The 2019 college football season is in the final stretch, so let’s look at our contenders for the Heisman Trophy. The Heisman will be trophy presented in New York City in early December, so that moment is fast approaching.
The Game Haus offers its weekly rankings of the top five candidates for college football’s most prestigious award. Here’s a look at this week’s version of the Heisman watch with the current contenders as we see it.
Last week’s ranking in parenthesis. All times eastern.
1. Joe Burrow, QB, No. 1 LSU (1)
This week: vs. Texas A&M, 7 p.m., Saturday
The Breakdown: Burrow is the fourth player in SEC history to throw for at least 4,000 yards in a season (4,014 to be exact). The magic continues for Burrow and his teammates, some of whom are also amid career seasons. Last season, Burrow threw for three touchdowns but was sacked six times during that ridiculous 74-72, seven-overtime loss to Texas A&M. We don’t see a repeat of that kind of game this weekend.
2. Jalen Hurts, QB, No. 7 Oklahoma (2)
This week: at No. 21 Oklahoma State, 8 p.m., Saturday
The Breakdown: While Hurts has now thrown 30 touchdowns on the season, he’s also been intercepted over three consecutive games. The Cowboys present an interesting test this weekend. They’ve won four in a row and held each of their last two opponents to 13 points. And to 27 in the previous two contests.
3. Chase Young, DE, No. 2 Ohio State (NR)
This week: at No. 10 Michigan, Noon, Saturday
The Breakdown: Back from suspension, Young is also back in the Heisman watch. He recorded three sacks in last week’s win over Penn State, giving him a school-record 16 1/2 for the season. Also this week, Young joined Burrow and Hurts as finalists for the Maxwell Award – given to the country’s top overall player. For those keeping score at home, Michigan’s Shea Patterson has been sacked 20 times this season.
4. Justin Fields, QB, No. 2 Ohio State (3)
This week: at No. 10 Michigan, Noon, Saturday
The Breakdown: Fields was solid enough against Penn State last weekend. However, he did football en route to the end zone and was also sacked three times. Michigan’s defense is playing very well at the moment, so it will be interesting to see if that unit is able to contain Fields from recording too many big plays.
5. Jonathan Taylor, RB, No. 13 Wisconsin (4)
This week: at No. 9 Minnesota, 3:30 p.m., Saturday
The Breakdown: Taylor made history last weekend when recorded his FBS-record 12th game with at least 200 rushing yards. His 222-yard effort versus Purdue marked a third straight game with at least 200 for Taylor, who will officially get the chance to repeat as the Doak Walker Award winner. He’s totaled 269 and averaged 6.9 yards per carry in two career games versus Minnesota.
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