Nobody said this thing was fair. Or came with distinct rules that followed a tried-and-true process.

The greatest individual award in sports, the biggest crapshoot in sports.

Welcome to the Heisman Trophy race, where logic typically goes to die.

If it’s not about performance in big games (which it should be), it often becomes pure numbers and/or who shines in the most important game last.

Or who wins the prisoner of the moment.

The award states, right on the ballot, that it recognizes “the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.”

The outstanding college football player. Not the best statistics, not the best player on the best team. Not the best quarterback.

Yet we’re 3 weeks from the final chance to impress Heisman voters, and the “leaders” in nearly every Heisman watch list are Ohio State QB CJ Stroud and Michigan RB Blake Corum.

Why, you ask? The best statistics, best quarterback, best player on the best team.

Even though neither team has a win of significance. Until, that is, they play each other (another story I tried to explain this week).

Breaking down the Heisman Trophy race with 3 games to play:

Tier 1

QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

The numbers: 2,888 yards passing, 24 TDs, 2 INTs; 405 yards rushing, 5 TDs.

The skinny: 16 TDs (2 rush), 2 INTs in 6 games against ranked teams (5-1 record). One more Playoff game against Georgia on a neutral, dry field, anyone?

The quote: Vols coach Josh Heupel: “You look at the efficiency of how he is playing, the ability to take care of the football, the dynamic plays that he’s made with his arm and his feet — we don’t look like we do offensively without him.”

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

The numbers: 3,412 yards passing, 34 TDs, 3 INTs; 584 yards rushing, 5 TDs.

The skinny: The lack of big games is going to hurt. Maye will get a shot at Clemson in the ACC Championship Game — and it could be enough.

The quote: UNC coach Mack Brown: “Drake’s had his Heisman moments. He’s done everything he’s supposed to do. He’s had an unbelievable year to this point, he’s just gotta keep playing.”

QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State

The numbers: 2,750 yards passing, 34 TDs, 4 INTs.

The skinny: Still riding a ridiculous performance in last year’s Rose Bowl. Because it certainly can’t be from the big numbers vs. lousy competition in 2022.

The quote: Ohio State coach Ryan Day: “He throws 6 touchdown passes and people say he’s under the radar.”

QB Max Duggan, TCU

The numbers: 2,531 yards, 25 TDs, 2 INTs; 241 yards rushing, 4 TDs.

The skinny: Much like TCU, Duggan is getting little run in this race. He has 16 TDs (4 rush) and 1 INT in 5 games vs. ranked teams (5-0 record).

The quote: TCU coach Sonny Dykes, on Duggan losing the starting job in fall camp before regaining it: “He loses the job, which is really hard. He’s getting ready to be a senior, new coach, it’s his last year. And he never blinks. Never had a bad practice, never pouted. Never thought of himself one time.”

Tier 2

RB Blake Corum, Michigan

The numbers: 1,349 yards, 17 TDs, 1 TD receiving.

The skinny: 7 straight 100-yard games against inferior competition — but 299 yards and 3 TDs against the 2 best defenses faced (Iowa, Penn State).

The quote: Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh: “There’s an old saying in football that a running back who can miss somebody by the narrowest of margins is an unbelievable talent.”

QB Caleb Williams, USC

The numbers: 3,010 yards passing, 31 TDs, 2 INTs; 283 yards rushing, 6 TDs.

The skinny: Has the best numbers, and will likely get 3 games against ranked teams to make a run at it: (at UCLA, Notre Dame, Pac-12 Championship Game).

The quote: UCLA coach Chip Kelly: “He can beat you both with his arm and with his legs. He can extend drives, he does a really good job of that, but he can also pick up the tough yardage. He’s a unique quarterback from that standpoint.”

QB Bryce Young

The numbers: 2,443 yards passing, 22 TDs, 4 INTs; 157 yards rushing, 3 TDs.

The skinny: If Alabama closes out 2 losses on the last play of the game, Young is leading the race. He’s the best player in the game — and it’s not close.

The quote: Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin: “They’ve gotten down in some games and he’s put the cape on, and put everybody, put the whole team on his shoulders, and come back and won games. Playing injured, too.”

Tier 3

QB Stetson Bennett IV, Georgia

The numbers: 2,895 yards passing, 14 TDs, 5 INTs; 144 yards rushing, 7 TDs.

The skinny: If we’re being intellectually honest, Jalen Carter is the best player on the best team. Bennett will get votes based on both 2021 and 2022.

The quote: South Carolina coach Shane Beamer: “Anybody who is still referring to him as a game manager, they are doing that kid a disservice.”

QB Bo Nix, Oregon

The numbers: 2,775 yards passing, 24 TDs, 5 INTs; 516 yards rushing, 14 TDs.

The skinny: It’s all about the numbers — because Oregon is 2-2 vs. ranked teams, including losses in 2 critical games (Georgia, Washington).

The quote: Washington coach Kalen Deboer: “Nix is playing with a ton of confidence. The game has slowed down for him. I can’t say enough good things about him and the way he is leading the offense.”

LB/edge Harold Perkins, LSU

The numbers: 52 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 3 PD, 1 INT, 2 FF.

The skinny: No 1 player defines the rise of a program quite like Perkins, a freshman who has become the most feared defensive edge rusher in the game (yes, more than Will Anderson Jr.).

The quote: LSU coach Brian Kelly: “I don’t think there’s enough superlatives to talk about this young man as a true freshman coming into his own.”