The Heisman Trophy frontrunner distanced himself from the other contenders over the weekend, but there’s still a lot of season to play before a winner is locked in.
1. Joe Burrow | LSU QB | Senior | Last week: 1
Joe Burrow played exceptionally well against Alabama, leading LSU to a 46-41 victory at Tuscaloosa. The senior quarterback spread the ball out to his weapons, throwing passes on the money to all areas of the field while avoiding mistakes and also doing damage with his legs in key situations. The 457 yards and three total touchdowns for Burrow could be the most-played highlight of his season if he goes on to win the Heisman.
Season stats:
78.9% | 3,198 PASS YDS | 33 PASS TD | 4 INT
66 CAR | 189 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 2.9 AVG
2. Jalen Hurts | Oklahoma QB | Senior | Last week: 2
Oklahoma got off to a hot start led by Jalen Hurts, but the Sooners were only able to score one touchdown in the second half versus Iowa State. Still, Hurts is up to 39 total touchdowns this season, and he’s very much alive in the Heisman race. A huge performance against a tough Baylor team this Saturday night in Waco could build some momentum for Hurts as he looks to lead his team to a conference title.
Season stats:
73.3% | 2,742 PASS YDS | 24 PASS TD | 4 INT
125 CAR | 869 RUSH YDS | 15 RUSH TD | 7.0 AVG
3. Tua Tagovailoa | Alabama QB | Junior | Last week: 3
The two turnovers were critical, but Tua Tagovailoa had an excellent performance while attempting to help his team stage a comeback against the Tigers—while showing off his superb deep passing ability in the process. A home loss to another SEC Heisman contender will be difficult to overcome, but Tua is clearly still among the top three Heisman candidates with a few weeks left in the regular season.
Season stats:
70.9% | 2,584 PASS YDS | 31 PASS TD | 3 INT
21 CAR | 25 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD | 1.2 AVG
4. Justin Fields | Ohio State QB | Sophomore | Last week: 5 (+1)
Justin Fields could be putting up even bigger numbers if the Buckeyes weren’t completely dominating every week, but he’s up to 37 total touchdowns and has thrown just one interception in his first season as a starter. The degree of difficulty is something mostly everyone can agree is holding back Fields’ Heisman candidacy, but that can change toward the end of the year. This week, Fields will look to put up crooked numbers against Rutgers.
Season stats:
68.2% | 1,859 PASS YDS | 27 PASS TD | 1 INT
81 CAR | 347 RUSH YDS | 10 RUSH TD | 4.3 AVG
5. Jonathan Taylor | Wisconsin RB | Junior | Last week: NR
Chase Young drops out of the top five after his issues with the NCAA, which is unfortunate after he looked like a defensive player with a legitimate shot at the award. This final spot came down to Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor. It’s Taylor who gets the nod for now after a 250-yard performance to lead the Badgers over the Hawkeyes.
Season stats:
208 CAR | 1,259 RUSH YDS | 15 RUSH TD | 6.1 AVG
18 REC | 151 REC YDS | 4 REC TD | 8.4 AVG
YEAH
Burrow probably locked it up.