We are three weeks into the College Football season and things are already getting interesting in the Heisman race. Last week, I mentioned that Malik Willis would need a four-to-five touchdown performance to get back into the thick of the Heisman race. Well, Malik was responsible for 6 total touchdowns, as the Heisman hopeful threw for 242 yards, 4 touchdowns (no interceptions), and ran for 77 yards and another two touchdowns.
Through the Flames’ first 3 games, Willis is 46/69 passing (71%) for 613 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 0 turnovers. He also has rushed for 225 yards and 4 touchdowns on 34 attempts. Vegas Insider updated their 2021 Heisman Odds after Week 3, here’s their top five:
- Matt Corral, QB-Mississippi +150
- Bryce Young, QB-Alabama +400
- CJ Stroud, QB-Ohio State +1600
- Sam Howell, QB-North Carolina +2000
- Desmond Ridder, QB-Cincinnati +2000
- Malik Willis, QB-Liberty +5000
Matt Corral is the clear Heisman favorite through week 3. The Rebels’ quarterback has thrown for 997 yards and 9 touchdowns and has rushed for 158 yards and another 5 touchdowns with no turnovers. This potentially sets up a battle between two Heisman contenders in Week 9 when Liberty and Ole Miss square off.
Bryce Young dropped from the number one spot in the Heisman race after Week 3. The Bama freshman threw for 240 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Crimson Tide’s victory over Florida. CJ Stroud moved up a spot after Week 3 which surprises me. The Buckeyes QB only managed to throw for 185 passing yards with 1 touchdown and an interception in Ohio State’s win over Tulsa.
Despite an average Week 3 performance, Stroud has pretty good numbers on the season, with 963 yards passing, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. After an abysmal Week 1 performance, Sam Howell has rebounded and gotten back into the Heisman race. Howell threw for 307 yards while tossing 5 touchdowns and an interception in UNC’s win over Virginia. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder rounds out the top five as the only non Power Five player on the list. Ridder threw for 210 yards and a touchdown while also throwing for an interception in the Bearcats win over Indiana. Ridder also rushed for 45 yards and another touchdown in the victory. On the season, Ridder has thrown for 748 yards, 7 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and has rushed for 72 yards and 2 more touchdowns.
Malik’s Heisman odds improved from +6000 to +5000 and for good reason. One six touchdown performance with no turnovers, and just like that Willis is back in legitimate Heisman contention. This week poses an important matchup for Malik’s Heisman odds. The Flames are facing their first Power Five opponent this season in Syracuse on Friday night. If Willis can have another impressive showing, it will hold even more weight among Heisman voters considering the level of competition. A minimum of a four-touchdown performance with 300+ all-purpose yards and no turnovers is the type of performance Willis needs to continue to legitimately contend in the Heisman hunt, but most important Liberty needs a win.
