A 5-step roadmap for how McKenzie Milton wins the 2018 Heisman Trophy

1. Milton will have to lead undefeated UCF back to the New Year’s Six

Players like Tim Tebow and Robert Griffin III were able to sustain multiple losses en route to picking up the Heisman Trophy. A candidate like McKenzie Milton has no such margin for error. Even with massive stats that dwarf his production from 2017, he will have no chance at the Heisman unless he once again runs the table with the Knights.

If UCF managed to win a second straight American Athletic Conference crown and complete a run of 26 consecutive victories, Heisman voters would be forced to sit up and notice. The College Football Playoff selection committee would undoubtedly slot the Knights into another New Year’s Six bowl game in that scenario, and they might even be considered for a berth in the Playoff proper.

Thus Milton’s case for the Heisman comes down to a symbiosis of his individual stats and how well it correlates to team success. If the UCF quarterback can put up big numbers en route to a second straight undefeated regular season, he would have just as good a case as any other Heisman contender.

The most efficient quarterback in the country, on the most potent scoring offense in the FBS, piloting the team on by far the longest winning streak in the nation? All of that would add up to a Heisman Trophy for McKenzie Milton in 2018.