I can’t recall the last time the Heisman race was as wide open as it is this season. To me, it doesn’t feel like any candidate is a lock. Hell, I can’t even wrap my head around who should get the invite to New York for the ceremony! I would’ve said it was Hendon Hooker‘s to lose a week ago, but the South Carolina game dramatically changes that, and it looks like he’s done for the season now anyway. So, there’s a path for someone like USC’s Caleb Williams to rise up and challenge for the top spot. When you factor in the schedule that Williams faces between the season finale against Notre Dame and the Pac-12 Championship, he certainly will have the stage to make a late run at this award. Against Saturday, Williams was 32/43 for 470 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. He also had 33 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. He now has 40 total touchdowns (33 passing, seven rushing) to just three interceptions.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson was among the favorites for this award before the season started, but his hopes might have fizzled out as the Longhorns continued to lose games. Still, no one can deny his impact on the game, and he should be a featured running back in the NFL for his game-breaking ability. He steamrolled the Kansas Jayhawks to the tune of 243 yards and four rushing touchdowns. He’s only 285 yards away from the 2,000 yards from scrimmage mark, and with a game to go and a bowl game, I’d imagine that’s attainable for the superstar running back.
It may have been against subpar competition, but LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels continues to make a case as to why he’s one of the Williams-esque dark horse candidates who can rise up late in the season. Daniels was 22/29 for 297 yards and a touchdown, with 111 rushing yards and another score on the ground. Daniels now has 11 rushing touchdowns on the season.
I know this has been a rough season for Spencer Rattler (you truly hate to see it happen to such a swell kid), but we all have to admit that Saturday night was Heisman-esque for the South Carolina quarterback. If he played to that level consistently, we might be talking about him in a different light. He was simply unstoppable as the Gamecocks routed the Vols and crushed their playoff hopes. It was only the third time this season he’s thrown more than one touchdown, but he made it count. Rattler was 30/37 for 438 yards and SIX touchdowns. SIX!
As for our obligatory ‘ridiculous stat line of the week,’ how about Arkansas running back Raheim Sanders going for 232 yards and three tuddies against what we once thought was a vaunted Ole Miss defense?!?!
Finally, I don’t know if we can put a kicker in the Heisman race, but if we do, it has to be TCU kicker Griffin Kell for making that fire drill field goal to stay unbeaten. The poise that took amidst his teammates just scrambling to get on the field was about as clutch as they come.
HEISMAN POINTS (WEEK 12)
- Caleb Williams
- Bijan Robinson
- Spencer Rattler
- Jayden Daniels
- Raheim Sanders
HEISMAN POINTS (SEASON)
- Hendon Hooker – 24
- Caleb Williams – 20
- CJ Stroud – 18
- Jayden Daniels – 12
- Jalin Hyatt – 11
- Bryce Young – 9
- Stetson Bennett, Bijan Robinson – 8
- Blake Corum, Bo Nix – 6
- Brock Bowers, Cam Rising – 5
- Jordan Addison, Jahmyr Gibbs, Will Shipley – 4
- Will Anderson, Chase Brown, Sam Hartman, Tanner Mordecai, Michael Penix Jr., Spencer Rattler, Anthony Richardson, DJ Uiagalelei – 3
- Max Duggan, Drake Maye, Will Rogers, Deuce Vaughn, Mike Wright – 2
- Raheim Sanders, Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 1
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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