As we hit the midpoint of the season, the Heisman finalists begin to clearly distinguish themselves. At this point, it’s about survival of the season more than having any added “Heisman moments”. And after the shocker in Happy Valley, Ohio State’s JT Barrett may be all-but out of the Heisman consideration.
Barrett reminds in the top five, but his loss opens the door for Jake Browning to earn more national consideration and the current top-two to further separate themselves.
Others to be Considered: Seth Russell, QB, Baylor; Zach Terrell, QB, Western Michigan; Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State; Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan; Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State; Myles Garrett, DL, Texas A&M
5. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
In what oddly was one of his better passing games the last few weeks, Ohio State's loss to Penn State all but clinches that Barrett's Heisman aspirations are completely gone. With 243 passing yards and just one passing touchdown in a loss, including no meaningful fourth quarter drives, Barrett’s mediocre play was at least partially to blame for the upset.
With the rivalry game vs. Michigan still left on the schedule, there’s still a chance Barrett can explode in a convincing win there, get his team to the playoff and re-emerge as a leading vote-getter. But after his play the last three weeks and how well Michigan has played, it seems highly unlikely Barrett will return to the conversation.
4. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
A loss and another poor performance for J.T. Barrett helps Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers. But since his Rutgers rushing and returning performance, Peppers hasn’t been able to generate the type of excitement and consistent big plays to merit Heisman consideration.
Against Illinois, he had a reception and five rushes, but no touchdown and not an overly substantial impact on the game defensively. The team’s rout of the Illini shouldn’t be held against him, and his play against Ohio State to end the season could be his ultimate Heisman moment or further indication that defensive players can’t do enough to merit substantial Heisman consideration.
3. Jake Browning, Washington
Another week, another blowout win for Washington and Jake Browning continues to put up huge stats and control his team’s fate in the Pac-12 en route to the College Football Playoff. He finished with 3 passing and one rushing touchdown against Oregon State, and he sits second in the FBS in passing touchdowns.
He’ll travel to Utah this week and still has the Pac-12 title game to remain undefeated, but at this point, he should be firmly receiving first place votes. West Coast bias and limited preseason hype may hold him back, but a big win against top-20 ranked Utah may be enough to make this Heisman race a three-way tie for the final month of the regular season remaining.
2. Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Deshaun Watson and the Tigers had the weekend off, but their narrow wins against Louisville and NC State this year could be an indication of potential struggles against Florida State next week. They’ll travel to Tallahassee to play a reinvigorated Seminoles team that can match Clemson's talent on both sides of the ball.
If Watson can beat Florida State, and put up big numbers like his Heisman rival Lamar Jackson, he may begin to eat into Jackson’s overwhelming support for the top spot.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
After a somewhat surprising letdown performance against Duke last week, Jackson rebounded nicely with 335 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 76 rushing yards and a rushing down against an NC State team that has kept two of the best quarterbacks in the country (Deshaun Watson and DeShone Kizer) in check.
Jackson doesn’t have an overly tough road ahead of him, as Houston is no longer as intimidating as they were after their Week 1 victory over Oklahoma, and there could be more four-touchdown performances coming soon. He’s still the clear favorite in the Heisman race, but with Watson continuing to win and Jake Browning solidifying his place among the leaders, a loss or another mediocre performance along the way may make his pedestal a little shorter atop the rankings.