COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Justin Fields was good enough to win the Heisman Trophy in his debut season with Ohio State football.

The sophomore quarterback, who finished third Saturday night behind LSU’s Joe Burrow, probably wasn’t Heismany enough, however.

Burrow deserves every accolade he has received this postseason. His talents lifted LSU to the No. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoff. To go from unable to win a job at one school to an undefeated season at another is the kind of narrative that can successfully launch a Heisman campaign and bring it home.

Fields, despite being a transfer himself, could not quite match that. In another year perhaps, the 50 total touchdowns against one interception and the late-season perseverance through a knee injury and the equally unblemished record would be enough.

Instead, Fields now gets to spend the offseason as many observers' front-runner for the 2020 award.

Over the coming 365 days, the narrative could shift considerably in his favor.

While Fields was the No. 2 recruit in the 2018 recruiting class per the 247 Sports national consensus, his star power did not stand out on this roster. Fellow Heisman Trophy finalist Chase Young will not wait long to hear his name on the opening night of the NFL Draft. J.K. Dobbins may run for 2,000 yards. Jeff Okudah might be the best cornerback in the country. Wyatt Davis is an All-American on one of the best offensive lines in the country.

Fields throws to the most prolific pass-catcher in Ohio State history, K.J. Hill, and two other senior starting receivers. He benefited from a defense in which DaVon Hamilton and Jashon Cornell and Robert Landers and Malik Harrison and Damon Arnette and Jordan Fuller repeatedly stifled opposing offenses and gave Fields the ball back.

One could argue Fields was no better than the second-best football player on the Buckeyes’ roster in 2019, and perhaps farther down depending on one’s opinion of Okudah or others. All of the players mentioned will or could leave before next season, either due to the expiration of their eligibility or the allure of the NFL.

If that happens, Ohio State 2020 becomes Fields’ team in every way.

Ohio State absolutely needed Fields to both arrive and live up to his hype, and he delivered. However, he also had a lot of help. Next season, the weight of the Buckeyes’ potential shifts a bit, with more of it carried on the shoulders of their multi-faceted quarterback.

Same goes for the credit, if Ohio State continues to thrive.

We must be careful not to anoint Fields prematurely. Look to the example of the man who may be his main competitor for the trophy next season.

Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence seemed like a lock for Heisman finalist status after leading Clemson to the national championship as a freshman. Then he threw a few interceptions early in the season, nearly suffered a season-impaling loss at North Carolina and lost the momentum necessary to return to New York.

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Meanwhile, Lawrence sill had a fantastic season — 3,172 yards, 34 touchdowns against eight interceptions, another 407 yards and seven scored on the ground — and takes a 13-0 record into a Fiesta Bowl faceoff with Fields and the Buckeyes

Fields and Lawrence will begin a March to the 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland with an expected detour through New York.

Fields has been asked to lift Ohio State before. If he can do it again, with a greater degree of difficulty, perhaps that trophy can return to Columbus.

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