Heisman Power Rankings: Our pick for the nation's top player

With the regular season concluded, four players have received their invitation to attend the 2021 Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York City.

All candidates have shown why they deserve an invite, so here's the final ranking for this year's top player in college football.

4. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

• 4,319 yards passing, 67.2% completion, 49 total TD, 7 INT

Pickett has had a record-setting campaign under Pat Narduzzi, snapping Dan Marino's career Pitt passing touchdown record with 81 and breaking Deshaun Watson's previous ACC record of 41 touchdown passes in a season. These plaudits saw him claim the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as top upperclassman quarterback.

While Pickett is now the Panthers' all-time leader in five different categories, he also ranks fifth nationally in passing yards, third nationally in touchdown passes, and fourth nationally in completions with 334.

The senior's 20 career rushing touchdowns are also a record for Pitt, including five this campaign, and he led the school to its first conference title, finishing with an 11-2 record. While the ACC's overall strength may negatively factor into Pickett's Heisman argument, his 2021 season is historical for the Panthers.

3. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

• 3,862 yards passing, 70.9% completion, 38 total TD, 5 INT

Ohio State's campaign didn't end in the accustomed way, with the team missing out on the Big Ten title game and a trip to the playoffs, but the positive is that the program is in good hands with Stroud under center. The redshirt freshman made history in 2021, becoming the first player to sweep the conference's offensive player of the year, quarterback of the year, and freshman of the year awards.

The Buckeyes led the country in offensive yards per game with 551.4 thanks to Stroud's play through the air, even throwing for 394 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State's loss to Michigan. He threw for under 300 yards only three times all season and recorded at least one touchdown pass in every single game.

Stroud threw for five or more touchdown passes on four occasions during the campaign, including five in one half against Michigan State. Despite being a first-year, Stroud ranked eighth in passing yards, fifth in touchdowns, and sixth in completion percentage nationally. With a lack of Big Ten title and the rivalry loss impacting Stroud's Heisman hopes, the Buckeyes are ones to watch heading into next year.

2. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

• 58 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 2 FF

Only one player in Heisman award history has won as a defender - fellow Wolverine Charles Woodson was the 1997 recipient. After Hutchinson's 14 sacks this season set a Michigan program record and ranked second nationwide, he looks to become the second.

Hutchinson had been consistent through the second - and strongest - half of the Wolverines' schedule, dominating against rival Ohio State with 15 QB pressures, five solo tackles, and three sacks to help Michigan win The Game for the first time in 10 years and go on to the Big Ten championship.

The 21-year-old's ability to pressure the quarterback is what elevates his game. Hutchinson has recorded a sack in nine contests and a tackle for loss in 11 games while totaling 73 pressures this campaign, ranking him third nationally. While signal-callers have recently dominated the Heisman, Hutchinson has made a strong case as to why he could change the narrative.

1. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

• 4,322 yards passing, 68.0% completion, 46 total TD, 4 INT

A Heisman front-runner since Alabama routed Miami in the season opener, the sophomore quarterback has controlled the Crimson Tide offense in his first year as a starter. Young tied Alabama's record for most passing touchdowns in a campaign with 43 and also set the record for passing yards in a game with 559 against Arkansas.

With one loss on the season already entering the SEC title game, Young broke conference championship records for total offense and passing yards. He completed 26 of 44 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns with 40 rushing yards and a score on three carries in a 41-24 win over No. 1 Georgia, whose defense allowed just 230.4 yards per game before the Crimson Tide put up 365 yards in the first half.

Young sits fourth in the nation for passing yards and second for touchdown passes. Alabama became the No. 1 team in the country behind Young as its leader, and the team is looking for its second-straight national title along with its second-straight Heisman winner.