With Heisman Trophy at stake, here's how C.J. Stroud stats compare to Caleb Williams stats

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Sat, Dec 10, 2022, 8:39 PM·4 min read

C.J. Stroud is back in New York City.

The Ohio State quarterback is the only returning Heisman Trophy finalist in 2022 after finishing fourth behind Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett in 2021.

This weekend, Stroud is up against USC quarterback Caleb Williams, TCU quarterback Max Duggan and Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett for the Heisman, given to the top college football player in the country.

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Heading into the 8 p.m. ceremony, Williams remains the betting favorite at -1600 according to FanDuel sportsbook, while Stroud is in line for his second-straight fourth-place finish behind Duggan and Bennett with +5000 odds.

From left to right, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, TCU quarterback Max Duggan, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams pose with NCAA college football's Heisman Trophy in New York, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The four are finalists for the award that will be presented Saturday night. (AP Photo/Ralph Russo)

How have Williams' and Stroud's stats compared throughout the 2022 season?

Here's a look at two quarterbacks' numbers for USC and Ohio State.

USC QB Caleb Williams (-1600)

FILE - Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass against California during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams was named the AP Player of the Year in college football, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/John McCoy, File)

2022 (13 games): 4,075 passing yards, 372 rushing yards, 47 total touchdowns, four interceptions, 66.1% completion rate

Williams hasn't taken long to adjust to Pac-12 play along with coach Lincoln Riley.

The USC sophomore quarterback was tied for the most touchdowns in college football with Stroud and Houston quarterback Clayton Tune with 37 touchdowns, while adding 10 more touchdowns in the run game.

Williams threw for less than 200 yards twice in 13 games, while recording five games with at least 350 passing yards, averaging 313.5 per game. He also had 10 games where he scored three touchdowns or more, including five-touchdown appearances against Arizona, Utah and Colorado.

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C.J. Stroud returns to Heisman stage:Ohio State football quarterback C.J. Stroud back in New York on Heisman Trophy stage

Williams recorded only four interceptions, but never had more than one in a single game.

Williams and the Trojans fell short of the College Football Playoff after a loss to the Utes in the Pac-12 championship game, and will play Tulane in the Cotton Bowl Classic Jan. 2.

Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud (+5000)

Nov 26, 2022; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) runs the ball against Michigan Wolverines in the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.

2022 (12 games): 3,340 passing yards, 74 rushing yards, 37 total touchdowns, six interceptions, 66.2% completion rate

While he played in one less game than Williams, Stroud had just as many touchdown passes, throwing 37 in 12 games, including four games against Indiana, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Toledo in which he threw five touchdowns or more.

Stroud, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, had the best passer efficiency rating in college football, finishing 0.73 points ahead of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker.

All but two of Stroud's performances in 2022 — a 76-yard performance against Northwestern and a 154-yard game against Rutgers — were for at least 223 passing yards, while he had five 300-yard games against Arkansas State, Toledo, Michigan State, Penn State and Michigan.

Stroud did not have much success in the ground game, recording 74 rushing yards on 35 carries with eight sacks.