Ranking contenders among 2022 Heisman Trophy finalists

We now have the finalists for the 2022 Heisman Trophy and here’s our ranking of the contenders ahead of the announcement on Saturday. 

The 2022 Heisman Trophy race has been all over the place and injuries have had a major impact as leading contenders Blake Corum and Hendon Hooker were sidelined with season-ending injuries.

If Corum didn’t hurt his knee against Illinois, and if he was able to do anything close to what Donovan Edwards did over the past two weeks, he likely would have been the 2022 Heisman Trophy award winner.

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As it stands, Corum didn’t even get the chance to be a Heisman Trophy finalist as four were invited to New York for the ceremony on Saturday and they are CJ. Stroud, Stetson Bennett, Caleb Williams, and Max Duggan.

Here’s how we rank the 2022 Heisman Trophy finalists heading into this weekend.

4. Stetson Bennett, Georgia

People will look at Bennett’s passing numbers and ask why he’s even in the Heisman conversation. Well, besides the fact that he’s 13-0, he’s put up some solid rushing numbers and has a decent amount of rushing touchdowns (7). Still, if he didn’t play for the No. 1 team in the country, he probably wouldn’t be considered. He does have the No. 6 QBR according to ESPN and has completed 68 percent of his passes but Hooker or Corum deserved this spot over him.

3. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

Stroud lost his bid for the 2022 Heisman Trophy the day he threw two interceptions against Michigan. The Buckeyes’ QB put up big numbers but ‘The Game’ cost him a chance in 2021 and the Wolverines ended his Heisman hopes again in 2022. Flat out, if it wasn’t for Michigan, Stroud might be the two-time winner of the award on Saturday night.

2. Max Duggan, TCU

There is no clear-cut winner for the 2022 Heisman Trophy and TCU’s Max Duggan sure made it interesting over the weekend. The College football world has ignored him for much of the season but Duggan threw 30 touchdown passes this season compared to just four interceptions. He also engineered an 18-point come-from-behind win in the first matchup against Kansas State, as well as a game-winning field-goal drive against Baylor. Beyond all that, he’s got over 400 rushing yards and six touchdowns and proved he’s a warrior on Saturday. But will it be enough?

1. Caleb Williams, USC

Caleb Williams’ team came up short in the Pac-12 title game and did throw an interception but he injured his hamstring on a 59-yard run in the second quarter and could barely walk after. Yet, he refused to come out of the game and threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns. Williams also threw for 4,075 yards this season and tied for first with 37 touchdown passes in all of college football, which was in addition to 372 yards on the ground and 10 scores. USC was also a four-win team last year and Williams had them close to the College Football Playoff. Duggan did too (TCU won 5 games last year) but Williams is the best player in college football. However, this Heisman Trophy race actually has some drama to it. Williams was the clear favorite going into the weekend but Duggan impressed the voters. The question is how much?