Heisman Power Rankings After Week 7
By Michael Luciano
The likes of Georgia, Texas and Florida losing this past week has really shaken up the top of the 2019 Heisman Trophy odds. Now that the dust has settled and Week 7 is officially in the past, it's clear that these seven guys are playing on a different plane than everyone else in college football.
7. Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb
On just 28 catches, Lamb has given Alabama's Jerry Jeudy a run for his money as the best receiver in college football. Lamb has recorded 610 yards receiving (good for 21.8 yards per reception) with a FBS-best 10 touchdowns. As any Texas defensive back will tell you, covering Lamb is an experience, and the supremely talented wideout has as good a shot as any receiver this year to win the Heisman.
6. Ohio State DE Chase Young
Only one defensive player has ever won the Heisman, but Young is at least going to make the writers have the conversation about giving him the nomination. He's just a half-sack behind the national leader despite having been off for a week, and is the single most important force behind the resurgent Buckeye defense. Young might end up as the No. 1 overall pick, and certainly isn't going away in the Heisman talk.
5. Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor
It says something about the kind of player Taylor is when a game in which he recorded 102 total yards and scored two touchdowns is referred to as "bad." Taylor's unreal season is continuing, as he has found the end zone 18 times, 14 of which have come on the ground. The Badgers offense is only as good as Taylor is, and he'll be in the Heisman conversation even if the Badgers lose against Ohio State.
4. Ohio State QB Justin Fields
An off week for Fields and Ohio State did little to damage his Heisman stock considering he's scored 26 total touchdowns (18 passing, 8 rushing) while throwing just one interception on an undefeated Buckeyes team. In Week 9, Fields will have to face the nightmarish Wisconsin defense. If he's able to shred the Badgers and keep the Buckeyes undefeated, he might end up at No. 1 in the voting when the process is all said and done.
3. Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts
All Oklahoma quarterbacks are ultimately judged by their performance in the Red River Rivalry, and Hurts piled up over 400 yards from scrimmage and found the end zone four times despite the fact that he never looked like he was totally in rhythm. As long as the Sooners keep winning (and with Texas in the rearview mirror, they likely will), Hurts shouldn't slide out of the top three in the Heisman voting. He might as well punch his ticket to New York.
2. LSU QB Joe Burrow
Burrow saved his best performance for a primetime matchup against a ferocious Florida defense, as he threw just three incompletions while passing for 293 yards and three touchdowns. The addition of Joe Brady as passing game coordinator has unlocked Burrow's insane accuracy, and has the Tigers set up as the second best team in the country. Expect the sparks to fly when Burrow and LSU head to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama.
1. Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
Tua somehow threw an interception last week, but has continued his assault on the Alabama and college football record books. He has an FBS-best 27 touchdowns against just one interception, and has an insane 81 touchdowns against 9 picks in his Alabama career. Tagovailoa and his stable of future pro wide receivers have shown no signs of even breaking a sweat this year, and he's firmly in the lead for the Heisman.