B/R's 2022 Heisman Trophy Rankings: The Chase Has Arrived

Michigan running back Blake Corum (2) runs the ball as Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs (23) chases in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

C.J. Stroud remains the Heisman Trophy favorite, but Ohio State's star quarterback officially has company.

Not only did Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker affirm his candidacy in the upset win over Alabama on Saturday, but Michigan running back Blake Corum also bolstered his chances with another huge day. Stroud was never officially a runaway leader, but a sizable gap is now much smaller.

In short: The race is getting fun.

Additionally, because of several losses, the overall field—as we mentioned last week would happen—is shrinking even more.

Tier 4: Possible Vote Contenders

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 15: Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) throws the ball during the game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 15, 2022, at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Grayson McCall, QB, Coastal Carolina: The loss to Old Dominion basically rules out a rise for McCall. Still, he's generated 2,086 total yards and accounted for 21 touchdowns with a single interception.

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan: The best way to describe McCarthy's production is "modest." As the Wolverines ran all over Penn State, he threw for 145 yards with a very unfortunate interception and added 57 yards on the ground. McCarthy isn't a huge contender—especially compared to his teammate Corum—but can't be eliminated.

Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas: Someone who missed three-plus games won't win the Heisman. But there's no question a smaller group of voters will put Ewers on their ballots if he continues producing and Texas keeps winning. Since returning from a shoulder injury, he's thrown for 461 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception.

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington: The nation's passing leader is Penix, who's registered 2,560 yards, 20 scores and four interceptions. He just set UW's single-game record with 516 passing yards and notched his fourth four-passing touchdown game of the season in a victory over Arizona.

More to Know: Alabama Edge Will Anderson Jr., Kansas QB Jalon Daniels, Ohio State RB Miyan Williams, Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel, Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda, UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee

Tier 3: Sticking Around

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - SEPTEMBER 24: DJ Uiagalelei (5) of the Clemson Tigers looks to throw the ball during a football game between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Clemson Tigers on September 24, 2022, at Truist Field in Winston-Salem, NC. (Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Clemson: Uiagalelei's season of redemption continued in Week 7. While the Tigers landed a nice victory at Florida State, he totaled 229 yards and four touchdowns. So far, Uiagalelei has 2,002 offensive yards and 21 total scores to two interceptions. Clemson hosts No. 14 Syracuse in a vital ACC showdown this weekend.

Chase Brown, RB, Illinois: The veteran back became the first FBS player to cross the 1,000-yard mark on the ground. As the upstart Illini beat Minnesota and improved to 6-1, Brown scampered for 180 yards and caught three passes for a season-high 53 yards with a touchdown.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas: For the first time all season, Robinson didn't find the end zone on Saturday. Nevertheless, he churned out a total of 171 hard-earned yards against a pesky Iowa State defense. Robinson is one of only three FBS players with 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage. Texas heads to 11th-ranked Oklahoma State this weekend.

Cameron Rising, QB, Utah: Rising secured a signature moment with his winning touchdown and two-point conversion to topple then-unbeaten USC. He threw for 415 yards, rushed for 60 and totaled five scores. Utah (5-2) has to avoid another loss, but Rising is still on the radar.

More to Know: Georgia QB Stetson Bennett, Kansas State QB Adrian Martinez, Mississippi State QB Will Rogers, North Carolina QB Drake Maye, Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman

Tier 2: Need the Heisman Moment

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 15: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the ball with linebacker Juwan Mitchell #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers in pursuit in the second half at Neyland Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 52-49. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama: The last three weekends have put Gibbs in the conversation. After totaling 226 yards and two scores at Arkansas, he recorded 167 scrimmage yards against Texas A&M. Although the Crimson Tide lost to Tennessee, Gibbs notched 151 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks fourth nationally with 1,067 all-purpose yards.

Spencer Sanders, QB, Oklahoma State: As a general guideline, one negative result should not ruin a player's candidacy. Falling at TCU hurt Sanders, for sure. Still, he contributed 313 yards and three touchdowns in the double-overtime loss. Sanders has 1,948 yards and has accounted for 21 scores this year.

Bo Nix, QB, Oregon: Nix and the Ducks had an idle weekend to prepare for a showdown with UCLA. He enters the matchup with respectable numbers of 1,857 total yards and 20 touchdowns.

Max Duggan, QB, TCU: Early on, it seemed Sanders and OSU would end TCU's undefeated year. However, TCU overcame a 17-point deficit behind another big performance from Duggan. He tallied 286 passing yards, 57 rushing yards and three scores to stun OSU. Next up is Kansas State, the only other unbeaten team in Big 12 games.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA: Similar to Nix, Thompson-Robinson spent the weekend preparing for the clash at Oregon. DTR has generated 1,741 offensive yards and 19 touchdowns to two interceptions, and UCLA also has Top 25 victories over Washington and Utah.

Tier 1: Ranking the Favorites

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) looks for a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

The ranking, while subjective, is based on factors—individual production, team success and key moments—that voters have traditionally used to determine the winner.

5. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama: Young returned from a shoulder injury, throwing for 455 yards with two touchdowns in the loss at Tennessee. Last season, Young recovered from a midseason loss at Texas A&M to win the Heisman. I wouldn't recommend dropping him much.

4. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan: As the Wolverines steamrolled Penn State, Corum enjoyed yet another enormous day on the ground. He rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns, adding three receptions for 15 yards. Along with his FBS-leading 13 rushing scores, Corum ranks second nationally with 901 rushing yards.

3. Caleb Williams, QB, USC: When a quarterback amasses 438 yards and five touchdowns in a loss, it stings. But that kind of performance certainly doesn't remove a QB from the Heisman radar. Williams has totaled 2,206 yards and 22 touchdowns to one interception.

2. Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee: How's that for a Heisman moment? Hooker torched the Alabama defense for 385 yards and five touchdowns, also throwing two clutch passes to set up Chase McGrath's winning field goal. Tennessee snapped a 15-game losing streak to Alabama, and Hooker narrowed the gap on the Heisman front-runner.

1. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State: Stroud and the Buckeyes had a Saturday to watch from home. Over the next two weekends, they'll play a stout Iowa defense and 16th-ranked Penn State. Stroud is tied for the FBS lead in touchdown passes (24) and has an FBS-best 10.9 yards per attempt.