The 2022 Heisman Trophy race is starting to take shape a little bit and here are the top five contenders after Week 3.
At this point in the college football season, it’s hard to call anyone the favorite for the 2022 Heisman Trophy.
Most of the favorites have played well up to this point and some have been impacted because their schedule hasn’t been all that difficult. But with conference play opening for most college football teams this weekend, that should change.
However, some teams have already started conference play and one of those teams is Georgia, which dominated South Carolina last weekend.
Stetson Bennett was stellar last week and J.J. McCarthy who cracked our top five a week ago had a solid ho-hum day against UConn. He was 15-of-18 for 213 yards. He’s the top-ranked QB in QBR, but the Wolverines’ schedule has been really easy.
So after what Dillon Gabriel did last week against Nebraska, he’s pushed his way into the top five. Some oddsmakers even have him in the top four. However, Bennett has played really well and he’s still trending up in my opinion.
McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., Jordan Addison, Bijan Robinson, and Will Anderson are the top contenders just outside of the top 5, and here is our updated Heisman Watch for 2022 after Week 3 of the college football season.
5. Dillon Gabriel
Through three games, Dillon Gabriel is averaging just over 250 yards per game for the Sooners to go along with seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Some have him jumping higher in the race thanks to an impressive 61-yard touchdown run in the win over Nebraska.
That was a Heisman Trophy sort of moment and people will remember it but Nebraska also looked really bad. Gabriel only completed 59 percent of his passes but threw for 230 yards and added 55 on the ground, including the touchdown.
It was enough to get him some attention and with the talent surrounding him, the numbers are going to look good and if the wins keep on coming against the more marquee opponents, his name will continue to rise among Heisman Trophy contenders.
4. Stetson Bennett
Quite frankly, I don’t understand why more college football fans and pundits don’t take Stetson Bennett more seriously when it comes to the Heisman Trophy.
At some point, people will stop doubting him. They doubted whether he would lead Georgia to a national championship and they are writing him off now too.
At any rate, in the first SEC game of the season against South Carolina, Bennet was 16-of-23 for 284 yards. He also threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. He averaged 12.1 yards per pass attempt and basically played like Spencer Rattler was supposed to.
Bennett is a winner, yes, but he’s also averaging 317 passing yards per game this season and is completing 73 percent of his passes. Also, let’s remember the Bulldogs played Oregon (who looks pretty good now) in the opener and also South Carolina.
There was a cupcake in-between but every college football team plays a couple of those. Georgia has had two tests and Bennett has the fifth-best QBR in college football.
Doubt him at your own risk.
3. Bryce Young
Some college football fans might call this overreaction, but the fact is, after three weeks, Bryce Young just hasn’t been that good.
The 236 yards he threw for last weekend against Lousiana-Monroe was a season-high, however, he also threw two interceptions. He also struggled in the Texas game until the fourth quarter.
Young deserves credit for rallying Alabama in that game and delivering two clutch scoring drives when needed. He also ran for 100 yards in the first game of the season against Utah State in addition to his key run in the fourth quarter against Texas.
The Heisman Trophy winner from last season is completing 68 percent of his passes and has 11 total touchdowns, so let’s not get carried away, but Young hasn’t been the most impressive player so far in college football this season and it’s time to admit that.
There is plenty of time for that to change. For now, he’s lost his spot as the frontrunner.
2. Caleb Williams
Lincoln Riley knows the value of an elite quarterback as well as anyone in college football with some of the guys he coached at Oklahoma and now, he’s got one of those dudes at USC.
Williams, who transferred after one season at OU, has been lights out and the competition hasn’t been all that tough, but it’s also not easy. Rice just got a solid win last weekend over Louisiana, which had a lengthy win streak, while Stanford is always competitive. As is Fresno State.
Williams has thrown for an average of 291 yards per game and eight touchdowns. He also hasn’t thrown an interception.
With Jordan Addison and all the other weapons, USC has one of the best offenses in the country. Ohio State might be the only one that’s better and so far in the 2022 Heisman Trophy race, an Ohio State QB is the only one ahead of Caleb Williams on our list of contenders.
1. C.J. Stroud
The bottom line is that C.J. Stroud has work to do to if he wants to win the Heisman Trophy but he’s been a little more consistent than Caleb Williams and his numbers are a little more eye-popping. Plus he beat Notre Dame on national TV which never hurts.
Stroud really put up spectacular numbers all of last season, but he only threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns against Notre Dame. That might seem OK.
However, we are used to seeing Stroud throw for over 300 yards with ease, which he has done the past two weeks against Arkansas State and Toledo. Those are all solid programs and Stroud has been without his No. 1 wideout, and is still averaging 11 yards per pass attempt and has 11 total touchdowns.
It’s been impressive but Wisconsin is up next for the Buckeyes and the Badgers tend to be pretty stingy when it comes to allowing points. Ohio State should have the edge though, especially at the receiver (hello, Marvin Harrison Jr.) and Stroud can really take control of this race with one of his patented performances of 300-some yards and 4-5 touchdowns.
It’s asking a lot. But this offense also had nearly 800 yards last week, so it’s capable of doing some incredible things.