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6 | The Lantern | Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022
thelantern.com @TheLantern

Opinion: Casey’s Callouts: Stroud’s Heisman 
fate will be decided against Michigan

Picture the scene: Ohio State trailing 

by four with just over two minutes to 
play in regulation.

The Buckeyes just got the ball back 

and must go the length of the field to win 
the game. Third-year quarterback C.J. 
Stroud does what he’s done all year — 
with the exception against Northwestern 
— leading a heroic drive as a game-win-
ning touchdown pass cements Ohio State 
as Big Ten East champions.

Fans rush the field, confetti flies, 

champagne rains down from the heavens 
and all is right in Columbus.

If you don’t want the close-game, 

heart-racing, 
sweaty-palm 
scenario, 

picture this one: Stroud throws for five 
touchdowns and leads the Buckeyes to 
an enforcing victory over a potential top-
four team in the country.

 Either way, it’s a win over No. 3 Mich-

igan, and Stroud rights the wrong from 
last year’s 42-27 loss and, barring a melt-
down in the Big Ten Championship, 
gives Ohio State the golden ticket to a 
College Football Playoff return.

And he just about guarantees himself 

the Heisman Trophy.

For as much emphasis as there is on 

having a Heisman moment — a point 
during a Heisman Trophy winner’s sea-
son in which he has an otherworldly, 
gutsy performance — Stroud’s fate will be 
decided Nov. 26 at Ohio Stadium.

Despite wins not being a quarterback 

stat, in the Heisman Trophy’s case, they 
are. 

CASEY SMITH

LTV Sports Producer

ZACHARY RILLEY | PHOTO EDITOR 

Third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) enters Ohio Stadium before No. 2 Ohio State’s 54-10 
win over Iowa Oct. 22 in Columbus.

The Heisman Trophy is rarely award-

ed to a player who is on an 8-4 team, re-
gardless of how good he is or the impact 
he had in getting that team to eight wins.

Also, with college football’s shift to 

spread and air raid offenses, the Heisman 
Trophy is becoming a quarterback-cen-
tered award.

Since 2000, 18 of the 21 Heisman Tro-

phy winners have been quarterbacks, as 
former University of Southern California 
running back Reggie Bush had his award 
stripped due to NCAA violations.

Through 10 games this season, Stroud 

is tied for first in the Football Bowl Sub-
division in touchdowns at 34 and leads 
the country in quarterback rating at 
188.16. His 2,750 passing yards rank No. 
18 in the FBS, but the 17 players ahead of 
him all have more pass attempts.

The only player with a higher yards-

per-attempt mark than Stroud is Ten-
nessee redshirt senior quarterback and 
fellow Heisman Trophy candidate Hen-
don Hooker.

Stroud currently leads the Heisman 

Trophy odds at +140, according to Draft-
Kings Sportsbook, with Hooker in sec-
ond at +350. Others chasing at Stroud’s 
heels include Michigan junior running 
back Blake Corum and North Carolina 
redshirt freshman quarterback Drake 
Maye both at +550.

Hooker is at a disadvantage because 

the Volunteers don’t control their own 
destiny to an SEC Championship and 
CFP appearance. Corum is a running 
back, and Maye hasn’t led the Tar Heels 
to any signature wins this season.

Stroud controls his own destiny.
Stroud and head coach Ryan Day have 

said the quarterback’s main focus is win-
ning games and not on outside accolades, 
but on Nov. 26, he could get two victories 
for the price of one.

If the Inland Empire, California, native 

leads the Buckeyes to a win over Michi-
gan, he’ll get his team win and hoist the 

Heisman Trophy in New York Dec. 10.

However, if the Buckeyes lose their 

second-straight game to the Wolverines, 
Stroud’s odds of becoming the first Ohio 
State Heisman Trophy winner since 
Troy Smith in 2006 are up in the air.

Stroud is no stranger to the Heisman 

Trophy conversation, making the trip 
to New York last season and finishing 
fourth in the voting.

At last year’s ceremony, former Mich-

igan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson 
said his goal was to “come back, was to 
beat Ohio State and win a Big Ten Cham-
pionship,” to which ESPN analyst Tim 
Tebow interjected and said, “Hey Ken-
ny [Pickett], I’m glad you’re in between” 
Hutchinson and Stroud. 

Then former Michigan wide receiv-

er and ESPN analyst Desmond Howard 
jumped in and said Pickett was standing 
there “better than” Stroud’s “offensive 
lineman.”

Wouldn’t revenge be a dish best served 

cold? It will all come down to “The 
Game’s” result Nov. 26.

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It publishes issues Tuesday and Thursday, and online 
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Editor in Chief 
Jessica Langer

Managing Editor for Content 
Aubrey Wright

Managing Editor for Design 
Athena Markowski

Managing Editor for Digital Content Christian Harsa

Copy Chief 
Will Ware

Assistant Campus Editor 
Gaurav Law

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Madison Kinner

LTV Campus Producer Becca Duncan

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Jacob Benge

Assistant Sports Editor 
Steven Kishpaugh 

LTV Sports Producer Casey Smith

Assistant Sports Director Gabe Burggraf

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Phoebe Helms

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Brett Price

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Zachary Rilley 

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Abby Fricke

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Tyrik Hutchinson-Junior 

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Tom Hanks

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