Thoughts From the Morning After: FSU 31 Notre Dame 27

Oct 18, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quaterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to throw the ball during the first half of the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Jameis Winston

On Saturday night Jameis Winston again proved why he is one of the best players in college football. Winston had a lackluster first half before putting the Seminoles on his back while he went 15/16 for a 181 yards and a touchdown in the second half.

When FSU needed a play, Winston provided it. Whether it was standing in the pocket and taking a shot so he could get the ball off or throwing off his back foot with a full-out blitz in his face, Winston stood tall in a huge second half on a national stage on Saturday night.

It was almost the kind of performance you would label “Heisman-worthy,” that is, if Winston’s name wasn’t so closely associated with negativity in the college football world right now.

Here’s a tough fact to face: Jameis Winston will not be the Heisman trophy winner this year.

He may not even get invited to New York.

But that is entirely political. It’s entirely because somebody told the Heisman voters that their opinions on morality were somehow akin to their opinions on actual football and should be factored into their votes. The Heisman is not about character. That’s silly. It’s the award that’s supposed to be given to the nation’s best player.

Unfortunately that’s not what it is anymore. First it became an award that — despite claims to the contrary — was only for offensive players. Now it’s only for offensive players you would want to invite over for dinner. That means Winston isn’t winning it again.

That doesn’t mean he’s not still one of the nation’s best players though. Anyone who watches FSU — who watches college football — and doesn’t immediately notice Winston as one of the most dynamic players in today’s game is either blind or an ideologue. Either way, that’s not someone you want to watch football with.