Ohio State Football

USC's Caleb Williams, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Georgia's Stetson Bennett and TCU's Max Duggan will be heading to New York City for the 2022 Heisman Trophy ceremony after being named finalists Monday.

By this point in the season, the consensus has typically coalesced around one player as the Heisman favorite. Perhaps the voting will ultimately be pretty one-sided, but this seems to be a somewhat open race, especially after a topsy-turvy final few weeks.

Stroud's candidacy might have suffered a fatal blow with Ohio State's 45-23 loss to Michigan, a game that saw him finish 31-of-48 for 349 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

It's not often a player finishes significantly higher on the Heisman ballot—Stroud was fourth in 2021—after posting worse numbers than the year before.

In the same number of games, the Buckeyes star has 1,095 fewer passing yards (3,340), fewer touchdowns (37) and worse efficiency (66.2 percent completion rate and a 176.2 passer rating).

Williams became the front-runner with Stroud's campaign losing steam, only for USC to fall in the Pac-12 title game and miss out on a College Football Playoff berth.

The sophomore shouldn't shoulder much blame for the 47-24 defeat. He played through a hamstring injury and went 28-of-41 for 363 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and he was a bystander as the Trojans defense allowed 533 yards to the Utah offense.

If anything, the outcome underscored Williams' value to the team and how much his performance helped compensate for a suspect defense. In 13 games, he threw for 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns and four interceptions and ran for 372 yards and 10 scores.

Of the players still in the Heisman discussion, Bennett unquestionably had the best championship week. He threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns as Georgia dropped 50 points on LSU in the SEC title game.

It might have come far too late to change the minds of the voters, though. The Bulldogs quarterback didn't put up gaudy numbers (3,425 passing yards and 20 touchdowns) overall.

The same goes for Duggan.

The senior quarterback undoubtedly played a massive role in TCU finishing 12-1 and reaching the CFP semifinals, but it's tough to make a case for why he was the most outstanding player in FBS. Duggan posted 3,321 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and a 165.5 passer rating in the regular season.

The Heisman will be handed out Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

No. 5 Ohio State is listed ahead of No. 8 Penn State in the College Football Playoff rankings and has a head-to-head win over the Nittany Lions, but that reportedly won't stop the Rose Bowl from potentially passing on the Buckeyes even if given the opportunity to select them.

Nicole Auerbach and Stewart Mandel of The Athletic reported Wednesday that "the Rose Bowl is strongly considering taking Penn State instead of Ohio State this year" if the Buckeyes do not finish in the top four and make the CFP.

While the Rose Bowl traditionally takes the Big Ten champion, Michigan figures to be in the CFP if it defeats Purdue in the conference title game Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. That would leave the bowl opening for another team, and Ohio State would normally be the selection.

However, as Auerbach noted, the Rose Bowl is not obligated to pick the highest-ranked team of the remaining options.

On paper, passing up on a chance to pick the Buckeyes seems foolish.

Data indicated before the season started that Scarlet and Gray have the biggest fanbase in college football. They are also television ratings juggernauts who routinely draw millions of eyeballs to watch their games.

According to Sports Media Watch, Ohio State had the highest-ranked game of the week four times this year when it faced Michigan, Maryland, Penn State and Notre Dame. It also finished in the top five most-watched games of the week when it played Toledo, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Iowa and Northwestern.

That all adds up to an easy selection for the Rose Bowl, right?

Well, not so fast.

Ohio State was just in the Rose Bowl last year and is one of the programs that approaches every season with a championship-or-bust mentality. Fair or not, the fanbase views a trip to the Rose Bowl and not the CFP as a disappointment, especially if it came after a loss to archrival Michigan.

The Buckeyes lost to the Wolverines for a second straight year when a win would have all but clinched a spot in the top four. Their fans were not enthusiastic about a Rose Bowl game consolation prize last season in the same scenario and didn't even sell out their allotment of tickets for the matchup with Utah, per Auerbach.

There is also the reality that many Ohio State players could opt out ahead of the exhibition game.

