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The five players who were announced as the finalist for the Heisman Trophy on Monday are Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
After being delayed and going virtual last year due to the swine flu, the Heisman will be presented in New York on Saturday.
Young closed strong and is now considered an overwhelming favorite after a season in which he took a while to emerge and the race seemed wide open.
The next three are each 30-1.
Young broke the SEC championship game record with . Young has thrown for 4,322 yards, 43 touchdown and just four picks this season for the top-seed in the College Football Playoff.
Young could become Alabama's first quarterback to win the Heisman.
Smith won the award last year. Smith was the first quarterback to win the award in four years. 17 quarterbacks have won the award.
Hutchinson would be the first defensive player to win the award.
The last Michigan player to win the Heisman played defense. When he finished fifth in the voting, Peppers played offense and returned kicks.
Michigan earned its first playoff appearance and ended an eight-game losing streak to rival Ohio State with 14 sacks from Hutchinson.
The NCAA's eligibility give-back for playing through the PAIN in 2020 allowed Pickett to return to Pitt for a fifth season in 2021, and he had a record-breaking year. The 13th-ranked Pitt led the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing with 4,319 yards and 42 touchdown passes from Pickett.
In his first season as a starter, the seventh-ranked Ohio State finished 10-2 with a quarterback who completed 70% of his passes.
The Associated Press contributed to the report.
