Every season in college football, the Heisman trophy race comes down to which quarterback stands out the most. Yes, there have been other offensive skill position players to win it, including Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. But for the most part, it has become the “Best Quarterback Award.” Well this season, that is about to change as Michigan Wolverines' Aidan Hutchinson might make history.

Only once has a primarily defensive player won the Heisman Trophy. Charles Woodson back in 1997 for, you guessed it, Michigan.

I am not crazy enough to think it wouldn't take a perfect storm of events for another defensive player to win. It will. But I believe we are looking at the prime opportunity for that to happen.

It was thought entering rivalry weekend that it was a two man race between Alabama's quarterback Bryce Young and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Yes, I know that Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett is having an outstanding season.

But he plays in the ACC. It is a down year for Clemson. Those are both major knocks against him.

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral might be the best dual threat quarterback in the nation. He has earned himself plenty of Heisman praise, having thrown 20 touchdowns and rushed for 11 more. But let's be real, Corral isn't winning the Heisman Trophy.

That left everyone staring squarely at Stroud and Young entering rivalry weekend.

Stroud's chances to a big hit Saturday. He did not play all that well in arguably the biggest game of his career. Ohio State lost to rival Michigan, 42-27. It was the first time since 2010 that Michigan got the best of their southern rivals.

That definitely doesn't bode well for Stroud even being invited as a finalist, but especially not when Michigan's defensive end Aidan Hutchinson sacked him three times. Hutchinson firmly put himself in the conversation.

Coming out of the weekend, it is very clearly Bryce Young's award to lose. The problem is, he might do that. Alabama has to face what is considered by a country mile the best team in college football this year, the Georgia Bulldogs.

Georgia has played 12 games and is yet to allow anyone score more than 17 points against them. That's astounding. What's even more astounding is that only four of their 12 opponents even reached double digits. Meanwhile, their offense is dropping 50 burgers all season.

Needless to say, this will be the toughest test Nick Saban and Alabama have faced this year. The Crimson Tide had to come from behind late to beat a bad Auburn football team last week. A lot of people have pointed to that drive Bryce Young engineered to win the game in the closing moments.

I point to the first 58 minutes of that game where he played poorly against the Auburn defense. That same Auburn defense allowed Mississippi State to score 43 points against them two weeks prior, at Auburn.

I believe it is a very realistic possibility that Bryce Young struggles in this game and Alabama loses. Assuming that happens, Alabama could drop out of the College Football Playoff.

Some will contend they still belong. But an undefeated Cincinnati team and a 1-loss Big 12 champion Oklahoma State team should both get their chance ahead of Alabama.

C.J. Stroud and Ohio State have no more games to play. Their season is done outside of bowl season. So Stroud is out of chances to improve his stock.

That's where Aidan Hutchinson comes into play.

You know that saying, what have you done for me lately? Well, the Wolverines defensive end has dominated lately. He had three sacks vs Ohio State, three more the game prior vs Penn State. He has 13 sacks on the season, 3rd in the NCAA. Of his 51 tackles, among the most in college football for a defensive lineman, 14 of them were tackles for loss.

It will take another huge effort from the Wolverines star lineman in the Big 10 Championship. #2 Michigan plays #13 Iowa for the conference title Saturday.

Because of the type offense Iowa runs, I would expect Hutchinson to be very active and have a big hand in the outcome. If Michigan pulls it off, and clinches their first ever College Football Playoff berth, it enhances the Wolverines' chances.

All of America saw what happened last week at “The Big House” after Michigan finally got the monkey off their back. The whole country of college football fans, outside of Ohio State, were happy to see 100,000 people swarm the field.

In order for a defensive player to win this award, so much needs to happen. That player needs to ascend while the leaders descend. But that's what we have seen, and very well might see again this weekend.

Let's Go Blue!