Paul Finebaum Reveals Why Jalen Milroe Could Have 'No Shot' At The Heisman

It was an eventful season for Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe in 2023. Milroe was the starter for the Crimson Tide but got benched after a poor performance in only the second game of the season.

Milroe was reinserted as the starter the following week against the Ole Miss Rebels and had an outstanding game. He threw for 225 yards and a touchdown with an 81% completion percentage.

That performance helped lead to an exciting end of the season. Milroe and the Crimson Tide defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game and secured a spot in the College Football Playoff. However, they ultimately lost to the eventual national champion, the Michigan Wolverines.

This year, Milroe is considered one of the top players for the Heisman Trophy. ESPN's Paul Finebaum thinks he will be a contender, but if the Crimson Tide is not a playoff team, he doesn't believe Milroe will have a shot.

"I certainly think he's a contender," Finebaum said. "But I think most of it depends on how he plays, to put it mildly, where Alabama ends up. They have to be a playoff team for him to be a serious contender. If they fail, then he will virtually have no shot."

According to BetMGM , Milroe is ranked No. 4 with the best odds to win the Heisman this season, trailing behind Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck and Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Finebaum believes that if Alabama has another strong season and reaches the College Football Playoff, Milroe could be in the thick of the Heisman race by the end of the season.

Related: Paul Finebaum Predicts 'Disaster' If SEC Power Doesn't Make College Football Playoff