The Heisman Trophy is the biggest award a college football player can get. Since 1935, when University of Chicago back Jay Berwanger took the award, the excitement surrounding it has only grown.
So, to help with your college football betting, we take a look at those who might be in the running for this year’s Heisman that will be awarded on Dec. 10.
Heisman Trophy 2022 Odds
| Player | School | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud | Ohio State | +100 |
| Hendon Hooker | Tennessee | +200 |
| Caleb Williams | USC | +700 |
| Blake Corum | Michigan | +1200 |
| Bryce Young | Alabama | +1800 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | Alabama | +2500 |
| DJ Uiagalelei | Clemson | +2500 |
| Dorian Thompson-Robinson | UCLA | +2500 |
| Adrian Martinez | Kansas State | +3000 |
| Spencer Sanders | Oklahoma State | +3000 |
| Drake Maye | North Carolina | +3000 |
| Stetson Bennett | Georgia | +5000 |
| Max Duggan | Texas Christian | +5000 |
| Sam Hartman | Wake Forest | +5000 |
| Bo Nix | Oregon | +6600 |
| Bijan Robinson | Texas | +10000 |
Odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Heisman Prediction: This year’s Heisman Trophy will go to Bryce Young. Read on to find out why!
Who are the Heisman Trophy Candidates for 2022?
The 2022 Heisman Trophy candidates are quite a few. Bryce Young, the 2021 Heisman winner is still high on any list. Young leads Alabama’s offense and figures to have a strong second half as the Crimson Tide plays a good deal on the marquis stage. Though he struggled some against Texas, Young made the right moves at the right time as Alabama held on in a hostile environment.
Alabama typically starts playing better in October and November, which is the biggest stretch for voters to get a good look at candidates. He is not the odds-on favorite to repeat to win the award. Unlike Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, Young has a huge touchdown advantage and is the class of SEC quarterbacks. Alabama could play Georgia in the SEC championship game to further boost the candidacy of Bryce Young.
Nick Saban has mentioned this a few times but “there is only one Bryce Young”. The Alabama coach means every word of it.
Young injured his shoulder against Arkansas but came back against Tennessee and was 35-of-52 for 455 yards and two touchdowns. The Crimson Tide lost the game 52-49, but Young was terrific.
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud from Ohio State is the Heisman favorite among bookmakers currently. Most have forgotten about that early season struggle against Notre Dame. Also, Stroud benefits from playing for a team that is a runaway favorite to win its conference and not lose until after the 2022 Heisman is awarded.
C.J. Stroud asked about the game and he said “from my perspective, we won.” He said Rutgers’ main goal was to stop the pass. — From Patrick Murphy
Currently, no team in the Big Ten seems to be a threat to Ohio State. When it comes to odds, the Buckeyes are expected to easily win their conference (-225 currently). USA Today Sports had them the most likely to make the college football playoff which means probably no losses. No losses in the Heisman picture will certainly help his chances. Stroud will get to use that arm more often. Sometimes being smart is good when trying to win the Heisman. If Stroud wins, he would be the eighth Ohio State player to win the Heisman Trophy, which would be the most ever by a school.
Among other SEC quarterbacks, Hendon Hooker from Tennessee has to be considered a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Hooker led the Volunteers to a 52-49 win against hated rival Alabama with five touchdown passes. That kept Tennessee undefeated. More importantly, the quarterback uses his offensive line brilliantly, finds open receivers, and has 21 combined touchdowns already (18 passing, three rushing). The transfer portal was kind to the former Virginia Tech signal-caller.
Hooker threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season and the senior is well on his way to surpassing that total in 2022. Behind an excellent Volunteers offensive line and the work of offensive coordinator Alex Golesh. Golesh has helped unleash Tennessee’s offense and has been a huge asset to every coaching staff since his days at Ohio State. Hendon Hooker will get to prove his Heisman Trophy candidacy with games against Georgia and perhaps Alabama one more time.
SEC QBs not named Bennett or Young
| Player | School | QBR |
|---|---|---|
| Hendon Hooker | Tennessee | 91.4 |
| Jayden Daniels | LSU | 80.0 |
| Jaxson Dart | Ole Miss | 78.4 |
| KJ Jefferson | Arkansas | 77.3 |
| Anthony Richardson | Florida | 67.4 |
| Will Rogers | Mississippi State | 67.3 |
| Will Levis | Kentucky | 65.7 |
| A.J. Swann | Vanderbilt | 60.1 |
Caleb Williams leads the USC Fighting Trojans’ attack after coming off the transfer portal, following former Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley to Los Angeles. Williams and Riley formed quite a pair as USC has gotten off to a nice start. He may not have had the greatest game against Oregon State but Caleb Williams had 318 yards and five touchdowns in the loss to Utah and a game versus UCLA to come.
“He was going to get it done”. That is how much USC trusts Caleb Williams no matter what the score is. From Trevor Moore of 247sports.com
The key for Williams is he does not make mistakes often. USC will have opportunities to allow the quarterback to pad his numbers. He stands in the Top 5 in most Heisman Trophy odds. In order to win, Caleb Williams will likely need that win at the Rose Bowl in November. Williams will then need Oregon and Bo Nix to lose once. USC must win the PAC-12 for the signal-caller to have any shot.
