Week 7 Heisman Watch: Bijan’s Race To Lose

In another week of upsets in college football, there seems to be a clear-cut number one Heisman favorite. The other candidates are still right up there as well after performing well this week. There’s no time like the present, so let’s just dive right into the top five candidates following week seven of the season.

1. Bijan Robinson, Texas

What more does this man have to do? If not for Robinson, Texas would not even be in any of their games so far. The future first-round pick has carried the Longhorns’ offense on his back. For the second time this season, the sophomore scored three times. Back in Texas’ season opener against Rice, Robinson ran for three touchdowns. This time against Oklahoma State, he ran for two and caught another, while running for 135 yards on 21 carries. He has scored at least one touchdown every game this season, along with eclipsing over 100 yards on the ground every week except one.

Robinson even got very high praise from legendary running back Reggie Bush, as the former USC Trojan said, “I see so much of myself in Bijan with the way he plays the game.”

TOUCHDOWN NUMBER THREE FOR BIJAN ROBINSON 👀 📈 pic.twitter.com/khvJyRqk63

— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 16, 2021

2. Matt Corral, Ole Miss

Even with a handful of his weapons and blockers out with injuries, Corral balled out once again and found a way to will the Rebels to victory. He did it with his arm and his legs as always, nearly getting 200 yards in the air and on the ground. He was taking crazy pressure and hits all night, which led to him throwing his first interception on the season. The 22-year-old tried to make something out of nothing but that was really his only mistake all night. Corral finished the game against Tennessee with 231 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-31 passing, along with 195 yards rushing on 30 carries.

Another big night for Matt Corral 🏈

231 passing yards, 2 TDs, 195 rushing yards.

Corral was +200 to win the Heisman coming into this week 🏆
pic.twitter.com/68oA6QH1e5

— Pickswise (@Pickswise) October 17, 2021

3. Bryce Young, Alabama

Young and the Crimson Tide bounced back in a major way from their upset loss last week. The sophomore quarterback led Alabama to a 49-9 trouncing over Mississippi State as he threw for four touchdowns and 348 yards on 20-of-28 passing. He is now up to 20 touchdown passes on the season after finding the endzone at least twice in all seven games.

4. Jerome Ford, Cinncinati

Up until now, the Cinncinati player getting Heisman hype was quarterback Desmond Ridder. But after a slower day from Ridder, it was junior running back Ford who stepped into the conversation with a big day. In the Bearcats 56-21 tromping of UCF, the 24-year-old rushed for a career-high 189 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 9.5 yards a carry, following up a two-touchdown day last week in which he averaged 9.9 yards a carry.

Jerome Ford has hit the end zone FOUR TIMES in just the first half for @GoBearcatsFB 😳 pic.twitter.com/LU0fWnLo8Z

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 16, 2021

5. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

I was waiting to join the Pickett bandwagon, but now I have no choice. The senior quarterback continues to prove himself each week and threw for two more touchdowns on Saturday. He has thrown at least two touchdowns every week along with eclipsing 200 yards passing. This week, he had 203 yards in the air and also ran for a score. Pickett now has 1,731 yards of passing on the year and 19 touchdowns to just one interception.