much time and get started.

Before we get to the top 10, let's give a quick shoutout to our honorable mentions: D'Andre Swift, Ian Book, Chase Young, Anthony Gordon, and Justin Herbert. We also need to address the one departure from last week: Alabama wideout Jerry Jeudy. While he did have a good game against South Carolina (six catches for 68 yards), he was overshadowed by teammates such as Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith.

10. Zack Moss, Utah (Last Week: NR)- Moss is the only debuting player on this week's list. His Utah Utes have quietly emerged as the best team in the Pac-12 and Moss is a big reason why. In Week 3, Moss ran for 106 yards and one touchdown on just 10 carries.

9. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State (Last Week: 9)- I've been beating the drum for Dobbins since last season, and it feels like the nation is finally paying him some attention. In OSU's rout against Indiana, Dobbins ran for 193 yards and one score on 22 carries.

8. Travis Etienne, Clemson (Last Week: 7)- Etienne's Heisman campaign benefited in the first two weeks by a slow start from teammate Trevor Lawrence. That all changed in Week 3 when Lawrence finally had the big game we were looking for. Etienne meanwhile, racked up 76 yards for 14 carries. It was by no means a bad performance, but it was a step down from his previous performances this year.

7. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (Last Week: 7)- After the loss to LSU last week, Ehlinger needed a big performance to keep him in the Heisman conversation. Fortunately for him, he did just that by going 23-27 for 279 yards and three scores. On top of that, Texas got back to their winning ways by beating Rice 48-13.

6. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Last Week: 6)- As I mentioned earlier, Lawrence had his first big performance of the year in Week 3. Against Syracuse, Lawrence threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more.

5. Justin Fields, Ohio State (Last Week: 5)- Fields continues to put up big numbers while dazzling on the field. Against Indiana, Fields threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground.

4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 3)- I know it's early in the season, but it's hard to argue with the claim that Taylor is the best running back in college football. Through three weeks, only four players have more rushing scores than Taylor's five.

3. Joe Burrow, LSU (Last Week: 4)- The biggest surprise of the 2019 Heisman campaign thus far has been the emergence of Joe Burrow. He's fourth in total QBR (the three players ahead of him are all on this Heisman watch), is third in passing yards, and tied for third in passing touchdowns with 11.

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 2)- Tagovailoa set a new personal record by throwing for 444 yards as the Crimson Tide steamrolled South Carolina. Personally, I want to wait to see him against some elite competition before I move him to #1. Dominating teams like Duke and New Mexico State is fine, but I want to see something more.

1. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Maybe it's because we didn't see these kinds of performances during his time at Alabama, but there's still a lot of excitement around Hurts's big performances. Against Chip Kelly and UCLA, Hurts threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns. In my mind, he's still the man to beat.

Thanks for reading everyone.

Heisman Watch Week 2

While the second week of this year's college football season is in the books, the Heisman race is still wide-open (as it should be this early in the season). That being said, there are a number of favorites that are early betting favorites. Let's look at ten of them.

BUT FIRST: we bid adieu to Georgia's Jake Fromm and Washington's Jacob Eason. Eason and the Huskies were stunned by Cal, putting their Pac-12 title dreams in danger. While Fromm and the Bulldogs are still undefeated, Fromm's stats weren't great enough to keep him in the top 10.

We also need to give some love to the likes of D'Andre Swift, Rondale Moore, and Zack Moss.

10. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama (Last Week: NR)- Before the season began, I said that Purdue's Moore would probably be the most likely wide receiver to win the Heisman. Now, it seems that man is Jerry Jeudy. Through two games, he has 18 receptions for 240 yards and four touchdowns. 

9. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)- As impressive as Justin Fields has been, J.K. Dobbins has also been noteworthy. Through two games, and two Buckeye wins, Dobbins has 232 rushing yards and three scores. 

8. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (Last Week: 5)- Ehlinger drops three spots as a result of Texas's loss of LSU, but Ehlinger played well enough to keep him in the top 10. Again, this is just Week 2 and there is still plenty of time for Ehlinger to bounce back.

7. Travis Etienne, Clemson (Last Week: 7)- It seems like in this day and age, a running back needs to produce every week in order to win the Heisman. If that's the case, then Etienne might be in a little bit of trouble. In a big marquee game against Texas A&M, Etienne only ran for 53 yards and was outshone by a couple of his teammates, including... 

6. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Last Week: 6)- Unlike his teammate, Lawrence is trending in the right direction. Not only did he look impressive against the Aggies, but the Tigers won their possibly toughest non-conference game of the regular season. 

5. Justin Fields, Ohio State (Last Week: 6)- In terms of national recognition, very few players have benefited more in the last couple of weeks than Ohio State's newest gunslinger. If OSU wins the Big 10 and makes the playoffs, it's hard to imagine a Heisman ceremony without Fields. 

4. Joe Burrow, LSU (Last Week: 8)- When was the last time LSU had this good of a QB? Zach Mettenberger? Rohan Davey? Regardless, Burrow has proven himself to be the real deal. The Tigers held on to knock off Texas and Burrow looked like a real star in the process. In two games, Burrow has thrown for 749 yards and scored nine times. 

3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 3)- In my Week 0 Heisman watch, I wrote that Taylor would likely have a superb season even if Wisconsin didn't. At this point in the season, that's looking like a pretty foolish take. The Badgers hammered Central Michigan 61-0 in Week 2 while Taylor rushed for three touchdowns and caught another one. 

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 2)- Tua has been seemingly overshadowed by his former teammate, but don't sleep on him just yet. Despite not playing at all in the fourth quarter, last year's Heisman runner-up went 16-of-24 and had four total touchdowns. 

1. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Another week, another exceptional performance by Oklahoma's latest transfer star. Hurts threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns as Oklahoma stayed undefeated.

Thanks for reading everyone. 

Heisman Watch Week 1

The first week of the 2019 college football season is in the books. There may not have been any classic games, but we saw some great performances across the board. Let's check and see how those performances affected our Heisman big board.

Before we get to the actual list, let's give some love to our honorable mentions. Those players are RB Zach Moss, Georgia's D'Andre Swift, the Aggie Kelln Mond, UCF's Brandon Wimbush, WR Jerry Jeudy of Alabama, J.K. Dobbins of OSU, and Shea Patterson of Michigan. All of these players had great Weeks 1's, but cracking the top ten is no easy feat.

Two players from last week's rankings have dropped out: Notre Dame's Ian Book and Purdue's Rondale Moore. Book and the Fighting Irish picked up a win against Louisville but didn't look great doing it. Moore meanwhile, picked up a lot of all-purpose yards but had his game tarnished by poor ball security. Do not fret if you are a fan of either of these men, their seasons are just beginning.

