Heisman Buzz Heading Into The Final Weekend
As we head into the final weekend of the college football regular season – including conference title games – we also march into the final days for Heisman Trophy voters to consider their ballots before they are due at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, Dec. 6.
In what is widely anticipated to be a close and wide-open vote, a large chunk of Heisman hopefuls that have populated media-wide top 5 or 10 rankings will play this weekend.
The latest straw poll by The Athletic features three defensive players atop its list with Alabama LB Will Anderson, Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson and Georgia DL Jordan Davis slotted 1-2-3, all in action this weekend. Such a top 3 defensive finish would, of course, be a Heisman Trophy first.
Behind them in the next four spots are Alabama QB Bryce Young, Michigan RB Kenneth Walker III, Pitt QB Kenny Pickett and Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud. Young and Pickett are both playing Saturday.
Athletic scribe Stewart Mandel thinks either Anderson or Hutchinson should hoist the trophy. Sports Illustrated agreed on the Hutchinson front.
Here’s another Athletic look at why Anderson should be heavily considered.
College Football News took a more QB-centric look at it, listing Young and Stroud as 1-2 atop its list with Pickett third, Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder fourth with Georgia’s Davis fifth and Michigan’s Hutchinson sixth.
USA Today’s Paul Myerberg sees Young in the driver’s seat, with a massive test looming this weekend with Georgia.
ESPN’s Robert Griffin III also has Young atop his list with Pickett second, Ole Miss QB Matt Corral third, Stroud fourth and Walker III fifth.
ESPN broadcasting colleague Todd Blackledge expressed support for Pickett as well as Anderson and Hutchinson.
Here’s a list of when the top candidates are playing this weekend.
Georgia (DL Jordan Davis, DL Nakobe Dean) vs. Alabama (QB Brice Young, LB Will Anderson), 4 p.m. ET.
Cincinatti (QB Desmond Ridder) at Houston, 4 p.m. ET
Michigan (DE Aidan Hutchinson, RBs Hassan Haskins, Blake Corum) vs. Iowa, 8 p.m. ET
Pitt (QB Kenny Pickett) vs. Wake Forest (QB Sam Hartman), 8 p.m. ET.
