- Bryce Young is still leading the pack.
- Matt Corral is narrowing the gap.
- There is a newcomer to the top five.
Week six in college football has come and gone. We saw some stellar football, some upsets, and some nailbiters. Every week in college football seems to be better than the previous and we somehow continue to see something new each week. Whereas the top two Heisman candidates haven’t changed, we have a shakeup in the next three spots with a newcomer cracking the top five, with their first appearance of the season. So lets’ take a look of what how these athletes performed in week six and what’s in store for week seven.
Heisman Odds – Preseason
- Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma Sooners (+800)
- Bryce Young, Alabama Crimson Tide (+1,000)
- DJ Uiagalelei, Clemon Tigers (+1,100)
- JT Daniels, Georgia Bulldogs (+1,200)
- Sam Howell, North Carolina Tar Heels (+1,600)
Current 2021 Heisman Trophy Winner Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Bryce Young | Alabama Crimson Tide | +180 |
| Matt Corral | Ole Miss Rebels | +200 |
| CJ Stroud | Ohio State Buckeyes | +800 |
| Kenneth Walker III | Michigan State Spartans | +1,200 |
| Desmond Ridder | Cincinnati Bearcats | +1,400 |
No more saying that it’s too early in the season to be able to tell what these players have to offer. We are essentially down to a two-horse race with Young and Corral. CJ Stroud may have an outside chance if Ohio State can excel down the stretch and into the playoffs, but I really believe at this point of the season that this is Bryce Young’s trophy to lose. Let’s finally take a look at what we did in week six to get to these current odds.
Bryce Young, Alabama Crimson Tide
Despite losing a game for the first time in 19 games, the Crimson Tide’s quarterback, Bryce Young, kept his spot at the top of our Heisman odds for the 2021 season. Young did everything in his power to keep the Crimson Tide’s winning streak going. Young completed 28 of 48 pass attempts for 369 yards while throwing three touchdown passes and just one interception. Young might be a little off, as he has thrown an interception in each of his previous three games.
The Crimson Tide will travel to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs next Saturday.
Matt Corral, Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss put up 52 points against Arkansas in week six, so you would think that Matt Corral would have video game numbers to back up that score, but that’s not the case this week. Corral completed just 14 of 21 pass attempts for 287 yards. Corral did throw two touchdown passes while throwing no interceptions, continuing his streak of now five games this season without an interception throw.
Ole Miss travels to Tennessee to take on the 4-2 Volunteers on Saturday night.
CJ Stroud, Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State, improving to 5-1 on the season, put up 66 points in week six with their victory over Maryland. Stroud did exactly what a quarterback should do when their team scores that many points. Stroud compiled 24 of 33 pass attempts for a whopping 406 yards and five touchdown passes. Along with all of those positive stats, Stroud also didn’t throw an interception for the second straight game.
Stroud and the Buckeyes have a bye week before they travel to Indiana on 10/23.
Kenneth Walker III, Mighigan State Spartans
For the first time this season, we have an athlete in the top five who isn’t a quarterback. Kenneth Walker III is a junior running back. In week six, Walker III ran for 232 yards on 29 attempts and one touchdown. 94 of Walker III’s rushing yards came on one big play. Walker III, despite being a run-only back, did also have one reception, that went for 13 yards.
Walker III and the Spartans travel to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers Saturday afternoon.
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati continues to win, no matter who is thrown in front of them. Desmond Ridder now leads the third-ranked team in the nation. In week six, Ridder completed 22 of 30 pass attempts for only 259 yards and three touchdowns. Like Corral, it’s strange to see a team put up 50+ points and not see a huge stat line from the quarterback, but the two aforementioned quarterbacks are getting it done, and that’s what ultimately matters.
Ridder and the Bearcats are home this week when they take on UCF Saturday afternoon.
Looking Ahead at Week Seven
Four of the five athletes in the top five are in action this week, with no one going up against a ranked opponent. It will be interesting to keep an eye on Walker III as the lone running back in a quarterback-heavy field. Look for Young and Corral to keep the top two spots locked up for another week.