10. Jake Fromm, Georgia (Last Week: 6)- Fromm drops four spots after a decent performance in Georgia's win over Vandy. I thought about ranking his teammate D'Andre Swift here instead, but I think Fromm will rebound in the weeks to come.

9. Jacob Eason, Washington (Last Week: NR)- Eason's performance went a little under-the-radar this weekend, but he's someone you should definitely keep an eye on. If Washington wins the Pac-12, there's a very good chance Eason is a Heisman finalist.

8. Joe Burrow, LSU (Last Week: NR)- Burrow exploded on to the Heisman scene by throwing five touchdowns in the first half of LSU's game against Georgia Southern. Get on the bandwagon now, as seats are going fast.

7. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Last Week: 7)- Clemson fans, don't worry. It's way too early to panic. Yes, Lawrence looked kind of pedestrian against Georgia Tech, but this was one game. There's every reason to believe that Lawrence will bounce back in a big way.

6. Justin Fields, Ohio State (Last Week: 9)- Fields made his Buckeyes debut in a big way on Saturday. In the first drive against Florida Atlantic, Fields ran for a 51-yard score and threw four TD passes.

5. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (Last Week: 4)- Out of all the preseason Heisman favorites, Ehlinger probably started the season with the most doubters. He silenced most of them this week by throwing for four scores and 276 yards.

4. Travis Etienne, Clemson (Last Week: 8)- If you have Etienne at #1 on your Heisman watch, I wouldn't argue with you. The star back was simply sensational in Clemson's dominating win over Georgia Tech. Continuing to outshine teammate Trevor Lawrence is definitely his easiest path to New York.

3.  Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 3)- Wisconsin has its fair share of doubters this year, but no one should doubt Taylor's shot at winning the Heisman. In Week 1, Taylor scored a total of four touchdowns as the Badgers rolled.

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 1)- You may be surprised to see Tua this high but remember that this is just one week of football. Tua didn't have the most dazzling performance, especially when compared to guys like Taylor and Etienne, but he still dazzled in 'Bama's win over Duke. Besides, I'm not quite ready to give up on my preseason pick.

1. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (Last Week: 7)- Hurts was unquestionably the star of Week 1. Not only did Oklahoma steamroll Houston, Hurts scored six times while throwing for 332 yards. Is a third straight Heisman in Lincoln Riley's future?

Thanks for reading everyone. 

Rapid-Fire Predictions: 2019-2020 NFL Season

Welcome back to another edition of Rapid-Fire Predictions, where we rattle off some big (and quick) predictions. For this edition, we'll be taking a crack at predicting the upcoming NFL season. In case you were wondering, we did a decent job with last year's predictions. We got seven of the 12 playoff teams, two of the four teams in the conference title games, and two of the year-end awards. Not bad, but there's definitely room for improvement this year. Let's get started.

NFC North:

4. Detroit Lions- There are few things in life I love more than the Lions, but this is just not their year. They're by no means a bad team (and probably the best team in the league that will finish last in their division) but they don't have the depth to compete with the other three teams in this division.

3. Chicago Bears- I'm going to be honest here, I have no idea how to rank the Bears, Vikings, or Packers. If you feel like I'm slighting your team, please don't yell at me too much. I like the Bears a lot, and I probably like Mitchell Trubisky more than most, but I worry about the loss of Vic Fangio and their first-place schedule.

2. Green Bay Packers- I'm not bullish on Matt LaFleur, but a healthy Aaron Rodgers makes the Packers an immediate division contender. Their defense is suspect, but hopefully, their offense more than makes up for it.

1. Minnesota Vikings- This ranking is completely dependent on Kirk Cousins. If he adjusts to the scheme in his second year in the purple uniform, then the Vikings should be among the NFC's best. If he doesn't, expect another middling season.

NFC East:

4. New York Giants- Is anyone really expecting much from the Giants this year? Eli Manning is a shell of the player who won two Super Bowl MVP awards, Golden Tate will start the season on the sideline, and OBJ is gone. Four wins four the G-Men is realistic.

3. Washington Redskins- The Redskins have constantly been snakebitten by injuries, so it's really hard to have high expectations for them. The best we can hope for is for Dwayne Haskins to become an established starter.

2. Dallas Cowboys- With Ezekiel Elliot back in the fold, the 'Boys are realistic NFC title contenders. They made it to the conference semis last year and now have Amari Cooper for a full season. The ceiling is very high for this team.

1. Philadelphia Eagles- If Carson Wentz can stay healthy, the Iggles are one of the best teams in the NFC. They're one of the deepest teams in the league and have that all-important postseason experience.

NFC South:

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- I like Bruce Arians, but I don't know if he's going to be enough to rescue Jameis Winston's floundering career.

3. Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons are a maddening team. They have the best receiver trio in football, have a top-10 QB, and yet can't seem to pull it together. Still, if everything goes right, they'll be fighting for the NFC crown.

2. Carolina Panthers- There's a lot to like about the Panthers. Norv Turner sparked some new life into their offense last season, Cam Newton is reportedly healthy, and Christian McCaffrey has established himself as one of the best dual-threat backs in the NFL.

1. New Orleans Saints- I don't buy into the Drew Bress regression hype. The man did have a disappointing second half of the season last year, but he still had a tremendous season and finished second in MVP voting.

NFC West:

4. Arizona Cardinals- This one is pretty self-explanatory.

3. San Francisco 49ers- I just can't buy into the 49ers hype. Jimmy G will probably once again struggle to stay healthy and the 49ers don't exactly have a great defense. It won't surprise me if they make the playoffs, but don't bet on it.

2. Seattle Seahawks- The 'Hawks made the playoffs last year and are definitely better than they were last year. The tandem of Jadaveon Clowney and a healthy Ziggy Ansah should wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks and a healthy Seattle backfield should be great,

1. Los Angeles Rams- I was tempted to put the Seahawks at 1, but it's so hard to bet against the Rams. Sean McVay is arguably the best offensive mind in the game, Aaron Donald is unarguably the best defensive player in the game, and a healthy Todd Gurley is arguably the best back in the league.

NFC Seeding:

1. Philadelphia 2. Los Angeles 3. New Orleans 4. Minnesota 5. Dallas 6. Seattle

AFC North:

4. Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals have finally moved on from Marvin Lewis, but don't expect big things from Zac Taylor in his first year. He's never been a head coach at any level and he only spent one year as QB coach with the Rams.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers- Big Ben quietly threw for 5,000 yards last season, but that was with Antonio Brown and Jesse James. I don't think the Steelers will be bad, but I have higher expectations for Baltimore and Cleveland.

2. Baltimore Ravens- Lamar Jackson should take a step forward this year, but the Ravens face a tough slate of opponents that will make winning the division a tall task. Still, expect a lot of growth from this young offense.

