B/R's 2022 Heisman Trophy Rankings: Quiet Saturday Sets Up Key Week 9

Once in a while, the chaos of college football takes a break and offers a chance for a much-needed breath. As that happened last weekend, the Heisman Trophy race hit pause too.

Among our previous top five, two players had an idle weekend. One overwhelmed a lower-division opponent, and two quarterbacks guided their respective teams to expected blowout wins.

But that's all about to change in Week 9.

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and Tennessee signal-caller Hendon Hooker are set to play ranked opponents. Michigan back Blake Corum has a rivalry on the docket, and USC quarterback Caleb Williams returns to the field following an off weekend.

By no means will the Heisman race be determined Saturday, but the stretch runs begins...now.

DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Clemson: The good news is Clemson won again, handing Syracuse its first loss of the season. The bad news is Uiagalelei had a season-worst performance, throwing for 138 yards and committing three turnovers before getting pulled in the third quarter. Uiagalelei remains the starter, but he's officially on the Heisman fringe.

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan: After an idle weekend, McCarthy and the Wolverines are set to host rival Michigan State. He's a deserving, low-end contender who needs bigger numbers to make a major dent in the race.

Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee: The lone wide receiver addition, Hyatt padded his stats with seven catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns in a rout of FCS program UT Martin. Hyatt's huge performance in the upset of Alabama is an appealing peak, especially as Tennessee stays unbeaten.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas: Based on voting history, a third loss is basically disqualifying. Robinson has elite production with exactly 1,200 scrimmage yards and has scored 13 touchdowns. But the absence of major team success will blemish his resume.

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington: Another game, another huge performance from the southpaw. Penix threw for 374 yards and two touchdowns in a close win at Cal. He lacks a signature moment in a marquee game but leads the nation with 2,934 passing yards.

More to Know: Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall, Mississippi State QB Will Rogers, LSU QB Jayden Daniels, Ohio State WRs Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr., Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel

Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia: Bennett is Michigan's J.J. McCarthy with more production. Bennett has notched 306.9 offensive yards per game, but he's only totaled 12 touchdowns. It's perfectly fine to be a valuable QB and not put up Heisman-like numbers.

Chase Brown, RB, Illinois: The first of three consecutive players who were idle in Week 8, Brown remains the national leader with 1,059 rushing yards. Illinois travels to Nebraska this Saturday.

Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina: There's a solid argument for lifting Maye into the next tier, considering he's accounted for 2,661 yards and 27 scores. That hasn't happened because of UNC's soft schedule, but the slate increases in difficulty down the stretch. The key moment is a trip to Wake Forest on Nov. 12, though UNC hosts Pitt this weekend.

Cameron Rising, QB, Utah: With the dramatic victory over USC in the rear-view mirror, Utah heads to Washington State for a Thursday night contest. Rising has totaled 2,172 yards and 21 touchdowns this season.

Sam Hartman, QB, Wake Forest: Hartman had a prolific game in the win over Boston College. Throwing for 313 yards and five touchdowns, he also tallied his first rushing score of the campaign. Like his ACC counterpart Maye, Hartman has a tough end to the regular season; Wake hosts Syracuse after UNC comes to town too.

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama: After three straight 100-yard days, Gibbs had a quieter game in the triumph over Mississippi State. He posted 70 yards and one touchdown on 14 touches. Entering an off week, Gibbs is fifth nationally in all-purpose yards with 1,137.

Spencer Sanders, QB, Oklahoma State: I'm not sure I can find the necessary level of praise for Sanders, who is battling a hurt shoulder and who knows how many other discomforts. Once again, though, he dragged OSU to a victory. Sanders tossed a bad interception but nonetheless racked up 436 yards with two passing touchdowns in the comeback win over Texas. Oklahoma State travels to Kansas State this weekend.

Max Duggan, QB, TCU: Although the Horned Frogs fell behind early, they recovered from a 28-10 deficit to knock off Kansas State. Duggan threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns, elevating his season totals to 1,871 passing yards and 19 scores with one interception. TCU hits the country roads for a clash at West Virginia on Saturday.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA: Oregon held DTR to a season-low 6.7 yards per attempt and slapped the first loss of the season on the Bruins' slate. Still, between totals of 2,041 yards and 21 touchdowns plus a pair of marquee wins, Thompson-Robinson is a viable candidate.

6. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon: Folks, we are officially on Nix Watch. Since that well-covered debacle in the opener, the Ducks had ripped through a favorable stretch as Nix hung gaudy numbers. But that surge continued in a Top 10 showdown with UCLA. Nix accounted for 334 yards and five touchdowns in both a critical team win and a moment that confirmed his candidacy.

5. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama: Steady is the word for Young, who provided 249 passing yards and two scores in a comfortable win over Mississippi State. Alabama is idle in Week 9 before traveling to Top 25 opponents LSU and Ole Miss on consecutive Saturdays.

4. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan: Corum puts his four-game streak of 120-plus rushing yards on the line against Michigan State this weekend. He enters the rivalry with the seventh-most yards (901) and is tied for the national lead in touchdowns (13) on the ground.

3. Caleb Williams, QB, USC: As with Corum, Williams spent a weekend taking a valuable break. Following the loss at Utah, the sophomore quarterback is aiming to keep USC in the College Football Playoff picture. That effort begins Saturday at Arizona.

2. Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee: You don't get extra credit for wrecking a lower-division team. Hooker calmly threw for 276 yards and three scores to guide Tennessee harmlessly past UT Martin. The upcoming five-game stretch with ranked foes Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina offers him a regular chance at headline-worthy days, though.

1. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State: If there's a hair to split not in his favor, Stroud has thrown an interception in four straight games. In addition to that pick against Iowa, he lost a fumble. Stroud, nevertheless, threw for 286 yards and four touchdowns opposite a tough defense. He remains the FBS leader with 28 passing scores as Ohio State prepares for a trip to No. 13 Penn State.