Dark-horse QB could shake up Heisman Trophy race

QBs Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) and C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) have solidified their place in the Heisman race, and barring unforeseen circumstances, each will be in New York the second weekend of December.

Per Oddschecker, Hooker is the favorite with odds as low as -110 at sportsbooks; Stroud is right behind at +110. Michigan RB Blake Corum has the third-best odds, but the gap is wide as he stands at +1200 to win.

In other words, a $100 bet on Hooker would pay out $191, $210 for Stroud and $1,300 for Corum.

With Hooker and Stroud already planning trips to New York, that leaves two spots open in a hotly contested Heisman race.

Duggan's numbers rival those of his peers. He's averaging 10 yards an attempt, slightly behind Hooker and Stroud (both at 10.7 yards per attempt). He has one more total touchdown (26 to 25) than Hooker and two fewer interceptions (2 to 4) than Stroud.

He must beat out other heavy hitters to receive an invite, including last year's Heisman Trophy winner, Alabama QB Bryce Young. QBs Drake Maye (North Carolina) and Caleb Williams (USC) are also legitimate contenders, as is Corum.

Young has games against CFP-ranked LSU (No. 10) and Mississippi (No. 11) in the next two weeks. He may also have a game against the No. 1 team in college football — either Tennessee or Georgia — in the SEC Championship. With wins in those contests, he'll vault to the front of the conversation. 

Maye has been outstanding — his completion percentage (71.3) and touchdowns thrown (29) are tied with Stroud — and will be a lock for the ceremony if North Carolina wins the ACC.

That doesn't seem likely, and with only four finalists being chosen, the margin between who is in and who is out will be razor-thin.

Williams has 24 touchdowns to just one interception this season but will likely need a Pac-12 championship to make things interesting in his favor.
Corum has 179 carries for 1,078 yards and 14 touchdowns. Unless Michigan defeats Ohio State for the second year in a row, it feels unlikely that he'll get an invite.

If the Horned Frogs run the table, they'll most likely be in the College Football Playoff. Three teams ahead of them are guaranteed to lose, thanks to Tennessee-Georgia, Michigan-Ohio State and the SEC Championship Game remaining on the docket.

If TCU does retain its explosiveness for the rest of the season, Duggan will be just as responsible as Hooker and Stroud are for their high-powered offenses. The Horned Frogs average 44.3 points, third in the nation behind Tennessee (49.4) and Ohio State (48.9).

By the time December rolls around, he might not need a plane ticket to get to New York. He might just make his way to the ceremony on horseback.