1. Cleveland Browns- Why not? Freddie Kitchens showed promise as offensive coordinator last year, Baker Mayfield has proven himself to be the real deal, and the additions of guys like OBJ and Kareem Hunt should make this team more dangerous.

AFC East:

4. Miami Dolphins- Brian Flores is unproven as a head coach, the QB situation is messy, Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills were shipped out recently, etc. Is anyone actually reading this entry?

3. New York Jets- I think Sam Darnold will have an impressive sophomore season, but will it be good enough to make the Jets wild card contenders? There are also questions about Adam Gase's coaching ability.

2. Buffalo Bills- Josh Allen is poised for a big season and will be helped by a quietly strong defense. It's hard to imagine this group making the playoffs, but a second-place finish in this division is realistic.

1. New England Patriots- Yeah, like I need an explanation for this one.

AFC South:

4. Tennessee Titans- How the Titans made the playoffs two years ago (and won a playoff game) and then almost nabbed a spot again last year is beyond me. Sure, they're a talented team but Marcus Mariota has given no reason to make people think he can be a quality starter.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Maybe Nick Foles is tremendous and this pick looks ridiculous in a few months. I just don't think the receiving corps is very good and that the defense is what it was two years ago.

2. Houston Texans- The Texans are a very talented team but they play a very tough schedule and still have questions about their offensive line. It's going to surprise no one if they win the AFC South, but I have them falling just short.

1. Indianapolis Colts- With Andrew Luck, the Colts were legitimate Super Bowl contenders. With Jacoby Brissett, the Colts can still win the division. Let's not forget they still have guys like Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson, and Marlon Mack.

AFC West:

4. Oakland Raiders- This seems like one of the easiest divisions to predict, and the Raiders are almost certain to finish in the cellar. According to Bleacher Report, they have the toughest schedule in the league.

3. Denver Broncos- Is anyone really expecting much out of Joe Flacco? This season feels like a holding period until Drew Lock is ready to become the starter. Still, Von Miller is always fun to watch.

2. Los Angeles Chargers- I'm higher on Melvin Gordon than a lot of people, and I think losing him will really hurt the Chargers. Nonetheless, they have an incredibly talented team, featuring guys like Derwin James and Joey Bosa, and should dazzle the seven fans they get at home games.

1. Kansas City Chiefs- Some people say that since other teams now have footage of Patrick Mahomes, they'll be able to stop him. I call BS on that, how on earth do you stop a man that can throw 65 yards while kneeling?

AFC Seeding:
1. New England 2. Kansas City 3. Cleveland 4. Indianapolis 5. Los Angeles 6. Houston

Wild Card Round:

#6 Seattle at #3 New Orleans- Give me the Saints here. On paper, they have a better roster than the Seahawks and will be hungry to make the Super Bowl after missing out last year.

# 5 Dallas at #4 Minnesota- This is tough, but I'm going with a narrow upset. Kirk Cousins has never won a playoff game and the Cowboys could prove a tough matchup.

#6 Houston at # 3 Cleveland- I think the magical run of the Browns could end here, but I'm going to pick them anyways. Myles Garrett should decimate the ragtag Texans' O-line and Houston's secondary isn't strong enough to stop Baker.

#5 Indianapolis at #4 Los Angeles- If Andrew Luck hadn't retired, this would have been a great game. Jacoby Brissett just isn't on his level. Give me the Chargers.

Divisional Round:

#5 Dallas at #1 Philadelphia- These two teams are pretty close, and I think home-field advantage will be the deciding point here. Give me Philly here.

#3 New Orleans at #2 Los Angeles- This matchup will be SPICY. The Saints will be seeing red and thirsting for blood. I think they get revenge here.

#4 Los Angeles at #1 New England- Let's shake things up here. Picking New England to win everything is always the smart choice, but that's boring. And picking the Chargers here is not a massive upset, they have a tremendous defense and an offense that could seriously gash the Pats.

#3 Cleveland at #2 Kansas City- The seeds indicate this will be close, but I think the Chiefs run away with it.

Conference Championships:

#3 New Orleans at #1 Philadelphia- This is really close, and I think I'm going to go with New Orleans. They are a hungry, hungry team and I would not want to be standing in between them and the Super Bowl.

#4 Los Angeles at #2 Kansas City- Like the Saints, the Chiefs were a whisper away last year from making the Super Bowl. I think they fix things here.

Super Bowl:

New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs- Patrick Mahomes has a chance to go down as one of the great QBs in league history. He'll win a lot of awards and even a couple of rings. Unfortunately, he'll have to wait a little longer.

Super Bowl MVP: Drew Brees

Awards:

MVP: Patrick Mahomes
Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack
Coach of the Year: Frank Reich
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kyler Murray
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Josh Allen
Comeback Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers

Thanks for reading everyone. 

Heisman Watch Week 0

It's college football time BABYYYYYYY. And with the return of college football comes the return for the chase of its highest individual award: the Heisman Trophy. Last year's race was dominated nearly end-to-end by Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa before Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray bumped him in the last week of the season. We here at The Sports Examiner have put together the ten candidates we believe are the most likely to win this award in 2019. 

But before we unveil those ten, let's look at some honorable mentions. How about some love for guys like Shea Patterson of Michigan, Grant Delpit of LSU, Georgia RB D'Andre Swift, Nebraska's Adrien Martinez, and Oregon's Justin Herbert. It might seem blasphemous to not include Herbert in the Top 10, but his stats last year were a little lacking. That being said, let's get started. 

10. Rondale Moore, Purdue- Easily the least well-known player on this list, Moore will have to produce some remarkable stats to become the first receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991. Fortunately, Moore is incredibly talented and is coming off a season where he led the nation in receptions. If any receiver can win the Heisman this year, it's Moore. 

9. Justin Fields, Ohio State- Fields got very little playing time in his freshman year at Georgia, but anyone who saw footage of his time in high school knows just how talented he is. Now that he's the starter at Ohio State, Fields is poised to break out as a major star. 

8. Travis Etienne, Clemson- While Trevor Lawrence is going to get more of the nation's attention, don't sleep on Etienne. He spent a lot of time in our Heisman watch last season and impressed in the national championship game. The junior ran for 24 scores last year and has to be considered one of the top backs in the nation. 

7. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma- Hurts was never the most spectacular QB during his time at Alabama, but he got the job done. He won a national title in 2018 and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. Now he's part of a program that has produced the last two Heisman winners. 

6. Jake Fromm, Georgia- Fromm is a guy that seems to continuously get overlooked by Heisman voters. It's hard to explain, as Georgia has been excellent the last two years and Fromm has put up great numbers. Could this be the year Fromm asserts his dominance?

5. Ian Book, Notre Dame- After starting last season as the backup to Brandon Wimbush, Book earned the starting job and led the Fighting Irish to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the CFP. If Notre Dame has another successful season, it's hard to imagine Book not getting some Heisman love this year. 

