The Heisman Trophy race is beginning to heat up with just two regular season games and a potential conference championship game on the horizon for teams, and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has found himself in the thick of it.
According to SportsBetting.ag, Stroud at +190 is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, given annually to the top player in college football. Stroud’s odds are just ahead of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (+200) and Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III (+300).
The other closest odds are Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral (+900) and Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett (+1800). Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson is listed at +5000.
Other oddsmakers list Young as the favorite, but Stroud is projected to be among the finalists when they are announced in December.
Stroud has passed for over 3,000 yards this season with 30 passing touchdowns and just five interceptions, and his passer rating of 179.4 is among the best in the country.
Though he has played in one fewer game than Young, is ahead in passing yards and passing yards per attempt, but trails slightly in passer rating and passing touchdowns. Walker, meanwhile, has 1,483 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns through 10 games.
Ohio State has an extensive history with the Heisman Trophy, with seven trophies among six winners, including halfback Les Horvath (1944), running back Vic Janowicz (1950), running back Howard Cassidy (1955), running back Archie Griffin (1974-75), running back Eddie Georgie (1995) and quarterback Troy Smith (2006).
Quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins (2018) and Justin Fields (2019), as well as defensive end Chase Young (2019), have been among the recent finalists for Ohio State.
Ballots will be distributed to voters on Nov. 29, and the Heisman finalists will then be announced Dec. 6. The winner will be announced in the Heisman Ceremony at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 on ESPN.
