Former potential Heisman Trophy favorite Hendon Hooker is unfortunately done for the year with a torn ACL, and there’s a new No. 1 again in this week’s rankings.
1. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 2 (+1)
Bo Nix was in the top spot a couple of weeks ago, and he’s back up here after toughing out his ankle injury to help Oregon get a top-ten win over Utah. The lack of respect for the senior quarterback as a serious Heisman candidate is very odd, and he remains tied for first in the nation with 40 total touchdowns this season.
Season stats:
72.2% | 3,061 PASS YDS | 25 PASS TD | 6 INT
81 CAR | 509 RUSH YDS | 14 RUSH TD | 6.3 AVG
2 REC | 36 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 18.0 AVG
2. Caleb Williams | USC QB | Sophomore | Last week: 4 (+2)
Among those tied with Nix in total touchdowns this year is Caleb Williams, who led USC to a huge win over rival UCLA on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl. Williams had a bad interception early, but overall he threw for 470 yards and two touchdowns while adding 38 yards and another touchdown on the ground. The Big Ten contenders in the next two slots are deservingly getting a lot of love, but a case can be made that the Heisman should be coming down to Nix or Williams.
Season stats:
64.9% | 3,480 PASS YDS | 33 PASS TD | 3 INT
88 CAR | 316 RUSH YDS | 7 RUSH TD | 3.6 AVG
3. C.J. Stroud | Ohio State QB | Sophomore (RS) | Last week: 3
While the Buckeyes put up 43 points at Maryland, it was by no means an easy day for C.J. Stroud and the passing attack—but it was still another solid outing for the sophomore. Stroud was 18/30 for 241 yards and a touchdown while helping Ohio State get to 11-0 with the huge matchup versus Michigan this Saturday.
Season stats:
66.4% | 2,991 PASS YDS | 35 PASS TD | 4 INT
33 CAR | 77 RUSH YDS | 2.3 AVG
4. Blake Corum | Michigan RB | Junior | Last week: NR
Bijan Robinson is among the other running backs that could crack the top five, but Blake Corum—after leaving Michigan’s tight win over Illinois with a knee injury that showed how valuable he is to their offense—gets back into the top five. Corum is third in the nation in rushing and second in rushing touchdowns, and hopefully he’s healthy enough to give it a go against Ohio State this weekend.
Season stats:
245 CAR | 1,457 RUSH YDS | 18 RUSH TD | 5.9 AVG
11 REC | 80 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 7.3 AVG
5. Bryce Young | Alabama QB | Junior | Last week: 5
Who knows how things will play out during this insane college football season, but it appears likely the Heisman will come down to one of the top four (though TCU’s Max Duggan is someone to keep an eye on). But Bryce Young remains here in the improbable scenario that those above him falter in a major way. Also, Hendon Hooker could still be included here and arguably deserves an invitation to New York; he might be put back in the top five depending on how the final couple of weeks go.
Season stats:
63.8% | 2,664 PASS YDS | 24 PASS TD | 4 INT
41 CAR | 147 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 3.6 AVG