4. Sam Ehlinger, Texas- Ehlinger made a big leap last year. He threw for more than 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading Texas to a berth in the Big 12 title game and win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. If Texas is once again a player on the national stage, expect Ehlinger to make it to New York. 

3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin- The Badgers may have had a disappointing 2018-2019 season, but that wasn't Taylor's fault. Not only did his 2,194 rushing yards last year lead the nation, but he also ran for 16 touchdowns. Those stats will be enough to generate some Heisman buzz, but he won't be able to win unless Wisconsin once again becomes a major force in the Big 10. 

2. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson- It seems crazy to not have Lawrence at #1, especially after his star-making performance in last season's national championship game, but it's never smart to bet on the preseason favorite. Last year, Kyler Murray entered the season with the 12th best betting odds to win the Heisman. According to John Ewing of The Action Network, from 2009-2017, there have been 92 players who have been considered preseason Heisman favorites. During that time period, only two preseason favorites (Baker Mayfield & Marcus Mariota) have won the Heisman. So for that reason alone, Lawrence is at #2. Of course, Lawrence could have a remarkable season and render all this meaningless, but I'll take my chances. 

1. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama- Like I mentioned in the intro, Tagovailoa pretty much dominated the Heisman race from whistle-to-whistle. It was only until the final regular week of the regular season that he was overtaken by Murray. Still, let's not forget just how incredible of a season he had. The Sports Examiner 2018 NCAAF Player of the Year won the Maxwell Award and threw for 43 touchdowns while leading the Crimson Tide to an undefeated regular season. On a personal note, he is one of the most spectacular college football players I've ever seen. I haven't been as awed watching a player since Johnny Football's freshman year. Thus, Tua Tagovailoa is The Sports Examiner's pick to win the Heisman Trophy in 2019.

Thanks for reading everyone. Be sure to check back here every week for updated Heisman rankings. 

The 2018 Sports Examiner Awards

Welcome everyone, to the fourth ever Sports Examiner awards. This is quickly becoming an annual tradition that is growing every year. This year, we add a whole new category about college basketball. Whether or not you agree with my picks here, leave a comment and share who you thought should have won. Let's get started.

NBA

Coach of the Year: Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors & Detroit Pistons

By the time Casey won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2018, he had already been fired by the Toronto Raptors and hired by the Detroit Pistons. That may seem like Casey had a disappointing season with the Raptors, but that's not true at all. The Raptors won the Atlantic Division, easily the best division in the Eastern Conference, and earned the best record in the conference. Yes, they did get swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs but hey, no one's perfect. Meanwhile, his tenure in Detroit has gotten off to a promising start. He has the Pistons, who have only made the playoffs once in the last 9 seasons, in the thick of the playoff hunt and has helped revitalize the career of Blake Griffin.

2017 Winner: Mike D'Antoni
2016 Winner: Steve Kerr

Most Improved Player of the Year: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Jokic wins MIP in the same vein that Giannis won the official NBA award in 2017: he went from being a very good player to an elite star. At the time of writing in early January of 2019, Jokic is playing like a true MVP candidate. He's averaging 18.2 points, 10 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.4 steals while Denver boasts the best record in the Western Conference. Our runner-ups here are a pair of teammates: Brooklyn' Jarrett Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie. Both men played extremely well in 2018 and have Brooklyn surprisingly in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

2017 Winner: Victor Oladipo

Breakout Star of the Year: Clint Capela, Houston Rockets

No one in the NBA saw as dramatic an increase of buzz from one year to the next as Clint Capela did. The 2017-2018 season was easily the best of his career, until the 2018-2019 one. Capela was a valuable piece of the Houston Rocket team that had the league's best record in the 2017-2018 season and took the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the Western Conference finals. The big man dazzled in that series as he put up 12.7 ppg while pulling down 11.6 rebounds per game. As Houston looks to contend for a title for the next few years, Capela will play an important part in helping them achieve that goal.

2017 Winner: Kyle Kuzma
2016 Winner: Kristaps Porzingis

Player of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers & Los Angeles Lakers

James becomes the first two-time winner of this award as well as the first player to win it without winning Finals MVP in the same year. In fact, James didn't even win a title, as the Cavaliers were blown out by the dominant Warriors. Still, it says a lot that they even got there, and James was the reason why. He had another sublime season and finished second in the regular season MVP voting to Houston's James Harden. It was exceptionally easy to make the case for LeBron as he was named to the All-NBA first team, was named MVP of the All-Star game, won Player of the Month in both February and March 2018, led the league in minutes played, and was second in assists.

Following the conclusion of the 2017-2018 season, James took his talents to Los Angeles and gave the Lakers their first true superstar since Kobe Bryant retired. Last year, the Lakers were a downtrodden lottery team. This year, they're almost certain to make the playoffs and are set to be a dominant force in the Western Conference for years to come.

2017 Winner: Kevin Durant
2016 Winner: LeBron James
2015 Winner: Steph Curry

Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

This was the easiest individual award to give out, as no one even comes close. The youngest Euro League MVP has been phenomenal this year (and was nearly named an All-Star). He seemingly produces highlights on a nightly basis and has the Dallas Mavericks in the playoff conversation. The Mavs have not been relevant in years and Doncic has them on pace for a 47.6 win percentage, their best since the 2015-2016 season.

2017 Winner: Ben Simmons
2016 Winner: Karl-Anthony Towns

Comeback Player of the Year: Kwahi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs/ Toronto Raptors

Look, we have to talk about Leonard's 2017-2018 season here. Leonard essentially refused to play and demanded a trade. This shocking development essentially torpedoed the Spurs' immediate future. Still, the fact remains that between his groin injury and self-imposed exodus, Leonard only played nine games last season.

Because of his off-the-court issues, Leonard's basketball skills were seemingly forgotten about. That's all changed during his time with the Toronto Raptors. Leonard has been one of the best two-way players in the NBA and is looking like an early front-runner for the MVP award. The Raptors also have the best record in the league and have a great shot at making it to the Finals.

2017 Winner: Joel Embiid
2016 Winner: Paul George

Rising Star of the Year: Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks

Middleton really broke out in the first round of the playoff as the Bucks pushed the #2 seed Boston Celtics to seven games. Though his teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo got most of the spotlight, and deservedly so, Middleton deserves some praise for his work. He scored 24.7 ppg while shooting 61% from behind the arc. That stellar play has continued thus far into the 2018-2019 season. His 5.6 rebounds per game are a career high as is his 52.7% effective FG percentage. More importantly, the Bucks have the second best record in the league and look like a genuine threat to make it to the Finals.

