Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez might have fallen from the Heisman race, but he didn’t walk away empty-handed. After a dominant season and pushing the Red Raiders to the playoffs this season, Rodriguez finished as the highest-ranked non-finalist. He got the closest to the ceremony without stepping on stage.

Rodriguez narrowly missed a trip to New York, landing fifth in the Heisman race, but he still walked away with the win in the annual Heisman Fan Vote. He was the highest-ranked player who did not make the Heisman finalist list, coming after the four finalists: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love, and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.

This snub reinforces the age-old belief that the Heisman Trophy ofte

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