Earlier this week, the College Wire editors voted on the Heisman Trophy race, offering their initial set of preseason projections.
Spoiler alert (look away now if you don’t want to find out who was voted first …):
C.J. Stroud took the top spot, followed by 2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young. USC’s Caleb Williams was third. USC receiver Jordan Addison was No. 8 on the list.
It will be extremely hard for Addison to win the Heisman, given how often Caleb Williams will have the ball. Addison will certainly make the USC offense a lot better than it previously was, but Caleb Williams is clearly the most important player on the offense and, more broadly, the whole USC roster. So much of the season rests on his shoulders. He is clearly USC’s best bet to win the Heisman for the first time since Reggie Bush in 2005.
College Wire’s preseason Heisman poll, who takes the top spot?
Just what will it take for Caleb Williams to win? Obviously, C.J. Stroud not having a great season would be the first ingredient, but beyond that, it’s a little more nuanced. Some might say that if Bryce Young and Caleb Williams have equally good seasons, but Alabama makes the playoff and USC doesn’t, Young will get the nod if Stroud falls off the pace.
I disagree.
Because Heisman voters don’t want to vote for a back-to-back winner unless it’s obvious, I think Caleb has a great chance if Young doesn’t clearly outplay him and Stroud falters. A tie goes to the non-previous winner. That’s the unofficial rule for 2022.
The other point to make is that if Alabama’s defense struggles, Will Anderson — whom many (myself included) thought was the best Alabama football player last year — will not overtake Caleb Williams in a close vote.
Basically, USC fans: You want Ohio State’s offense and Bama’s defense to struggle just enough this year. That’s what will open the door for Caleb Williams.
The rest is up to him.
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