2017 Winner: Jayson Tatum
2016 Winner: Andre Drummond

Team of the Year: Golden State Warriors

Who else would it be? The Warriors won their third NBA Championship in four years by dismantling the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals. SI's 2018 Sportsperson of the Year has been one of the most dominant franchises in all of sports. The Dubs have been so dominant that we've stopped looking for worthy contemporary rivals and have started comparing them to the best squads in NBA history.

2017 Winner: Golden State Warriors
2016 Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers

NFL

Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

This was an incredibly easy award to hand out. No player was as dominant as Mahomes was in the 2018 regular season. He became the youngest player to throw for 5,000 yards in a season (and one of only seven to ever do it), was named to the First Team All-Pro, threw for 50 touchdowns, led the Chiefs to the #1 seed in the AFC, posted a QBR of 82, and nearly took the Chiefs to the Super Bowl. There's a very good chance Mahomes wins this award every year for the next five years.

2017 Winner: Tom Brady
2016 Winner: Dallas's Offensive Line
2015 Winner: Tom Brady

Rookie of the Year: Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts

Leonard got absolutely zero media love when the season started. That all changed just a few weeks in when everyone realized that the Colts' second-round rookie was looking like a defensive stud. Not only was Leonard named to the Pro Bowl in his rookie year, but he led the NFL in tackles. On top of that, the Colts took a massive leap up the standings from last year and made it to the AFC Divisional Round.

2017 Winner: Alvin Kamara
2016 Winner: Ezekiel Elliot

Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Saquon may have lost out to Leonard in our last category, but the #2 overall pick in the 2018 draft picks up the nod here over more established names such as Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, and last year's winner Todd Gurley. Barkley trailed only Elliot in rushing yards (1,307), was fifth in rushing touchdowns, and possibly most importantly for this award, led the league in yards from scrimmage. The most impressive part of all this is that Barkley didn't get much help. QB Eli Manning looked like he was on his last legs and the Giants' offensive lines had more holes than a moth-eaten sweater. Imagine how good he'll be when he gets some help.

2017 Winner: Todd Gurley
2016 Winner: Matt Ryan

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams

I really, really wanted to gives this award to Khalil Mack, but I couldn't stiff Donald two years in a row. Donald was unquestionably the league's best defensive player last year and is a big reason why the Rams played in the Super Bowl this month. His 20.5 sacks led the league (J.J. Watt finished second with 16) and did his 41 QB hits. On top of that, he forced four fumbles and notched 59 tackles.

2017 Winner: Calais Campbell
2016 Winner: Von Miller

Coach of the Year: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

Looking back at the 2018 regular season, it's clear that one thing is true: offense is king. With all the new rules protecting the QB and promoting offense, it's clear that a team needs an explosive offense to win in the NFL. Andy Reid understands this very well. His Chiefs had the most dangerous offense in the league and put up points like no one's business. In this offensive revolution, Reid stands out as a true genius.

2017 Winner: Sean McVay
2016 Winner: Bill Belichick

Most Improved Player of the Year: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

 Last year, Kittle was barely on anyone's radar. Fantasy players might have heard of him when scouring the waiver wire, but otherwise he was relatively unknown. That all changed this year when he solidified himself as a tier-1 tight end. Even with franchise QB Jimmy Garoppolo sidelined for most of the year, Kittle caught 88 passes for five touchdowns and 1,377 yards. He was also named to his first Pro Bowl.

2017 Winner: Jared Goff

Breakout Star of the Year: Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears

Jackson was part of a dominant Chicago Bears defense that included studs such as Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks. The Bears fielded the best defense in the league and won the NFC North for the first time since 2010. Only three players bested his six interceptions, including teammate Kyle Fuller, and was fifth in pass deflections.

2017 Winner: Kareem Hunt
2016 Winner: Dak Prescott

Comeback Star of the Year: Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

There are a number of contenders for this award, such as Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Watt, but Luck is the clear choice. He missed all of last season and even went to Europe for rehab. Just weeks before the season started, Luck couldn't even throw a regulation football. No one was expecting much from both Luck and the Colts, but apparently, someone forgot to tell them. The Colts won six more regular season games than they did in 2017, nabbed a wild card spot, and made it to the AFC Divisional round. Luck meanwhile, started all 16 games, completed a career-high 67.3% of his passes, threw 39 touchdowns, and was named the November AFC Offensive Player of the Month.

2017 Winner: Rob Gronkowski

Rising Star of the Year: Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions

The Lions fielded an abysmal run game in 2017 and sought out to change that in the 2018 draft. In the first round, they drafted offensive lineman Frank Ragnow. In the second round, they drafted Johnson, the reigning SEC Player of the Year. Though his season was shortened due to injury, Johnson showed plenty of potential and became the first Lion to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since Reggie Bush did so in 2013. The former Auburn Tiger finished the season with 5.4 yards per attempt, third in the league, and 32 receptions. If the Lions can turn things around next year, Johnson will be a name to keep an eye on.

2017 Winner: Deshaun Watson
2016 Winner: Carson Wentz

Team of the Year: Philadelphia Eagles

At one point in the 2017-2018 season, the Eagles looked like the best team in the NFL. Then, starting QB Carson Wentz tore his ACL in a game against the LA Rams. Most assumed the Eagles' chances of winning the Super Bowl had gone up in smokes with the loss of Wentz, who almost certainly would have been named regular season MVP had he not gone down with an injury.

Fortunately for Eagles fans, journeyman QB, and former Eagles star, Nick Foles stepped in. He led the Eagles to a dominating victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC title game and then captured MVP honors as the Eagles defeated the reigning champions, the New England Patriots. And though the Eagles got off to a rough start in the 2018-2019 season (in large part thanks to injuries), they still managed to make it to the NFC Divisional Round.

2017 Winner: New England Patriots
2016 Winner: Denver Broncos

NHL

Coach of the Year: Gerard Gallant, Vegas Golden Knights

Gallant becomes our second ever NHL Coach of the Year and does so after leading the Knights to a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup finals. He also won the 2018 Jack Adams award for best coach.

2017 Winner: John Tortorella

Goalie of the Year: Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

In his fourth year as a finalist, Rinne finally won the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded to the best goalkeeper. He finished the 2017-2018 regular season tied for first in shutouts, second in overall saver percentage, and third in goals-against average. Rinne has also been a standout in the 2018-2019 season so far. He was named to the All-Star team yet again and at time of writing, is second in shutouts and eighth in games played.

2017 Winner: Sergei Bobrovsky
2016 Winner: Braden Holtby

Player of the Year: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin was drafted #1 overall by the Capitals in 2004. Since then, he has been waiting for a Stanley Cup. He finally achieved that goal in 2018 as his Capitals bested the Golden Knights for their second ever title. Ovechkin scored 15 goals in the playoffs, a feat that has been matched only once in the last nine year. For his efforts, Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy.

