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25 biggest college football storylines for the 2022 season

By Michael Thompson

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: The National Championship Trophy is seen on the field prior to the 2022 CFP National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: The National Championship Trophy is seen on the field prior to the 2022 CFP National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 01: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after defeating the Utah Utes 48-45 in the Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 01: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after defeating the Utah Utes 48-45 in the Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

15. Does the dynamic Buckeye duo cost them a Heisman?

If Alabama’s Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. aren’t the top players in the country, then Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba are.

Stroud is my top-ranked quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft class. Above Young, Stroud has all the measurables to be a top pick in any non-Anderson draft. At 6-3, 215 pounds, solid mobility, and elite accuracy at all levels of the field, Stroud reminds me of a similar Ohio quarterback that ended up having a pretty good career at LSU and is now playing quarterback in Cincinnati. Stroud was a Heisman finalist last year and should be yet again.

Catching most of the balls this year from Stroud will be his fellow Rose Bowl legend Jaxon Smith-Njigba who was by far the best receiver on a team that had two receivers go in the first round of the NFL draft. With 95 catches, 1,600 yards receiving, and nine touchdowns, including an unbelievable 15 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns in their classic Rose Bowl win over Utah. What does he have for an encore?

This duo may go down as one of the greatest in Buckeye history and may bring OSU its first title since 2014. But will their connection with each other unintentionally harm each other’s chances of winning the Heisman?

We’ve seen this in the past. Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook were both finalists in 2016. Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree cost each other a spot in New York back in 2008. On the flip side, we saw USC have back-to-back Heisman winners during the Pete Carroll USC dynasty with Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush each taking home the award.

Considering how talented the field will be, I think it will be tough for either of them to win the award, but if anyone is good enough to prove me wrong, it’s these guys.

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