It’s nearly bowl season, which means that we are very close to one player becoming crowned the Heisman Trophy winner. A select group of players are tantalizingly close, and while only one will be given the most distinguishable individual award in college football, time is quickly expiring.
While the running backs have led the race most of the way, Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield has surged ahead after a crazy Bedlam game. Here are the Heisman favorites and why.
The Candidates
Baker Mayfield – After throwing for 598 yards and five touchdowns against Oklahoma State, Mayfield finds himself right back in the mix for college’s most coveted trophy. Mayfield has thrown for 3,226 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging 11.9 yards per attempt while keeping up a 71.7 completion percentage.
He took advantage of down performances from Saquon Barkley and Bryce Love. Mayfield is the lead quarterback in the race, with Mason Rudolph leading the country in passing yards but having taken losses to the Sooners and TCU. Lamar Jackson also is out because of his team’s disastrous season. Now Mayfield seems to be in the driver’s seat and can cruise to the Heisman trophy.
Bryce Love – After appearing unstoppable, Love was sidelined by an ankle injury and had a slow return start against Washington State. However, Love still has 1,456 yards and 12 scores, averaging 9.6 yards per carry.
He will have to shoot for big games in the final three showdowns of the season to throw himself back into the spotlight as a front runner, and surpass players like Mayfield.
Saquon Barkley – After some dip in production over the last two games, Barkley cannot cruise to the end of the season, and run away with the trophy. He has amassed 1,797 total yards and 15 total touchdowns.
While the number is solid, adding return, receiving, and passing yards is the only thing keeping him with players like Love. Khalil Tate, Jackson and TaQuon Marshall are all quarterbacks and all have more rushing yards than Barkley’s 864.
Jonathan Taylor – This could be considered a dark horse candidate, but after the last couple games from Barkley, Taylor may be more of a favorite. Taylor is third in the country with 1,368 rushing yards right behind Love, posting 12 scores and 7.6 yards per carry.
Taylor is the best running back in the Big Ten, playing shifty football with a power/speed combination. This is also a Wisconsin Badgers running back, meaning he is going to get 70 to 85 carries in the next three games.
Super Deep Dark Horse
DeShon Elliott – I always love the defensive players, and cheering for them to be an upset Heisman winner. While it is hard for them to win, Elliott is a legitimate contender.
The Texas corner has lead the country in interceptions for the majority of the season and currently has six, with two touchdowns. He also has two forced fumbles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 45 tackles.
He is the lynchpin of an otherwise sorry Texas defense and should be in the Heisman race.
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