2017 Winner: Sidney Crosby
2016 Winner: Sidney Crosby

Team of the Year: Washington Capitals

As written earlier, the Capitals bested the Knights to win their second ever Stanley Cup. It was an extremely cathartic win for a team long labelled as a playoff choker. They are hoping to repeat in 2019 and it looks extremely possible. At the time of writing, they have the fifth best record in the Eastern Conference.

2017 Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins
2016 Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins

MLB

Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin, Oakland A's

Expectations for the A's going into this season were not high. No one expected them to hang with American League powerhouses such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros, especially as they had the league's lowest Opening Day payroll. Still, the A's overcame all that, and a host of injuries, to win 22 more games than they did in 2017 and earn a playoff spot. They were truly one of the feel-good sports stories of 2018.

2017 Winner: Paul Molitor
2016 Winner: Terry Francona

Pitcher of the Year: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

deGrom played so well this year and many wondered if he should be considered for the NL MVP award, not just the Cy Young. The only issue: the Mets absolutely stunk. Still, we can't deny deGrom's individual brilliance; his 1.70 ERA was the sixth lowest since MLB lowered the mound to its current height in 1969.

2017 Winner: Corey Kluber
2016 Winner: Max Scherzer

Rookie of the Year: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

Ohtani came into the 2018 season with a ton of hype. The man known as the Japanese Babe Ruth was expected to be a total phenom. And while he didn't meet those lofty standards, and even spent time on the shelf, he was still great. Ohtani became the first player since Ruth to hit 20 homers and have 10 pitching appearances in the same season while also logging a 3.31 ERA.

2017 Winner: Aaron Judge
2016 Winner: Corey Seager

Hitter of the Year: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox

In this year of home runs and strikeouts, Martinez was undoubtedly MLB's best hitter in 2018. He led the league in RBIs and total bases while finishing second in home runs. On top of that, the Sox won the World Series.

2017 Winner: Giancarlo Stanton
2016 Winner: David Ortiz

Player of the Year: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

Boston's right fielder won the AL batting title, the AL MVP award, won his third straight Gold Glove award, and helped the Sox win the World Series. Our runner-up for this award is Betts's teammate, J.D. Martinez (see the previous award for details).

2017 Winner: Jose Altuve
2016 Winner: Kris Bryant

Team of the Year: Boston Red Sox

Who else could it be? The Sox were easily baseball's best team this year. They were absolutely dominant during the regular season and carried that momentum into the playoffs. There, they defeated their hated rival the New York Yankees in four games, defeated the defending champions Houston Astros in five games, and defeated the NL champions LA Dodgers in five games.

2017 Winner: Houston Astros
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs

NCAAF:

Player of the Year: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

We can talk about Tua being robbed of the Heisman, but if we look at 2018 as a whole, Tua was definitely the best player in the country. He stepped off the sidelines to help Alabama rally and defeated Georgia to win the national championship. Because of that win, Tua was named the starter for the 2018-2019 season. The Crimson Tide went undefeated, Tua was the Heisman runner-up, and the Tide advanced to their fourth straight national title game.

2017 Winner: Baker Mayfield
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
2015 Winner: Christian McCaffrey

Rising Star of the Year: Travis Etienne, Clemson

Though most of the hype surrounding Clemson's offense belongs to freshman QB Trevor Lawrence, Etienne deserves some love. His 24 rushing touchdowns led FBS, he finished fifth in rushing yards per attempt, and he was fourth in yards. If you're looking for dark horses for the 2019 Heisman race, look no further.

2017 Winner: Trace McSorley
2016 Winner: Derrius Guice

Breakout Star of the Year: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

As I wrote before, Tua literally came off the sidelines for Alabama in the national championship game. It was an incredibly risky move for head coach Nick Saban. Tua had never played any meaningful games and was a freshman while starting QB Jalen Hurts was the 2016 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and had only lost one start in two seasons as Alabama's starter. Ultimately, the gamble paid off as Tua threw for three scores as the Tide came back from a 13-0 deficit at the half to win their second CFP title.

2017 Winner: Bryce Love
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson

Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

Of the four teams that made the 2018 College Football Playoffs, Notre Dame was the biggest surprise. The Irish had won nine games in 2017, but no one thought they were on the level with the likes of Clemson and Alabama. Nonetheless, Kelly and the Fighting Irish won all 12 of their regular seasons and finished the season #3. They even endured a QB change from Brandon Wimbush to Ian Book. For his efforts, Kelly was named the AP Coach of the Year and the Home Depot Coach of the Year.

2017 Winner: Scott Frost
2016 Winner: Nick Saban

Team of the Year: Alabama

Alabama ended the 2017-2018 season as the national champions and the early favorites for the 2018-2019 season. They made good on that promise as they posted an undefeated regular season record and never were ranked lower than #1. In the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs, they knocked off Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray and #4 Oklahoma to setup a meeting with #2 Clemson in the title game.

2017 Winner: Clemson
2016 Winner: Alabama

NCAAB

Men's Player of the Year: Jalen Brunson, Villanova

If we look at all of Brunson's accomplishments from last year, it's clear why he's the winner. The Villanova star was National Player of the Year, a First-Team All-American, the Big East Player of the Year, and won the Bob Cousy Award, which is awarded to the best collegiate point guard. Oh, and Villanova won their second national championship in two years.

Women's Player of the Year: A'ja Wilson, South Carolina

While Wilson deserves love for her work in the WNBA, that's not what we're looking at here. Wilson left South Carolina with a top-notch resume. She was the National Player of the Year in 2018, was a First-Team All-American three years in a row, and a three-time SEC Player of the Year. The only blemish on her 2018: being knocked out in the Elite Eight by Connecticut.

Men's Coach of the Year: John Beilein, Michigan

Michigan fans have long praised John Beilein, but 2018 was the year where everyone else realized he was one of the best coaches in the nation. The CBS Sports 2018 Coach of the Year made his presence known during March Madness when Michigan made it to the national championship game before falling to 'Nova.

Women's Coach of the Year: Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame

Unlike Beilein, college basketball fans were well aware of the brilliance of Muffet McGraw. After all, she's coached in eight Final Fours and has been named Coach of the Year four times. Still, 2018 may have been one of her best years yet. The Fighting Irish overcame every single obstacle to win the 2018 national championship and McGraw won her fourth Coach of the Year award.

Men's Team of the Year: Villanova

Villanova was easily the best team of the 2017-2018 season. They finished the regular season sixth in the polls, won the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, won the Big East tournament, and survived March Madness to win their second national championship in three years.

Women's Team of the Year: Notre Dame

Notre Dame entered March Madness as a #1 seed and won all of their regional games by at least two possessions. In the Final Four, they met the dominant UConn Huskies. While the Huskies were heavily favored, someone forgot to tell ND. Arike Ogunbowale made one of the year's best plays when she hit a buzzer beater to sink UConn and then did it all over again in the finals against Mississippi State.

