Isaac Howard was arguably the best college hockey player in the nation this season.

The Michigan State junior forward now has the hardware to prove it.

Howard on Friday was named the winner of the Hobey Baker Award, the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in football, during a ceremony in St. Louis amid the Frozen Four. He edged out a pair of other finalists in Denver defenseman Zeev Buium and Boston College forward Ryan Leonard. All three were teammates for the United States squad that took home gold at the 2024 World Junior Championship in Sweden.

“It’s an individual award but it really comes from teammates, linemates,” Howard said while accepting the trophy on stage. “It’s a collective group so I couldn’t do it alone. Go green.”

Howard is the third Spartan to win the Hobey, the first in 24 years, and is returning for his senior season. The 2022 first-round pick couldn’t come to terms with the Tampa Bay Lightning and could be an unrestricted free agent in August 2026.

Howard led the Spartans in both goals (26) and assists (26) and his 52 points were 21 more than anyone else on a team that claimed its second straight Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles. He is first in the nation in points per game (1.41) and is tied for third with 26 goals.

Howard and sophomore goalie Trey Augustine were both named first team All-Americans by the American Hockey Coaches Association on Friday while junior defenseman Matt Basgall was selected second team. It’s the first time the Spartans had multiple players named first team All-American since 1999.

Third-year coach Adam Nightingale continued his rapid rebuild this season although Michigan State (26-7-4), as a No. 1 seed, was upset in a 4-3 loss to Cornell in an NCAA Tournament opener. The Spartans haven’t reached the Frozen Four since 2007 when they claimed the program’s third national championship.

Howard’s return, along Augustine for his junior season, should make Michigan State one of the favorites again next year. Augustine was one of four finalists for the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top goalie but it went to Boston College’s Jacob Fowler on Friday.

Howard, the Big Ten Player of the Year, will have a chance to put a cap on a standout college career that began with one season at Minnesota-Duluth before transferring to join the Spartans and ramping up production each of the last two years.

Michigan State’s two previous Hobey Baker winners were forward Kip Miller in 1990 and goalie Ryan Miller in 2001.