2021 Heisman Trophy Power Rankings: Bryce Young Leads the Way as New Betting Favorite After Week 1
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images. Pictured: Bryce Young.
2021 Heisman Trophy Odds
| Bryce Young, Alabama | +350 |
| Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma | +600 |
| Matt Corral, Ole Miss | +1000 |
| CJ Stroud, Ohio State | +1200 |
| JT Daniels, Georgia | +1500 |
| Bijan Robinson, Texas | +2000 |
| DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson | +2000 |
| Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati | +2500 |
| Brock Purdy, Iowa State | +3000 |
| Kedon Slovis, USC | +3000 |
| Brock Purdy, Iowa State | +4000 |
| Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA | +4000 |
| Emory Jones, Florida | +4000 |
| Odds as of Wednesday afternoon and via WynnBET. | |
Perhaps no trophy in sports is more fun to follow, debate and critique on a week-to-week basis than the Heisman Trophy.
With that said, it's never too early to begin power ranking the top contenders for the sport’s most coveted award.
As Week 1 is now firmly in the rearview mirror, it's time to launch our Heisman Power Ranking series that will run each week until the trophy is lifted Dec. 11.
There are some big preseason names that will be missing from the opening week's power ranking, though keep in mind with the season being so young, it's very likely they eventually find their way back into the mix as the year progresses.
Let’s begin.
1.
Alabama QB Bryce Young (+350)
The first start of the new Alabama gunslinger's career sure didn’t disappoint.
Bryce Young led the charge for Alabama in a 44–13 blowout victory over No. 14 Miami in Atlanta. The redshirt freshman showed exactly why he was a five-star prospect coming out of high school, throwing for 344 yards while completing 71.1% of passes.
Young also tossed four touchdown passes and did not turn the ball over.
It goes without saying, but Alabama has had a pretty strong run of talented quarterbacks. However, where Young really stands out compared to his predecessors is when the pocket moves or collapses. A significant difference I noticed in Young’s game is that he extends plays looking to throw.
Where Jalen Hurts would have taken off and where Tua and Mac Jones lacked in true pocket mobility, Young can escape pockets easily while keeping his eyes downfield and turning broken plays into massive chain movers. A week in, and he is atop my leaderboard.
2.
Ohio State QB CJ Stroud (+1200)
It took a couple of quarters for Stroud to really look comfortable against Minnesota in his first career start for the Buckeyes. Though, once the light turned on for the California native, it was game over for the Gophers.
Stroud finished the evening with 294 passing yards, four touchdowns and an interception.
While many will point to the wide receiver duo of Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson as a big reason why Stroud was able to put up the numbers he did, let’s not discredit the fact it was a rocking atmosphere in Minneapolis.
Stroud has another tough test in Week 2 as Oregon heads to Horseshoe for a top-tier nonconference matchup.
3.
Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III
What a performance from Kenneth Walker III in Michigan State’s impressive victory over Northwestern Friday night.
The Wake Forest transfer put up an astounding 264 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries for an average of 11.5 yards per carry.
Seemingly each time Walker touched the ball, he was bound to break one loose. Check these numbers out: Walker had 206 yards after contact, forced seven missed tackles and accounted for 10 first downs.
Sparty’s RB1 starts the season firmly on Heisman radars, and with Youngstown State coming to East Lansing this Saturday, there's a good chance he follows up his strong opening week performance and really creates some noise.
4.
Ole Miss QB Matt Corral (+1000)
Lane Kiffin was not on the sideline for the season opener for the Rebels, but it hardly mattered. Matt Corral and Ole Miss had the offense cooking against Louisville during the season-opening 43–24 victory.
Only one touchdown pass from Corral may have you wondering what it was that earned him a spot in the top five. To that, I say check the tape.
Corral had the Rebs moving up and down the field with ease. With 381 yards through the air and another 55 coming via the ground, Corral’s numbers were mad impressive regardless of just the two touchdowns he accounted for.
5.
Auburn QB Bo Nix (+8000)
Yes, Auburn’s Bo Nix. Whether you want to believe it or not, Nix was spectacular for Auburn in the season opener and starts off our top-five power rankings.
Keep in mind that it is Week 1 and Auburn did play Akron, a team the Tigers — and Nix for that matter — should be taking care of easily.
But I don't want to downplay the performance Nix had on Saturday. Nix completed an astounding 20-of-22 passes in the contest for 245 yards and three touchdowns — a very strong start to the season for Nix regardless.
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