Paul Finebaum names Heisman favorite entering final weekend before voting

In one of the wildest college football seasons in recent memory, the Heisman race has been just as crazy. Prior to the final weekend before voting, Paul Finebaum revealed his Heisman favorite.

“About halfway through yesterday, it was nobody, because nobody seemed to want it. At the end of the day, Bryce Young may have won it,” stated Finebaum. “He still has a huge game remaining. He had his most pedestrian day yet for Alabama, but all that matters is how he finished. And in the most important drive of the season for Alabama, he was flawless; he was unbelievable.

“He still needs to finish the job next week against the number one team in the country, but he’s clearly the favorite going into the final weekend.”

Through three quarters against Auburn, it looked like Bryce Young may have lost his Heisman chance. Then, his moment came — the quarterback led a furious Alabama comeback victory in the Iron Bowl.

In the end, Young’s final stat-line wasn’t another five-hundred yard, five touchdown performance. Still, 317 yards and two touchdowns isn’t too shabby. Additionally, Young will take the victory over all.

Moreover, Young’s biggest competition didn’t have a great day as he chases the Heisman as well. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud wasn’t victorious against Michigan. While he threw for 394 yards and two touchdowns, the Buckeyes suffered their second loss of the season.

If Young can defeat the Georgia Bulldogs, he may wrap up Alabama’s second consecutive Heisman. Still, he has his best opportunity ahead of him — while Stroud’s is in the rearview.

Bryce Young: ‘My confidence never wavered.’

Alabama won the Iron Bowl with the heroics of quarterback Bryce Young, who added to his Heisman resume at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Paul Finebaum’s Heisman favorite spoke to CBS reporter Jamie Erdahl about the win following the game.

“It was crazy,” Young said. “When you’re playing in the Iron Bowl, what else are you supposed to expect? Throughout all the ups and downs, even the last drive, I have so much faith in my guys. My confidence never waivered.”

To Young’s point, players, coaches and viewers are primed to expect the unexpected every Saturday after Thanksgiving. Until Saturday, the home team had won the last five matchups. The last two games in Jordan-Hare Stadium were upset wins in favor of the Tigers; they knocked off No. 1 Alabama in 2017 and No. 5 Alabama in 2019. They were ranked sixth and 15th in those matchups, respectively. 

“When we got the ball [with 98 yards to go], I was kinda happy about it,” Young added on the topic of Alabama’s final drive of regulation. 

In 12 plays, they stormed down the field and scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Young to Ja’Corey Brooks. That tied the game 10-10. It took 59 minutes and 36 seconds for one of the country’s most potent offensives to find the end zone. 

“We had some adversity there, and we needed to make sure we combat it together,” Young added. “That was the biggest thing, making sure that we were all on the same page… We had some issues offensively, but for us to come together and to really sort those things out together, that was the biggest thing for us.”