Who is in the Lead for the 2022 Heisman Trophy?
C.J. Stroud, from the Ohio State Buckeyes, leads the Heisman Trophy race. His numbers peg him as at +100 on DraftKings. Ohio State may be the most likely team to go undefeated up until the College Football Playoff. The most visible player in Ohio State’s offense should have some more opportunities to pad his lead in the next couple of months.
Stroud benefits from one of the best offensive lines in the nation. It also does not hurt that the Ohio State offense is so balanced. That makes the quarterback’s life quite a bit easier. Staying in the 2022 Heisman race involves production, exposure, and results. So far, so good for the Ohio State junior.
Also, Stroud is putting up some incredible early numbers which get noticed fast. He has 28 touchdowns and four interceptions. Stroud has thrown four or more touchdowns five times. He remains on pace to throw for potentially 50 touchdowns in 2022. Stroud leads the odds in the quest to win the Heisman Trophy.
Who are some other names to watch out for in the Heisman race?
Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum has racked up more than 900 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. The only bad news is the last winner of the Heisman from the running back position was Derrick Henry from Alabama in 2015. Heisman voters tend to look more toward quarterbacks. Corum should be able to add to his numbers against the likes of Nebraska, Rutgers, and Michigan State. Ohio State on the fourth Saturday in November is the defining game.
For someone making college football picks, TCU’s Max Duggan is an interesting possibility in the Heisman odds. The senior quarterback has guided the Horned Frogs to an undefeated start. He has tossed 19 touchdowns and just one interception. Duggan has also run for 274 yards and four more scores. TCU has a real shot to run the table but Texas may have something to say about that in two weeks. That could be where Duggan makes a case with a Heisman moment. Duggan has taken his shots. It seems hard to believe the quarterback was not even the starter from Game 1.
UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson could start to gain some traction among quarterbacks from the Lamar Jackson ilk. The run against Washington was one of those moments that even got many pundits’ attention. Thompson-Robinson’s arm and legs helped the Bruins get off to a good start. If UCLA and its offensive line can bounce back, the quarterback can stay in the Heisman mix. Playing at the Rose Bowl helps and the USC game could be the make or break game for his Heisman odds.
Bo Nix from Oregon is an interesting case. The Oregon quarterback laid an egg against Georgia as did the entire Ducks team. However, Oregon and Nix have bounced back. It introduces the possibility that if Bo Nix and Co. run the table, does he have a chance at being a finalist? Oregon showed its mettle against UCLA. It still might have to play USC. Yet, this college football season has a few more twists. A few more big games and Nix may wind up going to New York after all.
The 2022 college football season has one more candidate from USA Today sports. How about Chase Brown from Illinois? He has 1,059 rushing yards on just 192 carries. The one thing that hurts him is the mere four touchdowns. Brown does have two more touchdowns receiving but will need a huge game against Michigan to buoy his hopes.
Are there any more under-the-radar options for the 2022 Heisman?
This is always a question because inevitably, there are players who just fall under the radar so far for a variety of reasons. One of them is the spotlight cast on the SEC for better or for worse. Then there are the other conferences that make up the “Power Five”. Usually, they are battling for supremacy even for this award.
For all the talk about wide receivers like Smith Njigba, Tennessee has one that has gone far under the radar. Jalin Hyatt is creeping into the Top 10s of a lot of watch lists. This is for good reason. He might have only 40 catches but the Volunteers’ pass-catcher has 12 touchdowns and nearly 800 yards. His best game was a five-touchdown performance against Alabama. Georgia is going to have a difficult time containing him next weekend. His speed and athleticism are downright scary.
Though Michael Penix Jr. of Washington did not win the quarterback duel against UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson, he gained a good deal of respect. He has 22 passing touchdowns compared to just four interceptions along with a decent schedule the rest of the way. The junior even has the chance to go up against a formidable Oregon team in Eugene. With nearly 3,000 passing yards, he may be down but not out yet.
North Carolina’s Drake Maye has 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions but might as well be playing for N.C. State or South Carolina at this point. The Tar Heels just do not win enough. Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson has been very good this year but not Heisman-like. Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders probably had his big moment slip away in the heartbreaking loss to TCU.
Who needs help to get back in the Heisman mix?
Arguably, Dillon Gabriel may be in trouble after the Oklahoma defense put him and the offense in a hole after three early-season defeats. The transfer portal brought him from UCF to the Sooners. For as good as Oklahoma looked against Nebraska, Dillon Gabriel had his best game against Kansas State but it was not good enough (four touchdowns in all). Even with the win versus Kansas, Gabriel needs a miracle and for Oklahoma to run the table.
Bijan Robinson, the Texas running back, is another name that likely needs a helping hand if he wants to get back into the Heisman conversation. Robinson has 920 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns but Texas needs a signature moment or two. So, does the junior at this point. The Longhorns are a team that often can muck up 3-4 losses by themselves. See the loss to Texas Tech as evidence. That was not all his fault as the Texas rusher had just 16 carries. Again, Robinson needs to be fed the football. He is likely too much of a long shot.