That was the case last season when Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson were among the players who didn't play to protect their NFL draft status, although that didn't stop the Buckeyes from defeating Utah in a high-scoring thriller.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud has already said he would consider sitting out a non-playoff bowl game, and he likely wouldn't be the only one.

Penn State, on the other hand, hasn't been to the Rose Bowl since the 2016 campaign. It isn't quite in the national-championship-or-bust mode that Ohio State is every year, and its fans would likely be more enthusiastic about such a trip to a prominent bowl game.

All of that means the Rose Bowl may decide to jump at the chance to take the Nittany Lions.

If the Buckeyes have their way, though, Utah will defeat USC in Friday's Pac-12 Championship Game and open up a spot in the CFP after all.

The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes fell to the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines 45-23 on Saturday, and now the team's College Football Playoff chances are in jeopardy.

If Ohio State isn't selected for the College Football Playoff, star quarterback C.J. Stroud said Saturday that he's unsure if he would participate in a non-CFP bowl game, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

Georgia, Michigan and TCU are the only remaining undefeated teams in the Associated Press' Top 25 poll and are the front-runners for the CFP. Ohio State's loss put it with USC as one of the top five teams to post one loss this season.

It's no surprise Stroud is considering sitting out a non-CFP bowl game, as he is expected to be one of the top quarterbacks taken in the 2023 NFL draft. There would be no reason to risk an injury if the Buckeyes aren't competing for a national title.

Stroud entered Saturday's game as a Heisman contender, having completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 2,991 yards and 35 touchdowns against four interceptions in 11 games, in addition to rushing for 77 yards.

However, his performance against Michigan likely dropped him from being one of the top contenders. He completed 31 of 48 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns against two interceptions in Saturday's loss.

Stroud had a far better 2021 campaign, completing 71.9 percent of his passes for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns against six interceptions in 12 games. It's a tough break to see him take a step backward this season, especially with the NFL draft this spring, but there's still little doubt he'll be a top pick, even if he loses the Heisman Trophy race.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams appears to be the front-runner for the Heisman, having completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 3,480 yards and 33 touchdowns against three interceptions in 11 games.

The Buckeyes finished the 2022 season with an 11-1 record, and now they'll have to wait for their CFP fate to be determined.

Noted Ohio State Buckeyes fan LeBron James was understandably disappointed with the team's 45-23 loss to the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, writing on Twitter that the No. 2 Buckeyes got smoked.

James, a native of Akron, Ohio, has been a fan of the Buckeyes for a long time.

Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Lakers star, who previously played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, sent the Buckeyes custom cleats for their rivalry matchup against the Wolverines.

Even with those cleats, Ohio State was heavily outplayed.

Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 31 of 48 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns, but he also tossed two interceptions in the loss. Receivers Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. each posted at least 120 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Ohio State's defense also struggled in the loss, allowing Michigan to total 530 yards and convert on seven of 16 third-down attempts. Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards was arguably the best player on the field as he rushed for 216 yards and two touchdown on 22 carries.

Ohio State's loss put it in jeopardy of not being selected for the College Football Playoff.

Head coach Ryan Day took the brunt of the criticism on social media Saturday after the previously undefeated No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes fell 45-23 to the still-undefeated No. 3 Michigan Wolverines in the 118th edition of The Game.

OSU was favored to win at home at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, especially with Michigan's superstar running back Blake Corum being severely limited by a knee injury, but Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines pulled off the upset, beating Ohio State for a second consecutive year.

The Buckeyes had won 17 of their previous 20 meetings with Michigan entering Saturday's game, but by virtue of their victory, the Wolverines have won back-to-back contests against OSU for the first time since 1999 and 2000.

Most of Michigan's offensive success this season has come on the back of Corum and the running game, but with Corum ailing, Harbaugh allowed quarterback J.J. McCarthy to air the ball out to great effect.

