We have reached our conclusions to the conference championship games and the final four candidates for the most prestigious award in college football, the Heisman trophy, have finally been revealed. The four finalists are USC QB Caleb Williams, TCU QB Max Duggan, Ohio State QB Cj Stroud, and Georgia QB Stetson Bennett. There is going to be a debate about who were snubbed (Hendon Hooker, Bryce Young, Blake Corum) and who should have been invited but nonetheless, getting the invite to New York is huge for these young men and should be talked about as such. These athletes have their own resumes, and it is up to the committee to decide who is best.
USC QB Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams is my Heisman winner for the season, and he should be everyone else’s. The Oklahoma transfer finished the season with the fourth most passing yards in college football with 4075 and tied for 1st in the nation with 37 passing touchdowns with only four turnovers, he also added 372 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He is the most exciting player out of all the candidates and has also had the most “Heisman moments” than the other candidates. Without Williams, USC would have been in the gutter and their future would have looked dim from the start.
TCU QB Max Duggan
Duggan stepped in for the injured Chandler Morris, who beat out Duggan for the starter spot in fall camp, in the season opener against Colorado and he did not look back. The talented signal caller out of Council Bluff, Iowa accounted for 3321 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, and four interceptions while also running for 404 yards and six touchdowns while leading TCU to a perfect 13-0 regular season record. Duggan has had several Heisman moments leading numerous comebacks to keep TCU’s playoff hopes alive.
Ohio State QB Cj Stroud
The preseason Heisman favorite kept the Buckeye train going this season and was able to lead them to a playoff berth. Stroud finished with 3340 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns, tying with Caleb Williams for 1st, and six interceptions. Due to an injury to star WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, their offense became hindered, and it caused Stroud to look flat in some games late in the season, especially against Northwestern and Michigan. Buckeyes have more success than they did last year, but those late game stinkers might have caused Stroud the award.
Georgia QB Stetson Bennett
The most questionable candidate of the four, Bennett has been in the driver seat for the Bulldogs, and it has been smooth. Coming off a national championship, Bennett has led the Bulldogs to an undefeated 13-0 regular season record, a SEC conference championship, and the #1 spot in the playoffs. The former walk-on threw for 3425 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions while running for seven touchdowns. His stats are not on par with the other candidates but due to his overwhelming success the team has had, it was hard to deny him and it's the possible reason why he got the nod over guys like Hendon Hooker and Bryce Young.
It has been an exciting and fulfilling season that many will remember. The difficulties these men have endured have finally led up to this moment. We will hear one of these gentlemen’s name called this Saturday 7 PM Central.