2020 Heisman Trophy odds: Chuba Hubbard could make history for Canada

When one thinks of athletes from Canada playing college sports at high level in the United States, it's surely either in basketball (Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett and Andrew Wiggins to name four) or hockey. Football? Probably not. In fact, no Canadian has come close to winning a Heisman Trophy. That could change this year with Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard, who is +2200 on the moneyline odds at William Hill sportsbook.

Those odds are tied for the shortest among running backs with Clemson's Travis Etienne – it surprised many that both those players returned to school this season instead of declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his 2021 Big Board on Tuesday and Etienne was ranked No. 1 among tailbacks and Hubbard second. Both could be first-round picks.

Hubbard is from a suburb of Edmonton and was a track star nationally in high school. Last season, he led the country with 2,094 rushing yards, which was 16th in FBS history, third in Big 12 annals and second in school history. The only other Oklahoma State player to win the Heisman, a guy by the name of Barry Sanders, holds the single-season NCAA (and school) rushing record of 2,628 when he won the award in 1988.

Hubbard's 21 rushing scores were the most of any Power 5 player last year, and he led he FBS in rushes of more than 30 yards (15), 40 yards (nine), 50 yards (seven), 60 yards (five), 70 yards (three), 80 yards (two) and 90 yards (one). His 296 yards vs. Kansas State were the most of any FBS player in 2019. Hubbard finished eighth in the Heisman voting, was a unanimous All-American and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Granted, it's tough these days for a running back to win the Heisman as only two have this century when throwing out the one claimed by Reggie Bush in 2005 at USC. He vacated that due to NCAA violations.

Could Hubbard at least become a finalist? The only other Canadians to finish Top 10 in Heiman voting were Washington State running back Rueben Mayes (10th in 1984), Michigan State offensive lineman Tony Mandarich (sixth in 1988), and Michigan running back Tim Biakabutuka (eighth in 1995).

Mandarich was considered the best offensive line prospect in history at the time and went No. 2 overall in the 1989 NFL Draft – only to be a major bust. Mayes and Biakabutuka also played in the NFL. Hubbard and the Pokes open Sept. 3 vs. Oregon State and will be more than two-TD favorites. Oklahoma State could be a good sleeper pick to reach the College Football Playoff. 

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