Paul Finebaum reveals his pick to win the Heisman Trophy

SEC analyst Paul Finebaum has seen enough. Week 12 action around the country is over and Finebaum has made Bryce Young his pick for the 2021 Heisman, with some caveats.

“Probably and I say probably, Bryce Young,” Finebaum said. “But I will say this to you … until yesterday, it was open to almost the entire country. Now it’s narrowing down.

“Bryce Young and [CJ] Stroud had very similar days yesterday. And what’s going to happen next is the big stages. Stroud has a bigger stage. The Michigan game is the game of the year in college football. Bryce Young is playing in the Iron Bowl. It’s a big deal, but it’s not to the same degree. But the next weekend, I think is going to determine it both. Both will likely be in Big Ten and SEC championship games. And whoever plays best that game that day and wins I think could win the Heisman trophy.

Bryce Young and CJ Stroud both had career games against quality opponents on Saturday. 

Young threw for 561 yards against No. 21 Arkansas in a 42-35 win. The number broke the Alabama single-game passing record of 488 yards set in 1969 by Scott Hunter. Young’s 561 yards were also the second-most in SEC history. 

Additionally, Young threw five touchdown passes and had zero interceptions as Alabama clinched the second spot in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. He entered Saturday with 3,025 yards passing and 33 touchdowns, the latter statistic leading the SEC.

Ohio State trounced Michigan State 56-7 in a top-10 battle. Stroud was 32-for-35 with 432 yards, six touchdown passes and no interceptions. He finished the game with a QBR of 98.6, his second-best of the season. Stroud has now posted a QBR of 90 or higher in seven of Ohio State’s 11 games this year. 

Heisman contender Kenneth Walker III‘s chances worsened this weekend. He had just six carries for 24 yards and exited the game early in the third quarter with what is allegedly a nagging left ankle injury.

Brady Quinn backs Bryce Young

The Heisman race was without a clear leader prior to Saturday, but Fox analyst Brady Quinn has made his preference known.

Imagine the stats @_bryce_young would be putting up if had 3 @OhioStateFB WR’s instead of just one. 🤔 #Heisman

— Brady Quinn (@Brady_Quinn) November 20, 2021

Quinn, a former Notre Dame quarterback and native of Columbus, is referring to the loaded wide receiver room Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud has at his disposal. Wideouts Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all had over 100 receiving yards and at least one touchdown on Saturday. They combined for 371 yards and five touchdowns. 

On the other hand, Alabama has a young wide receiver room with the exception of junior Ohio State transfer Jameson Williams, and Quinn thinks Bryce Young‘s numbers are suffering as a result. Williams had 190 receiving yards on eight receptions and three touchdowns on Saturday against Arkansas. He is by far Alabama’s top receiver and averaging over 20 yards per reception this year.

On3’s Ashton Pollard contributed to this report.