AP Photo/Nick Wass

Heisman Watch 2022: Ranking Top Favorites in the Race Entering Week 13

Jake Rill

Time is running out for the top Heisman Trophy candidates to add to their resumes. This is the final weekend of the 2022 college football regular season, and after Saturday, some players won't be in action again until after Heisman voting takes place (if at all).

The biggest game of the day is taking place at Ohio Stadium, as No. 2 Ohio State is set to host No. 3 Michigan in a high-stakes contest. There will also be a Heisman front-runner in action on both sides of that matchup.

Here's a closer look at the Heisman favorites as the regular season winds down.

1. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

AP Photo/Nick Wass

There are four FBS teams in the country that are undefeated, and C.J. Stroud is the primary reason why Ohio State is one of them. The junior quarterback has passed for 2,991 yards, 35 touchdowns and four interceptions during the Buckeyes' 11-0 start.

Stroud has had some big performances along the way, as he's had six games with four or more touchdown passes. Another huge showing in Saturday's game against Michigan could solidify the 21-year-old as the Heisman front-runner.

It's a revenge matchup for Stroud and the Buckeyes. Last year, they dropped their regular-season finale to the Wolverines, who went on to win the Big Ten championship and reach the College Football Playoff. Stroud still threw for 394 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

No matter how Stroud fares, he's likely to finish higher in Heisman voting than he did last year, when he placed fourth. And don't be surprised if he ends up as the winner of the award.

2. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Caleb Williams' Heisman stock has been on the rise of late, as the USC sophomore quarterback has been stringing together impressive performances. He had three or more touchdown passes in four straight games, then threw for a season-high 470 yards and two TDs in the Trojans' impressive win over UCLA last Saturday.

During USC's 10-1 start, Williams has passed for 3,480 yards, 33 touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also ran for 316 yards and seven scores, four of which have come over the past three weeks.

The Trojans have another challenging matchup on Saturday when they close out the regular season against Notre Dame. They've also already secured their spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game and remain in the CFP conversation.

Regardless of how USC's season ends, Williams has put himself in the Heisman mix. If he puts up huge numbers on Saturday, he could move ahead of Stroud as the front-runner.

3. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Michigan is 11-0, and one thing is the same about each of those victories: Blake Corum has gotten into the end zone in all of them. The Wolverines junior running back has scored 18 rushing touchdowns this season, recording at least one in every game.

Corum has rushed for 1,457 yards, and he also has one receiving TD. So it's clear why he's the non-quarterback most likely to come away with the Heisman Trophy this year.

In addition to his touchdown streak, Corum has rushed for more than 100 yards in eight consecutive games. He'll be trying to keep both of those alive in Saturday's game at Ohio State, which is Michigan's biggest game of the season thus far.

The Heisman frequently goes to quarterbacks, but Corum has proved that maybe that shouldn't be the case this year. If he has a huge performance against the Buckeyes (and performs better than Stroud), it could leave a lasting impression on the award voters.

   

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