Individual Sports

Female Golfer of the Year: Ariya Jutanugarn

Jutanugarn becomes the first golfer, male or female, to win Golfer of the Year twice. She does so after a phenomenal 2018 LPGA Tour that saw her be named Rolex Player of the Year, lead the money list, and win three events (which was tied for first with our 2017 Female Golfer of the Year, Sung Hyun Park).

2017 Winner: Sung Hyun Park
2016 Winner: Ariya Jutanugarn

Male Golfer of the Year: Brooks Koepka

In terms of media coverage, few athletes (let alone golfers) got more press coverage than Tiger Woods. Regardless, Koepka is more than deserving of this award. He won the Jack Nicklaus Award for PGA Tour Player of the Year, was fifth in prize money, was named PGA Player of the Year, won the PGA Championship, and won his second-straight U.S. Open.

2017 Winner: Justin Thomas
2016 Winner: Dustin Johnson
2015 Winner: Jordan Spieth

Female Tennis Player of the Year: Simona Halep

If you didn't believe Halep was one of the top female players in the world going into 2018, you definitely believe it now. The prize money leader of the 2018 WTA Tour spent the entire year ranked at either #1 or #2 and reached six tournament finals.

2017 Winner: Caroline Wozniacki
2016 Winner: Angelique Werber
2015 Winner: Serena Williams

Male Tennis Player of the Year: Novak Djokovic

The Serbian tennis ace had a bit of a resurgence in 2018, as he finished the year ranked #1, the first time he had done so since 2015. He achieved that ranking by reaching seven tournament finals (tied for Roger Federer for first), led the ATP in points and money, and was named player of the year.

2017 Winner: Rafael Nadal
2016 Winner: Andy Murray

Female Swimmer of the Year: Katie Ledecky

Ledecky reclaims her throne after a fantastic 2018 that saw her covered in awards. She was named Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year for the fifth time in six years, was named the Swimming World American Swimmer of the Year for the sixth year in a row, and won three individual titles in the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships. On top of that, 2018 was her first year as a professional swimmer.

2017 Winner: Sarah Sjostrom
2016 Winner: Katie Ledecky

Male Swimmer of the Year: Adam Peaty

The British Peaty is the first non-American to win this award, but fans of swimming will know his name. He put in notable performances at both the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships, all which helped him win his fifth straight Swimming World European Swimmer of the Year.

2017 Winner: Caeleb Dressel
2016 Winner: Michael Phelps

Soccer

Premier League Team of the Year: Manchester City

Manchester City wins this award after winning their third Premier League title with five games to spare. They've carried that momentum over into the 2018-2019 season. At the time of writing, they sit second behind Liverpool. Manchester City also experienced success in the Champions League. They will play FC Shalke 04 in the Round of 16 next month.

2017 Winner: Chelsea
2016 Winner: Leicester City

Male Player of the Year: Luka Modric

If there was one athlete who had a breakout year in 2018, it was Modric. The midfield captained Croatia all the way to the World Cup finals while capturing the hearts of fans all over the world. His success didn't stop there, as he won the 2018 Ballon d'Or (thus becoming the first person not named Ronald or Messi to win the award since 2007), won the World Cup Golden Ball, and won the Champions League with club Real Madrid.

2017 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2016 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2015 Winner: Lionel Messi

Premier League Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Mo Salah solidified his spot as one of the best footballers in the world with a phenomenal 2017-2018 Premier League season. He was the leading goal scorer, fifth in assists, and was named Premier League Player of the Season. While Liverpool did not win the title in 2018, they are currently the favorites to do so in 2019.

2017 Winner: Harry Kane

Female Player of the Year: Wang Shuang

Shuang is the first Asian player to win this award and does so after being named AFC Women's Football of the Year, becoming the first Chinese player to win the award since 2006. She also helped China win the 2018 Four Nations Tournament.

2017 Winner: Lieke Martens
2016 Winner: Melanie Behringer
2015 Winner: Carli Lloyd

MLS Player of the Year: Josef Martinez, Atlanta United FC

Anyone who followed MLS this year will not be surprised with this pick. Not only did he set the single-season record for most goals scored in a season, he won the 2018 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award. Martinez also experienced success in the postseason as Atlanta United FC won the 2018 MLS Cup. No points for guessing who the MVP was.

2017 Winner: Diego Valeri
2016 Winner: David Villa

MLS Team of the Year: Atlanta United FC

As I wrote above, Atlanta United FC won the 2019 MLS Cup. They did so after defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0. During the regular season, they finished second in the Eastern Conference behind only New York Red Bulls.

2017 Winner: Toronto FC
2016 Winner: Seattle Sounders

Men's National Team of the Year: France

France is the easy choice after hoisting the World Cup trophy during the summer of 2018. They emerged from the Group Stage unbeaten (although they did draw with Denmark) and in the knockout stage, they defeated Argentina, Uruguay, Belgium, and Croatia.

2017 Winner: Germany
2016 Winner: Argentina

Women's National Team of the Year: United States

The American women spent all of 2018 ranked #1 in the FIFA world rankings. In fact, they've been ranked #1 since 2015. The fact that they went undefeated in 2018 might have helped keep that top spot. They are also the current favorites to win the FIFA Women's World Cup this year.

General Awards:

Legend of the Year: Sir Roger Bannister

This year we lost one of the all-time great runners. The Englishman was the first person to ever run a mile in less than four minutes, doing so when he was just 25 years old in 1954. That year, Sports Illustrated named him their first-ever Sportsman of the Year, creating a tradition that endures to this day. He passed away last March at the age of 2018.

2017 Winner: Ara Parseghian
2016 Winner: Muhammad Ali
2015 Winner: Kobe Bryant

Moment of the Year: Tua Tagovailoa Arrives

They say that an overnight sensation takes ten years in the making. And while Tua Tagovailoa did put in years of hard work, he was made in just half of a football game. Before a national audience, Tua stepped off the sidelines and helped engineer a comeback for Alabama in the national championship game. There were fans in Tuscaloosa who weren't even aware of Tua, and now the entire world knew his name. If that's not a star-making moment, I don't know what is.

2017 Winner: Houston Astros win the World Series
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs win the World Series

Upset of the Year: #16 UMBC beats #1 Virginia

March Madness is a cultural institution. Every year, fans around the globe tune in for weeks of mayhem and great basketball. While there are huge upsets every year, one thing has remained constant: a #16 seed has never beaten a #1 seed. That makes perfect sense, a #1 seed is one of the best teams in the country while a #16 seed is happy to just be there.

