Heisman Finalists 2022: Predictions for Candidates' Order of Finish in the Race

The Heisman Trophy has typically been won by quarterbacks, and that will again be the case this season. The most prestigious individual award in college football will be given to a QB for the sixth time in seven years and for the 39th time overall.

However, it's not yet known which quarterback will be receiving the award on Saturday night at the Lincoln Center in New York City. There are four finalists: Georgia's Stetson Bennett, TCU's Max Duggan, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and USC's Caleb Williams.

Last year's winner was Alabama QB Bryce Young, who was looking to repeat as a junior this season. However, he finished sixth in voting and wasn't invited to the Heisman ceremony as a finalist.

Here's a prediction for how the four finalists finished in Heisman Trophy voting and who will be taking home the award.

There's a good chance that Bennett could soon help Georgia win a second straight national championship. It would be an impressive feat, given no team has accomplished it since Alabama captured back-to-back national titles in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

However, it doesn't seem likely Bennett will also be the Heisman winner. The sixth-year senior has had a solid season, though, and is deserving of his place as a finalist, as he's thrown for 3,425 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions while also scoring seven rushing TDs.

The other finalists have better numbers and weren't playing for teams as loaded with talent as the Bulldogs. So Bennett will end up fourth in the Heisman race.

Stroud was one of the preseason favorites to win the Heisman, and he went out and delivered another impressive season. The redshirt sophomore threw for 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading Ohio State to an 11-1 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Last year, Stroud finished fourth in Heisman voting behind Young (the winner), Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett. This year, it's possible Stroud will end up slightly higher.

Although Stroud is unlikely to win the award, he could end up in third place. Regardless, the 21-year-old seems poised to get taken early in the 2023 NFL draft, likely before any of the other eligible finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

Few could have predicted that Duggan may end up as the Heisman runner-up this season. But it seems likely that's exactly what's going to happen after the senior quarterback put together an impressive year for TCU.

In his fourth season as the Horned Frogs' starting QB, Duggan threw for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions while also scoring six rushing TDs. He was a major part of TCU going 12-1 and falling one win short of the Big 12 championship.

However, Duggan had a big performance in the Horned Frogs' overtime loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game, as he threw for 251 yards and a touchdown and ran for 110 yards and a score. That solidified his standing as the probable No. 2 finisher in Heisman voting.

Caleb Williams began his college career at Oklahoma, then followed former Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley to USC last offseason. It worked out quite well for both, as Williams had an extraordinary season while leading the Trojans to a good bit of success.

While guiding USC to an 11-2 record, Williams threw for 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns and four interceptions and ran for 372 yards and 10 TDs. The sophomore nearly helped the Trojans get into the College Football Playoff, but they lost to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Still, USC is heading to a New Year's Six bowl game, as it will face Tulane in the Cotton Bowl.

Williams continued to improve as his first season with the Trojans went on. Now, he'll become the first USC player to win the Heisman since quarterback Matt Leinart (2004) and running back Reggie Bush (2005) captured the award in consecutive years (although Bush's was later vacated).

After that, Williams will return for his junior season in 2023, looking to join former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin (1974 and 1975) as the only two-time Heisman winner. And there's a good chance Williams will at least be in the mix.