College football’s Week 8 is in the books. The Playoff is just more than two months away, and the Heisman Trophy gets handed out in about six weeks.
HEISMAN TRACKER: Saquon Barkley sets himself apart in Week 8
A weekly check-in with the trophy’s top contenders takes us to Happy Valley, where Barkley did Barkley things.
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Here’s where that race stands, with notes about each player’s most recent performance.
The players here are ordered by their pre-Week 8 Bovada Heisman odds.
Notre Dame RB Josh Adams will surely join this list next week after a 191-yard, three-touchdown day added to his big year.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State RB
Barkley’s a human highlight reel who’s been dunking on teams all season long. He kept doing that in a win against Michigan: 15 carries for 108 yards and two scores, plus another one through the air on a 42-yard reception. Was already frontrunner and did nothing to lose that status.
2. Bryce Love, Stanford RB
Had a bye, marking a pause in a potentially historic season. Through seven games, Love has 135 runs for 1,387 yards (a 10.3 average) and 11 touchdowns. He’s a great back, and he benefits from Stanford’s commitment to physical run-blocking.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma QB
Mayfield set FBS’ all-time single-season passer efficiency record last year, and he’s running up big totals again. In a win at Kansas State, he rang up 410 yards, two TDs, and a pick on 41 throws.
4 (tie). J.T. Barrett, Ohio State QB
Had a bye, but has been on an utterly dominant run against mediocre teams.
4 (tie). Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State QB
Rudolph was 25-of-38 for 282 against Texas, with no TDs or picks in a low-scoring overtime win. It was fine, but not really wowing stuff.
6. Lamar Jackson, Louisville QB
Dunked on Florida State, per usual. In a win in Tallahassee, Jackson had 178 rushing yards on 23 attempts to go with a 13-of-21, 156-yard, one-TD passing day.
7. Sam Darnold, USC QB
Didn’t finish the game and lost 49-14 at Notre Dame. Was 20-of-28 passing for 229 yards, two scores, and a pick. Most of those yards were in garbage time after the Irish built up a big lead.
8 (tie). Jake Browning, Washington QB
Had a bye.
8 (tie). Jalen Hurts, Alabama QB
Was playing Tennessee, so more or less had a bye. Finished 13-of-21 for 198 yards and a touchdown, with no rushing stats of note.
10. Luke Falk, Washington State QB
Was pretty good in an easy win against Colorado: 17-of-34 passing for 197 yards, three TDs, and no picks, despite playing in heavy rain.
11 (tie). Nick Chubb, Georgia RB
11 (tie). J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State RB
Chubb and Dobbins were on bye weeks.
11 (tie). Quinton Flowers, USF QB
Had a fairly ugly passing game in a win against Tulane, but he racked up 138 rush yards on 13 carries.
11 (tie). Rashaad Penny, San Diego State RB
Got held firmly in check in a blowout, upset loss to Fresno State. Had 15 carries for 69 yards and didn’t find the end zone.
15. Trace McSorley, Penn State QB
Was superb in the Michigan win, with three rushing touchdowns and 282 passing yards. Would have set himself apart more if Barkley weren’t his teammate.
Also got hurdled by his own tight end while celebrating a TD run.
16. Kerryon Johnson, Auburn RB
Got weirdly shut down (63 yards on 20 carries) in a blowout win over Arkansas, which saw Auburn score 52 points. Backfield-mate Kamryn Pettway outplayed him.
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