Going into this game, no one gave UMBC a chance. Most basketball fans had never even heard of them while Virginia was picked by many (including myself unfortunately) to win the national championship. Instead, UMBC beat Virginia 74-54 and shocked the world. Nothing is a guarantee anymore.

2017 Winner: Mississippi beats UConn in the Final Four
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs & Cleveland Cavaliers come back from 3-1
2015 Winner: Holly Holm beats Ronda Rousey

Play of the Year: Arike Ogunbowale's Back-to-Back Game Winners

This was a tough call between this and the Minneapolis Miracle, but context proved a decisive tie-breaker. Ogunbowale hit game winners in both the Final Four and title game to lift Notre Dame to a national championship. And while the Minneapolis Miracle did allow the Minnesota Vikings to beat the New Orleans Saints, they ended up getting manhandled by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game.

We also have to take into consideration the fact that Ogunbowale did it in back-to-back games. No one expected her to hit the shot against UConn and sink the best team in the country. She followed that up by hitting an even crazier shot in the title game against Mississippi State. It wasn't as if she was wide-open, Ogunbowale was well defended and her three-point shot attempt was wobbly at best. How she hit that shot is beyond anyone, I suppose that's just what elite athletes do.

2017 Winner: Julian Edelman's Super Bowl Catch
2016 Winner: Kris Jenkins's Three wins Villanova the title

Franchise of the Year: Vegas Golden Knights

They may have not won a championship in 2018, but the Golden Knights were definitely the top team of 2018. Throughout the history of the four U.S. major sports leagues (NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB), expansion teams have usually been dreadful for their first few years of existence. For example, let's consider the NFL's Houston Texans, who had their first season in 2002. They did not make the playoffs until their tenth season and finished dead last in their division five of their first six seasons. Based on history alone, no one expected much of the Knights in their inaugural season.

The Golden Knights began their first season in 2017 with three straight wins (an NHL record for expansion teams) while also trying to heal the community after the tragic October 1st shooting. They ended up winning their division and became the first Big 4 expansion team to win their division in their inaugural season. Their success didn't stop there, as they overcame the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Winnipeg Jets to advance to the Stanley Cup. Yes, they did fall in five games to the Capitals, but they were never supposed to be there in the first place. This is a team that overcame every single obstacle to nearly win a championship in their first real year of existence.

2017 Winner: Houston Astros
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs
2015 Winner: Golden State Warriors

Sports Star of the Year: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

This was an incredibly tough decision, as there were so many worthy contenders. I puzzled over this award for days and considered giving it to worthy athletes such as Justify, Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappe, Drew Brees, and Patrick Mahomes. It wasn't until I stumbled upon an article by FiveThirtyEight's Neil Paine that I finally decided on Betts. Using their Elo metric (which can be used across all sports), they found that the Boston Red Sox were the best team of 2018. The best athlete: Betts, Boston's biggest star. Thus, let's all congratulate the Sports Examiner's 2018 Sports Star of the Year: Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox.

2017 Winner: Jose Altuve
2016 Winner: US Olympic Swim Team
2015 Winner: American Pharaoh

Thanks for reading everyone.

The Sports Examiner's 2018 Heisman Ballot

Congratulations to Kyler Murray, the winner of the 2018 Heisman trophy. In fact, congrats to all three of the finalists. This was an exceptional group of finalists and in any other year, both Dwayne Haskins and Tua Tagovailoa would have been worthy winners.

Now, The Sports Examiner doesn't have a real Heisman ballot, but I thought it would be fun to continue the tradition and give you my final mock ballot. After all, I do a season-long Heisman watch, it makes sense for me to finish it. Let's get started.

I would like to highlight a few players before I get to the big three. First off is Jonathan Taylor, who is my fourth place player. Taylor had a fantastic sophomore season and led FBS in rushing yards. Unfortunately, his Wisconsin Badgers had an exceptionally disappointing season and Taylor's Heisman stock dropped as a result. Next up is Kentucky's Josh Allen. It's extremely hard for a defensive player to win the Heisman (Notre Dame's Manti Te'O is the only one this century to come close) but Allen made a great case. The nation's best defensive player anchored a feared unit while notching more forced fumbles than any other player. The third player I want to highlight is WSU's Gardner Minshew. Were it not for a loss to Washington, which cost them a spot in the Pac-12 title game, Minshew might well have been invited to New York City. Next up we have Notre Dame's Ian Book, who was probably the least heralded Heisman contender. What really hurt him was that he started the season as the #2 guy to Brandon Wimbush. Book eventually won the job and led Notre Dame to an undefeated season and CFP spot but it wasn't enough to get him any Heisman love. Finally, let's talk about Clemson's Travis Etienne. After Trevor Lawrence took over the starting QB spot from Kelly Bryant, Etienne became the focal point of the Tigers' offense and broke out in a big way. He finished fifth in rushing yards, fifth in yards per attempt, and third in rushing touchdowns.

3. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State- Ohio State fans are going to be miffed about this, but Haskins only gets third. Yes, he did lead FBS in passing yards and passing touchdowns but finished fourth in QBR, trailing Murray, Tagovailoa, and Georgia's Jake Fromm. Haskins was brilliant this year and was probably the nation's most outstanding player the last two weeks of the season. However, this is a season-long campaign and we have to take everything into account here. During that time period, Haskins was outshone by a number of other players, including the other two finalists, West Virginia's Will Grier, and Houston's Ed Oliver.

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama- I want to start by saying watching Tua play football this year was such an enjoyable experience. He has an incredible arm and is quite possibly the most spectacular college QB I've ever seen. Not since Johnny Football have I been so taken with a player. That being said, we have to take into account that Tua was not instrumental in his team finishing undefeated. His backup Jalen Hurts almost certainly could have done that (Hurts lost only one regular season game as a starter in two seasons). Yes, Tua was a big reason why Alabama was the best team in the country, but he had not even thrown a regular season fourth-quarter pass. He never had to win a game, Alabama was just that good. He had a chance in the SEC Championship game against Georgia after 'Bama fell behind early. Unfortunately, he left the game with an injury and Hurts led the Crimson Tide to a comeback win. I really think that game cost Tua the Heisman, he finally had his chance to prove himself the most valuable player in the country and missed it.

1. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma- The same day Tua lost the Heisman was when Kyler Murray won it. All season long Murray had been posting incredible stats and creating video game highlights but he had always trailed Tua. Hours before Tua failed to beat Georgia, Murray and Oklahoma avenged their only loss of the season by dispatching Texas in the Big 12 title game. Murray dazzled in this game by throwing for 379 yards and three scores. He finished the season third in passing yards, second in completion percentage, first in yards per attempt, and second in passing touchdowns. The only other player who can match his stats is Haskins (with Washington State's Gardner Minshew coming close) and the only one who can match his resume is Tua. Thus, Murray is your 2018 Heisman trophy winner.

Thanks for reading everyone.