As we inch closer to the first installment of College Football Playoff rankings, fans witnessed an upset of Georgia, a Red River matchup that went down to the wire, and some entertainment from the LSU-Florida game on last week.
RELATED: Alabama 2020 NFL Draft projections
With each contest, a new name rises to the forefront of the Heisman conversation and someone different joins the table for the coveted bronze award. After enduring the excitement from week six, yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine ranks the five leaders for the Heisman.
1. Joe Burrow, LSU – QB
This offense for LSU is legit and Joe Burrow is putting on a show.
His performance against one of the best defenses in the nation is the reason for him being the new No. 1 leader for the Heisman.
Florida brought a group into Tiger Stadium that boasted Jonathan Greenard, Jabari Zuniga, David Reese, Jeremiah Moon and C.J. Henderson among others; however, it did not matter.
Burrow completed 21 of 24 passes (87.5 percent) for 293 passing yards with three touchdowns to no turnovers in a 42-28 win for the Tigers.
The transfer from Ohio State had a quarterback rating of 96.2, while positioning a pair of receivers – Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson – to 100-plus yards. Chase caught seven passes for 127 yards with two scores and Jefferson grabbed 10 passes for 123 yards with a touchdown.
Burrow has 25 scoring tosses to three interceptions in six games.
He is currently pacing the nation’s top-ranked scoring offense (52.5 ppg) and second-best total offense (561 ypg) under head coach, Ed Orgeron.
2. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma – QB
He suffered his third pick of the season, yet Jalen Hurts was still smooth in the River River shootout with Texas in a 34-27 win for Oklahoma. The senior was responsible for 366 yards offensively (235 passing, 131 rushing) and four touchdowns — despite having two turnovers.
For his first time in the Big 12 rivalry, Hurts got a chance to don the Golden Hat and his connection with Ceedee Lamb is getting stronger.
The 6-foot-2, 191-pounder brought in 10 passes for 171 receiving yards and caught all three of Hurts’ scoring tosses at the Cotton Bowl. Through six games, the native Texan has a completion rating of 71% (98-for-137) and carries 2,388 total yards (1,758 passing, 630 rushing) with 25 total scores to three interceptions.
Hurts has Oklahoma with the nation’s No. 1 total offense (621.7 ypg) and No. 3 scoring offense (50.2 ppg).
3. Tua Tagovailoa, QB – Alabama
Regardless of the win over Texas A&M and recording four touchdown passes, Tua Tagovailoa did not have his best game.
The connection between he and Jerry Jeudy was off and the junior missed on 11 pass attempts. He tossed his first interception of the season, and it was due to the Aggies’ secondary baiting him into a poor throw in the end zone.
Despite these things, Tagovailoa still managed to secure Alabama’s all-time career record for scoring passes.
He stands alone in the record books with 81.
The native Hawaiian has completed 73.6% of his throws (134-for-182) for 2,011 yards with 27 touchdowns to one interception. He has the Crimson Tide carrying the nation’s second-ranked scoring offense (51.0 ppg) and No. 6 total offense (536.8 ypg).
A matchup between Tagovailoa and Burrow is coming on Nov. 9, and the Alabama-LSU game will have a lot on the line.
4. Jonathan Taylor, RB – Wisconsin
He is Wisconsin football.
The Badgers have a stifling defense (4.8 ppg allowed) and a strong quarterback, but Jonathan Taylor is the heart and soul of the program.
After two consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season – including a 2,000-yard campaign in 2018 – the junior running back is on the verge of a third straight 1,000-yard year.
Taylor amassed 102 yards from scrimmage (80 rushing, 22 receiving) with one touchdown on 29 touches versus Michigan State in a 38-0 rout for Wisconsin.
He chimes in with 825 yards rushing and 14 scores on 129 carries.
Taylor is averaging 137.5 yards/game and has the Badgers scoring 42.5 points a game.
5. Justin Fields, QB – Ohio State
He drops one spot, because Ohio State was off last week.
Justin Fields is still having an incredible season with 26 touchdowns (eight rushing) to one interception. While the Buckeyes’ defense allows just 8.8 points a contest, the sophomore quarterback has its offense totaling 49.3 points/game.
Ohio State will return to Big Ten action this week, as Fields and company is set to face off with Northwestern on the road.
Players still in the Hunt
J.K. Dobbins, RB – Ohio State
Travis Etienne, RB – Clemson
Justin Herbert, QB – Oregon
Sam Ehlinger, QB – Texas
Jake Fromm, QB – Georgia
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
