Updated Heisman Trophy Race After Week 2

The 2021 college football season has not created a very clear-cut situation regarding the Heisman Trophy. Consider what has already happened this season: Sam Howell has eliminated himself. C.J. Stroud and Chris Olave of Ohio State already lost to Oregon. D.J. Uiagalelei is likely done after failing to score a touchdown against Georgia. Lots of candidates have eliminated themselves, which creates a very open field and a lot of uncertainty. Moreover, few candidates have played enough big games to earn frontline treatment and be considered the obvious favorite. Spencer Rattler of Oklahoma won’t play an especially big game for a few more weeks. J.T. Daniels of Georgia won’t get tested for a few more weeks. It’s a very fluid race, so when considering a list of the top five Heisman candidates, presented below, don’t think this list will remain intact very long. It might be a completely different top five next week.

Bryce Young, Alabama

If there is a favorite this early in the season, it’s probably Young. Alabama is such a good team, so the quarterback on Alabama is always going to be a primary Heisman Trophy contender. If a Heisman candidate is likely to remain in the top five all season long, Bryce Young is the best bet to become that particular person. He has a big game coming up at Florida this week, and if he plays well, he would definitely solidify his place as the No. 1 choice on the board. The award isn’t necessarily his to lose, but the award is definitely within his grasp if he plays consistently well throughout the season. Someone else would have to be spectacular to take the award away from him.

Kenneth Walker, Michigan State

Walker rushed for 264 yards in Week 1 versus Northwestern, and now Walker gets to play the Miami Hurricanes in one of the featured games of Week 3. If he plays a great game and leads Michigan State to a win, he would maintain his place in the top five. If Michigan State loses to Miami and falls off the national radar, his Heisman candidacy would take a massive hit. Michigan State is not expected to be a top contender in the Big Ten Conference this season, so for Walker to stay alive in the Heisman race, Michigan State needs to remain a national factor as long as humanly possible.

C.J. Verdell, Oregon

This is a candidate whose stock is rising. Verdell scored on a 77-yard touchdown run in a win at Ohio State in Week 2. If Oregon makes the College Football Playoff, Verdell has a very good chance of being a Heisman Trophy finalist. There is a long way to go, of course, so no one should be assuming Verdell will be a finalist, but Oregon definitely has a great chance of becoming a playoff team this season. If Verdell continues to lead the way for the Ducks’ offense, he will have a shot at the award.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA

Thompson-Robinson and UCLA play Oregon later this season. If the Bruins do upset the Ducks, and Thompson-Robinson plays brilliantly in that game, he could enter the conversation as a Heisman finalist, with an outside shot to win the award outright.

Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

The Cincinnati quarterback faces an excellent Indiana Hoosiers defense this coming weekend. If he thrives in this big game, Ridder would attract a lot of new attention as a serious Heisman candidate.

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