As teams gear up for the final week of the college football regular season, a select number of standout players will prepare to cap off their Heisman trophy campaigns.
Voters will soon cast their ballots for the most illustrious award in college football, while the selection will formally be announced on Dec. 10. Here are a few of the players who’ve managed to stand out above the rest.
Caleb Williams
University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams is first up in a Heisman race that truly seems like it could go any way. Williams’ recent outing of two touchdowns and 470 passing yards on 74.4% completion means so much more in a year without a clear favorite, especially while narrowly defeating rival UCLA and keeping the Trojans’ playoff hopes alive.
Williams’ big game, adding on to his total 3,480 passing yards and 33 touchdowns with only three interceptions, puts him right up there with the rest of the Heisman hopefuls to leave with some hardware on Dec. 10. A crucial win against Notre Dame on Friday night could be exactly what he needs to seal the deal for the 2022 trophy.
C.J Stroud
Next on the Heisman watch list is Ohio State quarterback C.J Stroud. As the leader of an 8-0 Ohio State team with a strong bid for the national championship, Stroud is undeniably in the Heisman conversation.
Stroud has led the Buckeyes to an undefeated season behind his 2,991 yards and 35-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Stroud has dominated the college football scene for almost two full seasons and has looked like a true top QB prospect for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Ohio State has surged to dominance this year, but the biggest test for both them and Stroud will come against another Heisman hopeful on Saturday — Blake Corum and the Michigan Wolverines.
Blake Corum
Corum has a unique case in that he is the only non-quarterback to make the list. The Michigan running back has led the charge for this offense, helping the Wolverines to an undefeated season so far.
Corum is the best running back in college football with 1,457 yards and 18 touchdowns on an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Corum and the Wolverines face their toughest challenge yet as they prepare to go against the also-undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes in the most anticipated matchup of the rivalry weekend.
His bid for the Heisman took a slight hiccup when he injured his knee before halftime in Michigan’s game against Illinois. The junior is questionable for their matchup against the Buckeyes and, even if he plays, won't be 100%. As a running back in a competition dominated by quarterbacks, this is a tough blow for an already challenging Heisman case.
Max Duggan
Rounding out the Heisman watchlist is TCU quarterback Max Duggan. Duggan has taken the Horned Frogs from a 5-7 football team last year to an 11-0 squad with hopes of a national championship.
The Horned Frogs have marched to an undefeated season behind the leadership of their senior quarterback. This season, Duggan has thrown for 2,858 yards with 26 touchdowns and only three interceptions. TCU’s final matchup comes Saturday at home when Iowa State comes to town. Duggan needs a big game if he wants to keep up with the likes of Stroud and Williams, and if there is a team to dominate, it is the 4-7 Cyclones on your home turf.
Closing out an undefeated season with an impressive performance is exactly what Duggan needs if he wants a serious shot at the Heisman.