All three of McCarthy's touchdown passes were from at least 45 yards out, marking a true rarity for both the Michigan offense and Ohio State defense:

Day made adjustments, but that allowed Michigan to gash OSU on the ground in the second half, including touchdowns of 75 and 85 yards by Donovan Edwards in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

Fans and experts questioned Day's decision-making not only in terms of defensive alignment, but also offensive play-calling, as star quarterback C.J. Stroud was not permitted to take the game into his own hands for the most part.

Stroud finished with 349 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, but Day was committed to running the ball with third-string running back and converted linebacker Chip Trayanum, which limited the explosiveness of the offense.

Many wondered why Stroud and star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. weren't simply allowed to take over the game, which they have proved capable of on many occasions:

Day was also crushed for twice deciding to punt on fourth down around midfield with the Buckeyes trailing 24-20. Even Stroud expressed his displeasure, per Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated:

Even with Saturday's loss, Day has gone a remarkable 45-5 in parts of five seasons as the head coach at OSU, but the Buckeyes have not won a national title during that time and may have played their way out of this season's College Football Playoff.

Because of that, many were calling for Day's job on Twitter:

Firing Day after suffering the first loss of the season in late November may seem like an overreaction, but even Day himself stressed the importance of beating Michigan before the game.

When asked this week if he made four changes to his coaching staff during the offseason due to last season's loss to Michigan, Day strongly suggested that was the case, telling reporters: "We're evaluated by the big games. That's the way it goes here, and certainly we know what comes with it."

Day has won some big games at Ohio State, but he has perhaps lost just as many, including a CFP National Championship Game and two contests against fierce rival Michigan.

Michigan clinched its spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and likely the CFP regardless of the result, whereas Ohio State must wait and hope for losses by TCU and perhaps even LSU and USC to have a chance to play for a national title.

It remains possible that the CFP committee has seen enough to put Ohio State in the CFP even with a home loss to Michigan, but it would be the definition of backing into the playoff.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud are among the semifinalists for the 2022 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Here's the full list for the Walter Camp Football Foundation's watch list:

• Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh, RB 
• Will Anderson Jr., Alabama, LB 
• Stetson Bennett IV, Georgia, QB 
• Brock Bowers, Georgia, TE 
• Chase Brown, Illinois, RB 
• Zach Charbonnet, UCLA, RB 
• Blake Corum, Michigan, RB 
• Jayden Daniels, LSU, QB 
• Max Duggan, TCU, QB 
• Marvin Harrison Jr, Ohio State, WR 
• Hendon Hooker, Tennessee, QB 
• Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee, WR 
• Drake Maye, North Carolina, QB 
• Michael Mayer, Notre Dame, TE 
• Bo Nix, Oregon, QB 
• Michael Penix Jr., Washington, QB 
• Bijan Robinson, Texas, RB 
• Noah Sewell, Oregon, LB 
• C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, QB 
• Tuli Tuipulotu, USC, DL 
• Caleb Williams, USC, QB 
• Bryce Young, Alabama, QB

Young is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, but the Walter Camp Award wasn't among the accolades he collected in 2021. The Crimson Tide star was a finalist and lost out to Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III.

Young is probably sitting in pole position for the 2022 honor.

The junior has thrown for 2,443 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions while running for 157 yards and three scores. Beyond the raw numbers, he has elevated a Crimson Tide team that doesn't have the kind of talent advantage it has enjoyed in recent years.

At 8-2, Alabama is already out of the College Football Playoff race. Its record would undoubtedly be worse were it not for Young. His ability to turn something into nothing has been a saving grace at times.

Should Ohio State remain unbeaten, Stroud will be a strong candidate for college football's top individual awards, though.

The third-year quarterback is leading FBS in quarterback rating (188.2) while throwing for 2,750 yards, 34 touchdowns and four interceptions. That's despite the Buckeyes missing their best wide receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, for most of the season.

Ohio State has the largest margin of victory (31.2 points per game) in the country largely because its offense eventually overwhelms its opponents.

Penn State trailed OSU by just two points, 16-14, entering the fourth quarter on Oct. 29. The Buckeyes then dropped 28 points over the final 15 minutes and coasted to a double-digit victory. Stroud went 26-of-33 for 354 yards and one touchdown in that game.

