NEW YORK CITY, NY — With the 88th Heisman Trophy hours away in the Big Apple, is USC Trojans QB Caleb Williams the odds-on favorite over 2021 runner-up CJ Stroud from Ohio State?
Williams, a transfer from Oklahoma, who followed his former Sooners head coach, Lincoln Riley to SoCal, has put up prolific numbers in his first year under center for the Trojans in passing for 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Considering Riley’s history in producing Heisman Trophy winners, like he did with Baker Mayfield (2017) and Kyler Murray (2018), the 6’1 215-pound sophomore would be his third QB to win it.
While it wouldn’t be wise to bet against Williams or Riley, Stroud has produced solid numbers in helping lead the Buckeyes back into the CFP playoffs—thanks to a loss by Williams’ Trojans vs. Utah in the PAC-12 title game—in passing for 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns and six interceptions.
While his stats are a bit down from last year, Stroud was the proverbial trigger man behind a prolific Ohio State offense. Unfortunately, Stroud couldn’t solve a relentless and aggressive Michigan Wolverines defense that smothered him in a 45-23 loss in Columbus.
That being said, while Stroud played well for the Buckeyes this season, his mid-last season struggles, in addition to not having a chance to cement his candidacy may come back to haunt him, while Williams—although in a loss to the Utes, flashed enough to the tune of 28/41 for 363 yards, three touchdowns and one interception—under a proven QB whisperer in Riley to help USC claim the school’s Heisman in New York.