CJ Carr's 319 Yards Against Miami Reset the Heisman Field

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr is now the betting favorite for the Heisman Trophy. This shift occurred after he led his team to a 31-24 victory over top-ranked Miami on Saturday. Carr completed 29 of 40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

The change in status comes with four weeks remaining in the season. Carr is currently eighth in quarterback rating with a score of 84.4. His performance against Miami was his best of the career. He has won 18 of his last 19 starts.

The race for the award has become volatile. Several players who led the field earlier in the season have dropped out of contention. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was the leader in a points race before a team crisis. Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney is out for several weeks with a high ankle sprain.

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has seen his quarterback rating fall to 17th. He came off a loss to Georgia. Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor has played very little in the past month due to injury. These absences have opened the field for new candidates.

Carr's statistical profile differs from recent winners. He is a game manager rather than a dual-threat athlete. His projected season totals include about 3,100 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. These numbers are similar to Indiana's Kurtis Rourke in 2024 and Ohio State's Kyle McCord in 2023.

Rourke finished ninth in Heisman voting in 2024. McCord did not finish in the top 10 in 2023. Carr's path to the award may look different from those of Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, or Joe Burrow. Those quarterbacks won the trophy in recent years with more dynamic playing styles.

Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter finished second in the weekly voting. He recorded 13 tackles and four tackles for loss against Kentucky. He was suspended earlier in the year for taking a flight on an agent's dime but returned to play. He paced a 34-6 win over Kentucky.

Oklahoma State running back Caleb Hawkins placed third. He rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns while adding 71 receiving yards. He has averaged 226.5 yards from scrimmage in his last four games. Oklahoma State has scored at least 39 points in seven of its last eight games.

Texas Tech quarterback Tommy Castellanos and West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. finished fourth and fifth. They faced each other in a high-scoring game. Castellanos passed for 362 yards and five touchdowns. Hawkins passed for 303 yards and rushed for 107 yards. Both players have had strong seasons despite defensive struggles for their teams.

Duke running back Nate Sheppard took sixth place. He rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns against NC State. He has scored at least one touchdown in every game this season. Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell finished ninth after a strong performance against LSU. Auburn linebacker Shadarius Toodle made his first appearance on the list in his first career game, leading his team in tackles against Arkansas.