How Heisman hopefuls can improve their chances of winning

It's impossible to know how the 2017 Heisman Trophy race will play out, but there are certain things these leading candidates can do to boost their chances of winning the award.

Heisman Trophy races are unpredictable. Youngsters make unexpected leaps. Upperclassmen endure puzzling plunges in form. Multi-year starters suffer major injuries. All of these things, and so much more, can complicate what seems, on the surface, like a very simple task: Determining who is the best player in the country. While we don’t know what twists will shake up the 2017 race, it’s not hard to identify some things projected candidates can do to improve their chances of winning. Using last season as a baseline, SI.com is analyzing how five Heisman hopefuls, listed in descending order based on the latest odds from VegasInsider.com, can increase the likelihood they’ll claim the bronze trophy in December.