NEW YORK — The finalists for the 2021 Heisman Trophy were revealed Monday night, leaving only six suspenseful days until college football’s top player is crowned in New York.
According to CBS Sports, this year’s four top contenders include University of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Ohio State University quarterback C.J. Stroud, University of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and University of Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson.
The winner will be announced during an 8 p.m. EST ceremony, following the annual Army-Navy gridiron showdown, the network reported.
Take a closer, by-the-numbers look at the contenders below:
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
According to Bleacher Report, Young, Alabama’s sophomore signal-caller, has thrown for 4,322 yards, 43 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also set a Southeastern Conference Championship record Saturday by throwing for 431 yards in the Crimson Tide’s 41-24 upset of the No. 1-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Meanwhile, his passer rating of 175.53 ranks fifth-best in the nation, but he trails Stroud by nearly 7 points, CBS Sports reported.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
In his first year as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, Stroud threw for 3,862 yards, 38 touchdowns and five interceptions. Despite losing to rival Michigan in Ann Arbor, Stroud went 34-of-49 for 394 yards and two touchdowns against the Wolverines. Meanwhile, he holds a slight statistical edge over Young in four categories with a passer rating of 182.2, as well as 351.1 yards-per-game, 9.8 yards-per-attempt and a 70.9% completion rate, according to Bleacher Report.
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
According to CBS Sports, Pickett threw for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions, leading Pitt to its first Atlantic Coast Conference title. The New Jersey native’s performance also helped the Panthers secure their first conference title of any kind since 2010, according to Bleacher Report.
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
Hutchinson, poised to have the best finish for a Michigan player since Charles Woodson hoisted the Heisman in 1997, may be the outlier among high-octane quarterbacks, but his numbers don’t lie, according to Bleacher Report. The Wolverines’ defensive end recorded 15 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and two forced fumbles across 13 games. He delivered in his team’s biggest game with his three sacks critical toward Michigan’s 42-27 win over Ohio State. Meanwhile, his 14 sacks are third-most in the nation, and the constant pressure the pass rusher placed on quarterbacks has made him one of the top NFL draft prospects in the country, CBS Sports reported.