Heisman Trophy watch 2022: Top 5 candidates heading into Week 9

T1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

I was close to dropping C.J. Stroud to second this week and here’s why: Stroud is putting up great numbers but he’s also thrown an interception in the last four games.

Against Iowa, he threw an interception and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. He also threw for 286 yards and four touchdowns against Iowa. Yet, if you look deeper, Stroud threw two of those touchdowns when the game was 40-10 Ohio State.

Just saying it looks like some stat padding is going on in Columbus. Stroud is leading college football in QBR and touchdown passes.

Yet, he will get his chance to shine against a good Penn State defense on Saturday. The Nittany Lions can throw themselves into the Big Ten title race and even the playoff hunt with a win. So it’s a big game. The problem for Stroud is expectations.

He needs to have great numbers and the Buckeyes need to win. As long as that happens, his candidacy will depend largely on the Michigan game and getting redemption — if the status quo continues. But he’s been putting up huge numbers for the last two seasons and that isn’t likely to change.

But anything less than 300 yards and three touchdowns or so is probably going to hurt him in this race.