Heisman Trophy candidates and odds for Week 9: Bryce Young's path to repeat still open

Bryce Young had 11 seconds in the pocket – enough time to stand still at one point. 

Young shuffled right, scrambled back to the left, pointed to the receiver and threw a cross-body 31-yard touchdown to JoJo Earle. Young smiled, and why not? 

That eliminated the hangover from last week's loss to No. 3 Tennessee, ignited a 30-6 rout against No. 24 Mississippi State and hinted at a run that absolutely could happen in November. 

MORE: Why CFP games need to be on campus

That 11 seconds told you Young will be in the mix to become the first two-time Heisman Trophy winner since Ohio State's Archie Griffin in 1974-75. 

Making Plays👏👏👏@_bryce_young ▶️ @jojoearle1

📺 ESPN
🔗https://t.co/8Fmvg2yRMd pic.twitter.com/tE9c4i6RlR

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) October 22, 2022

Young entered Week 8 with the fifth-best odds behind Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Tennessee's Hendon Hooker, USC's Caleb Williams and Michigan's Blake Corum. 

Young completed 15 of 20 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and the Crimson Tide had a 24-0 halftime lead against the Bulldogs. Young finished 21 of 35 passing for 249 yards and two TDs, but it was that 11-second reminder in the pocket that there isn't a more-exciting playmaker in the pocket in college football.

Young now has 1,906 passing yards, 18 TDs and three INTs for the season. 

Yes, Young missed a game with a separated shoulder. Hooker won the head-to-head matchup in the 52-49 thriller at Neyland Stadium in Week 7. The Crimson Tide's offense stalled in the second half against Mississippi State. 

Still, Young will be in the hunt. Look at what happened last year. 

MORE: College Football Playoff picture after Week 8

After the regular-season loss against Texas A&M, Young used the next seven games to build his Heisman Trophy campaign. He averaged 369.1 yards passing with 23 TDs and one interception in that stretch. 

Young clinched the Heisman in last year's SEC championship game against Georgia, and that opportunity could happen again. If Young engineers road wins against ranked LSU and Ole Miss teams, adds another Iron Bowl victory and leads the Crimson Tide back to the College Football Playoff, then it will be a close call with Stroud, Hooker and whoever else emerges in November. 

Here is a look at the Heisman Trophy race heading into Week 9: 

Heisman Trophy leaders for Week 9

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

2022 stats: 2,023 passing yards, 28 TDs, 3 INTs 

Stroud had a slow start – which included losing a fumble on a sack that resulted in an Iowa touchdown – but he turned it on in a 54-10 blowout against the Hawkeyes. Stroud had 181 of his 286 passing yards and four TDs after halftime, and he shook off a rare third-quarter interception to get the Buckeyes rolling. It was a solid performance against a top-10 scoring defense that should keep Stroud as the betting favorite heading into a matchup at Penn State. 

Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

2022 stats: 2,093 passing yards, 18 TDs, 1 INT 

Hooker helped Tennessee pile on 52 first-half points in a 65-24 victory against UT-Martin, and that sets up a two-game stretch where he can make statements against Kentucky and Georgia. Hooker added 28 rushing yards. Hooker also has developed a connection with receiver Jalin Hyatt, who is emerging as a second possible candidate in Tennessee's high-scoring offense. 

Heisman sleepers for Week 9 

Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee 

2022 stats: 40 catches, 769 yards, 12 TDs

Hyatt scored on a 22-yard TD on a screen pass then caught a 66-yard TD on a trick play against UT-Martin. He finished with seven catches for 174 yards and two TDs against the Skyhawks – which is part of an absurd three-game stretch in which he has 17 catches for 444 yards and nine TDs. That's 26.1 yards per catch. He is emerging as the best chunk-play receiver in the FBS, and that is the path Alabama's Devonta Smith took the Heisman with a late November run. 

Just another day in the office for @jalinhyatt 💼 pic.twitter.com/YvIOMUKA9g

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 22, 2022

Bo Nix, QB, Oregon 

2022 stats: 1,809 passing yards, 17 TDs, 3 INTs

Talk about a transfer-portal makeover. Nix led Oregon to an impressive 45-20 victory against UCLA. He finished 22 of 28 passing for 283 yards and five TDs, and he added 51 rushing yards to his season total of 382 yards. Nix has the Ducks in position to make a Pac-12 championship run.

Max Duggan, QB, TCU 

2022 stats: 1,871 passing yards, 19 TDs, 1 INT

Duggan deserves to be on the board at this point after a 38-28 victory against No. 17 Kansas State. He's led the Horned Frogs to four straight victories against ranked opponents, and that includes come-back victories against the Cowboys and Wildcats. He is a natural fit in Sonny Dykes' system. 

Spencer Sanders, QB, Oklahoma State

2022 stats: 2,030 passing yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs

Sanders had the ninth-best odds coming into the week, and he didn't disappoint with 391 passing yards in a 41-34 shootout with No. 20 Texas. He has 352 rushing yards and eight TDs on top of the passing stats, and the Cowboys are still in the Big 12 championship mix. 

Latest Heisman odds 

When is the Heisman Trophy Ceremony

The Heisman Trophy will be awarded on Dec. 10, one week after the conference championship games. The ceremony will be televised at 8 p.m. on ESPN.