Alabama running back Derrick Henry, Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson were named the three finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday.
The winner will be named on Saturday, when the Heisman Trophy is presented in New York to the top vote-getter.
The two most noteworthy players not among the finalists are Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and LSU running back Leonard Fontenot, who was considered the front-runner for the Heisman midway through the season.
Henry leads the nation in total rushing yards (1,986) and is second in rushing yards per game (152.8) for an Alabama team that won the Southeastern Conference title and is one of four teams competing in the College Football Playoff.
McCaffrey ranks second in rushing yardage (1,847), and his 3,496 all-purpose yards broke the single-season record set by Barry Sanders in 1988. Stanford won the Pac-12 title.
Watson led Clemson to an undefeated regular season and a No. 1 ranking. He ranks eighth nationally in passer rating, completing 69.2 percent of his passes for 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Quarterbacks have won the Heisman Trophy the past five years and 13 of the last 15 years.