Heisman hot board after Week 12: There’s a clear-cut leader
Heisman voters Matt Zenitz and Mike Huguenin provide weekly updates on who leads the Heisman race for them. Here is how each has the field after Week 12.
Matt Zenitz’s list
1. USC QB Caleb Williams: He has accounted for at least 398 total yards in four of USC’s past five games.
+ Season stats: 250-of-385 (64.9 percent), 3,480 yards, 33 TDs, 3 interceptions, 316 rushing yards, 7 TDs
+ Week 12 stats: 470 passing yards, 2 TDs, 33 rushing yards, 1 TD in 48-45 win over UCLA
2. Michigan RB Blake Corum: Corum has rushed for at least 109 yards in each of Michigan’s eight Big Ten games.
+ Season stats: 1,457 yards (5.95 yards per carry), 18 TDs, 1 TD reception
+ Week 12 stats: 108 yards (6.0 ypc), 1 TD in 19-17 win over Illinois
3. North Carolina QB Drake Maye: Maye leads the nation in total offense (382.8 yards per game) and is third in TD passes (34).
+ Season stats: 269-of-391 (68.8 percent), 3,614 yards, 34 TDs, 4 interceptions, 597 rushing yards, 5 TDs
+ Week 12 stats: 202 passing yards, 0 TDs, 13 rushing yards in 21-17 loss to Georgia Tech
4. Oregon QB Bo Nix: Nix ranks third nationally with 39 total touchdowns.
+ Season stats: 244-of-338 (72.2 percent), 3,061 yards, 25 TDs, 6 interceptions, 509 rushing yards, 14 TDs
+ Week 12 stats: 287 passing yards, 1 TD in 20-17 win over Utah
5. Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud: Stroud has a chance to make a Heisman statement Saturday when Ohio State faces Michigan.
+ Season stats: 204-of-307 (66.4 percent), 2,991 yards, 35 TDs, 4 interceptions, 77 rushing yards
+ Week 12 stats: 241 passing yards, 1 TD in 43-30 win over Maryland
Mike Huguenin’s list
1. Caleb Williams: He had maybe the best game of his career in guiding USC to an epic 48-45 win over UCLA. Williams had a career-high 503 yards of total offense and accounted for three touchdowns.
2. Bo Nix: An obviously hobbled Nix gutted it out and led the Ducks past Utah to keep their Pac-12 title hopes alive. He had a huge 2-yard “run” on third-and-1 on the final drive to enable the Ducks to run out the clock.
3. Drake Maye: Maye had his worst game of the season in the loss to Georgia Tech. But that doesn’t remove him from Heisman consideration. If you think it does, that’s nothing but recency bias. Look at his stats and UNC’s record (9-2 in a supposed rebuilding year).
4. C.J. Stroud: Stroud has thrown zero or one TD pass in three of his past four games; that won’t cut it this week vs. Michigan.
5. TCU QB Max Duggan: Once again, Duggan calmly guided TCU to a come-from-behind win; in this one, a last-play field goal beat Baylor.
+ Season stats: 204-of-308 (66.2 percent), 2,858 yards, 26 TDs, 3 interceptions, 291 rushing yards, 5 TDs
+ Week 12 stats: 327 passing yards, 1 TD, 50 rushing yards, 1 TD in 29-28 win over Baylor
The 88th Heisman will be awarded December 10.