Stetson Bennett has not fallen too far in some circles but the Georgia Bulldogs’ quarterback has not impressed in the way he did last season. Everyone knows the story, including the triumph against Alabama. Bennett has just seven passing touchdowns so far but has five touchdowns on the ground. The problem for the Georgia quarterback is he had a big game against Oregon but has not been tested since. Those tests will come in the form of Tennessee, and likely Alabama on Dec. 3.
Some pundits felt that Treveyon Henderson could be in this spot but C.J. Stroud is debatably Ohio State’s best running back and signal caller. Part of the problem is that Henderson has only 69 carries. Again, it comes down to numbers and moments. Treveyon Henderson will need to see the football a lot as the Saturdays grow colder. This is unlike Jaxon Smith-Njigba where injury has derailed any chance of the wide receiver winning the 2022 Heisman. The receiving corps for Ohio State has been too balanced if that is possible.
Sam Hartman of Wake Forest probably should not be in this spot but Wake Forest’s defense is too much of an adventure for even him to overcome. The Demon Deacons’ quarterback has been excellent all 2022 with 1,775 yards passing and 21 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Wake Forest is in the Top 25 but will need to beat N.C. State and hope someone knocks off Clemson.
Who has fallen too far out of 2022 Heisman Contention?
Let’s start with Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke. Van Dyke and the Hurricanes have not gotten off to a very good start and losing to Middle Tennessee State does not help. Van Dyke has not gotten much help and has already been benched at least once. It is never good in the third game of the season to suffer that fate.
A persistent hamstring injury has likely knocked the aforementioned Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of the running to even get back in the race for the Heisman. It is unfortunate but sometimes that is how events unfold. Typically, a player has to stay healthy, produce, and perform on the biggest stages … err, moments.
Jermaine Burton thought transferring from Georgia to Alabama would help. Yet being in the Alabama offense has not provided that expected boost. Averaging just three catches a game probably does not help either. When one is surpassed on the depth chart as Burton has by Treason Holden, that usually means curtains. John Metchie III would have been a nice mentor but he left for the NFL (No. 44 pick by the Houston Texans).
The Heisman Trophy and the “repeating” issue
There will always be issues when it comes to voting. However, a big one to consider might be a junior repeating as Heisman winner. Yes, we are talking about Bryce Young once more. The Heisman Trophy winner from 2021 is under the microscope from every angle imaginable. In college football circles and beyond, Alabama is synonymous with the national spotlight for better or for worse.
Nick Saban and his staff have Bryce Young well insulated with enough in the way of playmakers but it is up to the junior to take advantage of his opportunities. Even then, will that be enough? That is a great question. Bryce Young does not need to be flamboyant like Johnny Manziel or throw 60 touchdowns (see Joe Burrow). This might all boil down to Dec. 3 but it may be decided already. No one truly knows.
Who won the Heisman Trophy in 2021?
Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy in 2021. The quarterback from Alabama won the award last season over Aidan Hutchinson and Kenny Pickett. Young amassed 684 out of a possible 875 first-place votes.
He became the second Alabama player in a row to win the award after Devonta Smith won in 2020. Young completed 66.9% of his passes last season and threw 47 touchdowns compared to only seven interceptions.
FAQ
Has anyone won the Heisman more than once?
Yes, Ohio State Buckeye Archie Griffin won the Heisman Trophy in back-to-back years. The running back won the award as a junior in 1974 and a senior in 1975. He is the lone college player to win the Heisman twice.
Has any player been a finalist more than twice?
Yes, in the modern era, Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma was a finalist in 2015 and 2016. This is before finally winning the Heisman in 2017. Tim Tebow of Florida was also a three-time finalist, in 2007, 2008 and 2009. He won in 2007.
How many Heisman winners have gone No. 1 in the NFL Draft?
There have been 87 players selected first in the draft but only 21 Heisman Trophy winners have topped the draft board. The first one was Jay Berwanger, the first Heisman winner, by the Philadelphi Eagles. The last one was Joe Burrow by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020.
Which college has won the most Heisman Trophy Awards?
Three schools are tied: Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma have had seven winners. USC would be in this group had Reggie Bush not been stripped of his 2005 win. Alabama players have four trophies in all. A total of six schools have won college football’s most prestigious individual award three times: Army, Florida State, Nebraska, Michigan, Florida, and Auburn.
When is the Heisman Trophy Ceremony?
The Heisman Trophy ceremony takes place on Dec. 10 at the Downtown Athletic Club in Lower Manhattan. The top four finalists are announced on Dec. 5. The awards show for the most outstanding college player starts at 8 p.m. ET.
Who was the first Heisman Trophy winner?
The first award — initially named the DAC Trophy for the Downtown Athletic Club — was presented on Dec. 9, 1935 to Jay Berwanger. Berwanger was a triple threat back and legendary “one-man-gang” who played for the University of Chicago.
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