What does USC star quarterback Caleb Williams have to do to acquire the Heisman Trophy?

Right until it really comes about, there will be regular chatter about whether USC is “back” underneath Lincoln Riley. The debate will have on with several subjective criteria staying used by the program’s supporters and detractors, but here’s a person objective marker that should really be deemed in the dialogue:

The Trojans will need to have to deliver dwelling their eighth Heisman Trophy — of course, eighth, simply because we all observed what transpired on the field and at New York’s Downtown Athletic Club in 2005 when the coveted bronze statue was handed to Reggie Bush as the program’s seventh winner.

When USC is USC, its prime players earn Heismans. Interval. 8 would vault the Trojans over Ohio Point out, Notre Dame and Oklahoma (and wouldn’t that be enjoyable for Riley, whose tutelage of quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray brought the Sooners two of their 7?).

For the next two seasons Caleb Williams, USC’s a great deal-hyped quarterback transfer from Oklahoma, will be among the favorites to get the Heisman. What will it choose for him to do it in 2022?

Below are 8 — there is that variety once more! — variables to search out for:

Gain 10 online games

It is not news that staff achievement elements drastically into the Heisman voting. Williams might not want to direct USC to 10 wins, supplied that the Trojans went 4-8 past yr and even flipping that around to 8-4 would display his apparent influence, but 10 victories would definitely have him in the top rung of candidates.

This is also extra significant because his envisioned major competition — Alabama’s Bryce Younger, final year’s winner, and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, a finalist past year — are probable to be major their teams to the College or university Soccer Playoff semifinals. With 8 or nine wins, Williams would have to amass ridiculous numbers to set himself higher than them in the pecking get.

Previous winners Tim Tebow in 2007 and Lamar Jackson in 2016 each individual led their teams to 9-3 standard seasons, but each put up eye-popping quantities that bundled the speeding stats of an all-conference tailback. Which potential customers us to our upcoming position …

Rush for far more than 750 yards

Riley has to run Williams. Of training course Riley’s occupation is to get championships, not Heismans, and he requirements Williams to be balanced to contend for a Pac-12 title. Still, to completely unlock the Trojans’ opportunity, Williams requires to be a jogging threat. Even 10 totes per activity would be enough to differentiate him from Youthful and Stroud, who scramble to pass and are not named on for created runs.

Above the ultimate thirty day period of past time at Oklahoma, Williams rushed 12 situations per activity. If he retained up that pace and rushed for the same regular he did all of previous year, he’d finish at 858 yards dashing — a number that voters would have to contemplate in evaluating his benefit to his crew.

Keep interceptions in single digits

A person previous statistical crucial: The final two Heisman-winning quarterbacks threw less than 5 interceptions in the frequent season. If Williams throws 10 or additional, which is likely to be held against him.

Acquire a marquee sport

Williams demands to star in a sport that folks will bear in mind, and it demands to be a USC victory.

That suggests the Trojans have to have to win at Utah Oct. 15 in what could be a fight of top-10 unbeaten teams or at house from Notre Dame in the regular-year finale.

Provided the proximity to voting time, a earn around the Irish could unquestionably put him about the top.

Develop excitement early

It is very likely that USC’s Sept. 10 match at Stanford will be the key-time supplying on ABC with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the get in touch with. A sterling effectiveness in front of a nationwide viewers from Williams will ensure his candidacy the relaxation of the way.

Make Jordan Addison’s significant guess spend off

Jordan Addison, the Biletnikoff Award winner final yr as the nation’s top rated broad receiver, transferred from Pittsburgh to USC in element due to the fact of a want to enjoy with a major-flight quarterback.

Williams demands to continue to keep a weapon like Addison humming at an All-The us stage, but he’ll will need to increase his 38-per cent deep-ball completion proportion from final year when Addison is inevitably dashing by defenders with practically nothing but eco-friendly in front of him.

Flash like Superman

You can’t carry a nickname like “Superman” and not at minimum appear the portion some of the time. Williams’ outstanding hard work in the Crimson River Rivalry very last season when he led the Sooners again from a 28-7 deficit to defeat Texas need to give a fantastic blueprint for creating a “wow” aspect.

Hope voters really don't want a repeat winner

Archie Griffin winning again-to-back Heisman Trophies in 1974-75 is ingrained in the sport’s lore. Would voters appreciate placing Bryce Youthful in these types of distinctive organization? The guess listed here is that voters would desire new blood this kind of as Stroud or Williams — if they do their component.