Miami head coach Mario Cristobal wants the college football's signature individual award to be decided after the season actually ends.
"The only thing I'd wish about the Heisman Trophy is it was awarded when all the games are done," Cristobal said on this week's Pardon My Take podcast. "That whole [giving out the] award before the postseason games are played is absolutely bizarre to me. Like I can't comprehend it and never will."
NEW: Mario Cristobal calls for the Heisman Trophy to be awarded after all postseason games are played🤔
— On3 (@On3sports) October 9, 2025
“That whole award before the postseason games are played is absolutely bizarre to me.”
(via @PardonMyTake) https://t.co/wZYbg1vkZz pic.twitter.com/nwvPsrFMlw
The Heisman remains a December event: ballots are distributed the first week of December and due a week later, with the ceremony set for Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. Obviously under the current practice, voters submit ballots before any College Football Playoff snaps are played.
The coach's proposal would push voting past the playoff. The second year of the 12-team CFP opens with first-round games Dec. 19–20, quarterfinals on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, semifinals Jan. 8–9 and the national championship on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium. Waiting until all the games are done would mean holding ballots until after Jan. 19 and judging candidates with full postseason resumes.
Cristobal's stance makes sense because some view the Heisman as a holistic award rather than just a regular-season honor. The current format for voting leaves the biggest moments of the season out of consideration. Awarding after the playoff would capture performances that can create legends, and essentially ignoring that does seem wrong. The trade-off is real though as non-playoff participants might be unfairly left out since their team was unable to make the extended postseason. Last season, Cam Ward was a finalist and Miami didn't make the playoff. Also, the winner of the award last year, Travis Hunter, also missed the CFP.
Cristobal appear to genuinely want it change, but there is also a case to be made for two Miami Hurricanes players this year — and voting in the postseason could help each of them. Quarterback Carson Beck and EDGE Rueben Bain have both climbed up betting boards after a series of ranked wins and a 5-0 start. If the award ever included postseason play, a team that advances deep into January could give its stars additional chances to impress voters. As it stands, those opportunities count only toward team hardware.