Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is knocked off the top spot and out of the top five in the Heisman race for what has been a crazy college football season.
1. Marcel Reed | Texas A&M QB | Sophomore (RS) | Last week: 2 (+1)
He cooled off as the game progressed, but Reed started on fire last week in a win over Florida by completing five-of-five passes for 136 yards and a touchdown (plus another rushing score)—and the Aggies took care of business versus another SEC opponent. Reed now hits the road to face Arkansas, No. 10 LSU, and No. 16 LSU over the next three games.
Season stats:
60.0% | 1,490 PASS YDS | 12 PASS TD | 4 INT
45 CAR | 186 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 4.1 AVG
2. Ty Simpson | Alabama QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 3 (+1)
Simpson was again on point in the win over Missouri as the Crimson Tide continued to overcome a loss from the opener—completing 23-of-31 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns to top Missouri. This weekend presents a shootout opportunity with No. 11 Tennessee coming to Tuscaloosa, and Simpson is locked in right now.
Season stats:
70.9% | 1,678 PASS YDS | 16 PASS TD | 1 INT
40 CAR | 58 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD | 1.5 AVG
3. Carson Beck | Miami QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 4 (+1)
Beck was one of the weekend’s big winners despite not playing as Dante Moore struggled in a home loss to Indiana and Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer returned from a thumb injury and had three interceptions as Oklahoma lost to Texas—narrowing the field for a quarterback that has put up big passing numbers thus far.
Season stats:
73.4% | 1,213 PASS YDS | 11 PASS TD | 3 INT
13 CAR | 18 RUSH YDS | 1 TD | 1.4 AVG
4. Fernando Mendoza | Indiana QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 5 (+1)
A pick-six for Mendoza in the fourth quarter that made it a 20-20 game holds him back from rising further after knocking off the Ducks—but he deserves credit for bouncing back with the game-winning touchdown to Elijah Sarratt in the eventual 30-20 victory. The next ranked opponent for the Hoosiers might not come until a potential Big 10 Championship matchup.
Season stats:
71.2% | 1,423 PASS YDS | 17 PASS TD | 2 INT
36 CAR | 133 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD | 3.7 AVG
5. Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State WR | Sophomore | Last week: NR
Smith isn’t putting up monster numbers in his sophomore campaign after a 76/1,315/15 line with 17.3 yards per reception as a true freshman—but he’s scored in every game for the No. 1 team in the country. If the Buckeyes remain unbeaten and Smith remains productive in what he been a down year for a lot of top quarterbacks, he’ll be right in the Heisman discussion at season’s end.
Season stats:
40 REC | 505 REC YDS | 7 REC TD | 12.6 AVG
2 CAR | 20 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 10.0 AVG
Dropped out:
Oregon QB Dante Moore