A quarterback has claimed college sports’ premier award in eight of the past nine seasons, a trend most expect to continue. Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence could be the No. 1 picks in the next two NFL drafts, respectively, and are the preseason favorites to win the Heisman Trophy for 2019.

But neither will cruise to the prestigious award. There is too much competition for that. Here are The Post’s top 10 candidates, in alphabetical order:

QB Sam Ehlinger, Texas

The dual-threat quarterback produced 41 touchdowns last season, and that was with a shoulder injury limiting him down the stretch. As long as Ehlinger can stay healthy, he’ll put up major numbers with his right arm and legs in the defense-optional Big 12.

RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

Overshadowed by his teammate Lawrence, Etienne is a long shot, even if he can match his eye-popping numbers (1,658 rushing yards, a program-record 24 touchdowns) of a year ago.

QB Justin Fields, Ohio State

Some experts viewed Fields — not Lawrence — as the best prospect in the 2018 class. Now the physically gifted Fields gets his shot to live up to the hype after transferring from Georgia to Ohio State’s quarterback-friendly spread attack.

QB Jake Fromm, Georgia

In two years, Fromm has thrown 54 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions and completed 64.9 percent of his passes. His play has led a pair of highly rated quarterbacks, Fields and Jacob Eason, to transfer. Fromm doesn’t have to look over his shoulder anymore.

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

Herbert passed on millions to return for his senior year and a chance to play with his brother, freshman tight end Patrick Herbert. He’ll get an early opportunity to leave an impression on voters: a Week 1 showdown against Auburn and its nasty front four.

QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

Can Lincoln Riley do it again? Few thought he had a Heisman Trophy winner at this time each of the past two years, only for Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray to stun the field. Now here comes Hurts, the fleet-footed Alabama transfer who has already excelled on the sport’s biggest stage.

QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

The only way Lawrence’s freshman season could have been better was if it included the Heisman Trophy. A year after leading Clemson to the title and throwing 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions, the 6-foot-6 sophomore with a cannon for a right arm and enough weapons to lead a siege is considered the preseason favorite.

QB Adrian Martinez, Nebraska

A chic sleeper pick, the multi-talented sophomore quarterback can run and throw, and was just the sixth freshman since 1990 to average 200 yards passing and 50 yards rushing per game.

QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

Motivation won’t be hard to find for Tagovailoa. The heavy Heisman favorite for most of last season — he piled up 43 touchdown passes despite rarely appearing in the fourth quarter of blowouts, threw just six interceptions and completed 69 percent of his attempts — he closed poorly in part due to an ankle injury and lost out to Oklahoma’s Murray.

RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

Taylor actually improved upon his record-breaking 2017 freshman season with career highs in yards (2,194), yards per attempt (7.1) and touchdowns (16) last fall, yet the Badgers’ disappointing season curtailed the New Jersey native’s chances.