2021 College Football Heisman Winner, Odds & Past Winners

Who won the 2021 Heisman Trophy?

While it was a tight race until the final week of the season, front-runner Bryce Young (Alabama, QB) won the 2021 Heisman Trophy award after his season-long performance, cementing the win with a stellar performance against the previously impenetrable Georgia defense on the Championship game.

Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud rounded out the final four finalists, with the winner announced on December 11, 2021 in New York at 8 p.m. ET.

Here’s a look at the Heisman Trophy odds for the four finalists before the winner was declared.

Heisman Trophy Odds 2021-22

A Look at the Four Finalists

Bryce Young, Alabama

After spending his freshman year backing up Mac Jones, all Young did in his first season as a starter was lead Alabama to a number one ranking while averaging 42.5 points per game. Young completed the season with a 68% completion rate with 46 total touchdowns (three rushing) and a tidy four interceptions.

But more importantly, Young came up big when it mattered. Alabama, led by Young, manhandled the previously unbeaten Bulldogs. Young passed for 421 yards against one of the best defenses in the nation. If Young wins, he’d be the second consecutive Alabama player to win the award after DeVonta Smith took home the honor last year.

Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan

As the only non-quarterback out of the finalists, Michigan’s Hutchinson could become the first defensive player to win the Heisman since the great Charles Woodson did it with the same team in 1997. The relentless pass-rusher broke the school record for sacks this season with 14 while adding 58 tackles and two forced fumbles.

Hutchinson was a force in Michigan’s pivotal game against Ohio State when he made life miserable for C.J. Stroud with three sacks and 15 pressures. Michigan is now on its way to its first playoff berth, thanks in part to Hutchinson’s historic season.

Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

Pickett is the elder statesman of the four candidates, returning for his fifth year thanks to an extra year of eligibility due to the Covid-19-shortened season in 2020. And boy, did he make it count.

Pickett broke school records for both passing yards and touchdowns and finished with 4,319 passing yards and a 67.2% completion rate to go with 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions. A strong game against Wake Forest last week helped the Panthers win the ACC for the first time.

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State University

The baby of the group, freshman C.J. Stroud turned heads this season with his stellar play, leading the Buckeyes to a 10-2 record. Stroud completed 70.9% of his passes for 3,862 yards and 38 touchdowns.

While Ohio State fell short of the playoffs, they were college football’s top-ranked offense, scoring over 45 points per game. Should Stroud win the Heisman, he’d be the first Buckeye to do so since Troy Smith in 2006.