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There are two full weeks left in the regular season and only a handful of games of significance left. It feels like two spots in the College Football Playoff are locks: Georgia and the Ohio State-Michigan winner. Most conference and division titles have been decided.

Not much is left up in the air — except for the most prestigious award in college athletics. This feels like rare territory. Usually by now there is a heavy favorite for the Heisman Trophy, or at least a clear one. But that is not the case right now. Not even close.

Pick a contender — quarterbacks Bryce Young (Alabama), Caleb Williams (USC) Hendon Hooker (Tennessee), Stetson Bennett (Georgia), CJ Stroud (Ohio State), Drake Maye (North Carolina), running back Blake Corum (Michigan) or wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State) — and there is an argument that can be made for that player.

Part of the issue is the best team is Georgia, and Bennett isn’t the Bulldogs’ best player. They are balanced and deep, and not over-reliant on their quarterback. My favorite for much of the year was Young, the defending Heisman Trophy winner, and while he is having a strong season, Alabama was all but eliminated from the playoff last weekend, and voters have resisted going for a repeat winner in the past.


  USC quarterback Caleb Williams scores a touchdown against Colorado on Nov. 11, 2022. AP USC quarterback Caleb Williams scores a touchdown against Colorado on Nov. 11, 2022. AP

It leaves us a number of stars who have put up fantastic numbers, but little to differentiate them. Hooker’s poor performance against Georgia is hard to forget. Corum, second in the nation in rushing touchdowns (17) and third in rushing yards (1.349), and Michigan really haven’t beaten anyone. The same can be said for Stroud, the top passer in efficiency (188.16), and Ohio State.

At the moment, I would vote for Williams. He has USC in the playoff mix as the lone one-loss team left in the Pac-12. His numbers (31 touchdowns, two interceptions, 63.7 completion percentage) are fantastic, but it’s more than just statistics. The Oklahoma transfer has excelled in his first year at a new school with new teammates and zero margin for error due to a pedestrian-at-best defense. Now, this has to continue. He has to get USC to a league title.

A lot can still change. The winner could very well be decided by The Game in two weeks, if either Corum or Stroud performs phenomenally to carry their team to victory. There are also conference title games that will no doubt feature some of the contenders.


  Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud celebrates after a long run against Indiana on Nov. 12, 2022. AP Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud celebrates after a long run against Indiana on Nov. 12, 2022. AP

A lot has yet to be determined in what is shaping up to be an intense race to the finish to determine this year’s Heisman Trophy winner. It certainly feels more wide open than the playoff.

Mora not less

It wasn’t just the 10 consecutive losing seasons that preceded this one or the calls for the now-independent program to move down to the FCS level. It was the level of losing, a 10-50 record the last five seasons, nine defeats last year by at least double figures, that has made this year, and the job done by Jim Mora, so impressive at UConn.

The Huskies became bowl eligible on Saturday by knocking off Liberty, and have beaten some bottom-tier teams such as Boston College, UMass and Fresno State. They can get up to eight wins by knocking off Army and winning a bowl game. That would equal their most wins since 2010.

A tall, but possible, task for USC

First up is UCLA, then improved Notre Dame and possibly Oregon in the Pac-12 title game. USC is going to have earn it if the Trojans are going to break through for their conference to reach the playoff. Oregon and UCLA’s losses on Saturday night opened the door for USC if it can win out.

That is a tough proposition unless the Trojans’ defense can suddenly flip a switch. But a one-loss Pac-12 champion with the star power of USC would certainly warrant consideration, particularly since the contenders after Georgia, the Michigan-Ohio State winner and undefeated TCU don’t own overly impressive résumés.

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