Ohio State plays Maryland on Saturday and finishes with No. 3 Michigan on Nov. 26. Given the likely stakes of the Michigan game, Stroud could definitively tips the scales in his favor over Young and the rest of the field that day.

On a day when Ohio State either trailed or barely led for much of the game, it was a dominant effort by sophomore defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and sophomore wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. that helped the Buckeyes remain undefeated.

In a 44-31 win for No. 2 OSU over the rival No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, Tuimoloau had a hand in forcing all four turnovers PSU quarterback Sean Clifford committed.

During the first half, Tuimoloau deflected a pass that was intercepted by Zach Harrison and then recorded an interception of his own when he jumped a route:

As big as those plays were, his most significant play came in the fourth quarter with Ohio State leading by only two when he sacked Clifford, stripped him of the ball and recovered the fumble:

After Tuimoloau completed the hat trick, the Buckeyes scored on the next play via a 24-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Cade Stover, extending the lead to nine points with the PAT.

As if that weren't enough, Tuimoloau iced the game for Ohio State with less than three minutes remaining when he picked off Clifford for a second time and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown:

With two interceptions, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, Tuimoloau accomplished an exceedingly rare feat, per Jason Starrett of The Athletic:

Given how much of an impact Tuimoloau had on the outcome of the game, fans and experts alike showered him with praise on Twitter as the Buckeyes improved to 8-0:

Although the overall numbers look solid with more than 400 yards of total offense, the Buckeyes struggled on that side of the ball for much of the day because of the inability to get anything going in the running game.

The one offensive constant that kept OSU in the game until an outburst in the fourth quarter was the connection between Stroud and Harrison.

Harrison, who is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame wideout and Indianapolis Colts legend Marvin Harrison, continued his spectacular season with 10 receptions for 185 yards.

Like Tuimoloau, Harrison was celebrated Saturday on Twitter for another spectacular showing that continued the legacy of great wide receivers at Ohio State:

Ohio State looked out of sync and in danger of getting upset at times Saturday, but the Buckeyes' elite talent level carried them.

OSU has some of the best players in the nation on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball in Tuiomoloau and Harrison, and they both proved why against the Nittany Lions.

Entering play Saturday, there were six undefeated teams with strong cases for the College Football Playoff, as well as some quality one-loss teams in Alabama, Oregon and USC.

That made winning of the utmost importance for Ohio State, and both Tuiomoloau and Harrison ensured that it happened against one of the program's chief rivals.

It wasn't always pretty, but the No. 2 Ohio State football team crushed the visiting Iowa Hawkeyes 54-10 on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

OSU's defense stole the show. The Buckeyes forced six Iowa turnovers, including a pick-six from linebacker Tommy Eichenberg off Iowa starting quarterback Spencer Petras that gave the Buckeyes a 25-10 lead in the second quarter.

For the day, Iowa had three lost fumbles and three picks. The Hawkeyes also turned the ball over on downs after a failed fake punt attempt.

Petras and backup quarterback Alex Padilla combined to complete just 11 of 24 passes for 81 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. Sam LaPorta was the only Iowa pass-catcher to register more than seven receiving yards.

Iowa's defense held its own for much of the game. Joe Evans sacked Heisman favorite C.J. Stroud, recovered the ensuing fumble and ran 13 yards for a touchdown to put Iowa up 6-3 early. OSU only had 128 yards of offense by halftime, and Stroud tossed an early third-quarter pick.

However, Iowa's offense couldn't get anything going, and Stroud eventually got into a rhythm with four second-half touchdown passes. For the day, he completed 20 of 30 passes for 286 yards.

Ultimately, Twitter pointed the finger at head coach Kirk Ferentz and his son, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, for the team's performance.

Iowa entered Saturday ranked 128th out of 131 FBS teams in scoring (14.7 points per game), including a seven-point outing against Division FCS South Dakota State to start the year.

Iowa will look to bounce back Saturday at home against Northwestern. OSU will visit Penn State on the same day.