Is CJ Stroud Going to Win the 2021 Heisman Trophy?
CJ Stroud and the Ohio State Buckeyes just dismantled the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, thanks largely in part to Stroud’s brilliant first-half performance. All six of his passing touchdowns came in the first 30 minutes, and he has now officially entered the race for the Heisman Trophy.
CJ Stroud put up 432 passing yards, completing 32 of his 35 attempts as he single-handedly ended the Spartans’ hopes for a College Football Playoff berth. Stroud found Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson each twice for touchdowns, while also connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for another. All three had over 100 receiving yards in the game. Julian Fleming added a receiving TD, too.
Stroud now has 3,468 passing yards and 38 passing touchdowns on the season. Keep in mind, this dude is a redshirt-freshman, but it looks like he learned all the best from last year’s NFL first-round pick Justin Fields. He’s coming off back-to-back 50-point explosions versus ranked opponents, a clear sign that he is playing his best football at the time it matters most. With a win at the fifth-ranked Michigan Wolverines next Saturday, the Buckeyes will head to the Big Ten Championship with a chance to clinch another CFP spot. It would be hard to deny him the Heisman if he continues to play this well. Stroud is looking to become the eighth Buckeye to win the Heisman, which would be the most of any school in the nation.
It’s been a season where not many players across the country have been able to separate themselves as the best player in college football. Names like Sam Howell, Breese Hall, and D.J. Uiagalelei were brought up in preseason watch lists. After a few weeks, we thought it was Ole Miss’s Matt Corral that was going to run away with the award. Then, Oklahoma’s Caleb Williams started to turn the Sooners’ season around. Now, Big Ten candidates are dominating the field down the stretch.
The largest competition for CJ Stroud includes three names at the moment: Bryce Young, Aidan Hutchinson, and Kenneth Walker III. Young probably has the best chance at beating out Stroud. Young went bananas versus #21 Arkansas Saturday, putting up five passing touchdowns and 559 passing yards – an Alabama single-game record. Young now has 3,584 passing yards with 38 TDs. A win at Auburn next week would put him and the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship game against #1 Georgia. He, too, has aspirations for a CFP appearance.
Hutchinson is unique considering he has been one of the very few game-wreckers on the defensive side of the ball this season. Hutchinson has 10 sacks and two forced fumbles, but more importantly, has his Michigan Wolverines in position for a CFP appearance if they can finally beat CJ Stroud and the Buckeyes next week. A dominant performance in that game and the Big Ten Championship could see Hutchinson break the school record for sacks in a single season. The record is 12 and is currently co-owned by David Bowens (1996) and LaMarr Woodley (2006). Hutchinson would be the fourth Wolverine to win the Heisman.
Kenneth Walker III might have had his Heisman hopes crushed after the loss to Ohio State, but his incredible season should not be overlooked. It would be the first ever Heisman Trophy awarded to a Spartan but rushing for just 25 yards and no touchdowns on Saturday certainly hurt those chances. Walker has racked up 1,473 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, all while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He’s fumbled just once all season and is on pace to finish ahead of Le’Veon Bell’s 2012 season in terms of rushing yards. Bell ran for 1,793, and if Walker can reach that mark, he would sit second all-time for a single season in Michigan State history behind only Lorenzo White’s 2,066 in 1985.
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