A 5-step roadmap for how Ed Oliver wins the 2018 Heisman Trophy

1. Oliver’s Houston squad must return to a New Year’s Six bowl

The year before Ed Oliver exited high school and joined the Cougars, Houston won the American Athletic Conference after a 12-1 regular season. That run of success earned the Cougars a spot in the Peach Bowl as the top-rated Group of Five team in the country. After that instant success, Tom Herman remained in Houston for one more season.

That was just long enough to get Oliver to stay in his hometown for college as the crown jewel of Herman’s first full recruiting cycle. Fortunes turned in 2016, as the Cougars knocked off Oklahoma and Louisville to wedge themselves into the College Football Playoff discussion. But several conference losses were enough to drive the Cougars completely out of AAC contention and ended any dreams of a New Year’s Six repeat.

Last year, Houston took another step back and fell to 7-6 on the year. Oliver has played in bowl games each of his first two seasons at Houston. But for the hometown boy, time is running out on the chance to put Houston back on the national map.

If Oliver plays a key role as a leader on one of the nation’s top defenses, he will help put Houston in the New Year’s Six discussion. Should the Cougars make it back to a major bowl game, Oliver’s Heisman case will be sealed up.