These days, you pretty much have to play on a national title contender to have a shot at the Heisman Trophy.'USC hasn't been close to that level in years and was downright bad in 2021 with a 3-6 record that led to the firing of Coach Clay Helton. However, the 2022 Trojans have one of the best coaches in the sport in Lincoln Riley and one of the superstar quarterbacks in dual-threat Caleb Williams, who followed Riley from Norman, Okla., to Los Angeles. Over the past month or so at Caesars Sportsbook, no player has taken more Heisman Trophy action than Williams, who is down to +1000.
In the past month, Williams leads all players in Heisman betting at Caesars with 14 percent of the tickets and 20 percent of the handle. He is behind only Ohio State QB CJ Stroud (+200) and Alabama QB Bryce Young (+350), the 2021 winner, on the futures odds. Then there's a huge drop-off after Williams with the next player, Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke, at +3000.
Unofficially, USC has had seven Heisman winners, tied with Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Ohio State for the most. Officially, the Trojans have six — Reggie Bush vacated his in 2005 due to NCAA violations. Thus, quarterback Matt Leinart in 2004 is the most recent USC Heisman winner.
Williams was the clear-cut No. 1 transfer on the market following last season when he supplanted early 2021 Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler as Oklahoma's starting quarterback. Despite starting only seven games (appeared in 11), Williams was named a Freshman All-Am erican and second-team All-Big 12 as he completed 136 of 211 passes (64.5 percent) for 1,912 yards and 21 touchdowns with four interceptions, and he ran for 442 yards on 79 carries (5.6 avg) with six TDs. The passing yards and TDs were the most ever by an OU true freshman.