The top Heisman Trophy candidates midway through the season have arrived and it's time to start ranking them accordingly. College football continues to get more interesting by the week and as the top teams re-shake every week, so do the top Heisman contenders.
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (QB)
Indiana junior star quarterback Fernando Mendoza shined in Saturday's 38-13 win over Michigan State on Saturday.
The Indiana Hoosiers are 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten, thanks to Mendoza and ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll, thier highest ranking in program history.
In Week 7, his 215 yards and one touchdown helped upset No. 3 Oregon on the road. His week 8 performance was sensational, as he threw for 332 yards and four TDs in Indiana's 38-13 win over Michigan State,
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama (QB)
Alabama Crimson Tide junior quarterback Ty Simpson, +300 to win the Heisman Trophy, which makes him the new favorite to win the trophy.
Simpson has helped lead Alabama in wins over teams ranked 16th or better in four consecutive weeks. Simpson had three total TDs in a massive victory against Gunner Stockon and Georgia, followed it up with 340 passing yards and two passing TDs in a win over Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt and then in Week 7, he helped lead the Tide to a 27-24 win over Ahmad Hardy and Missouri with 200 yards. In Week 8, his 253 yards and two touchdowns with a 37-20 win over Tennessee.Â
3. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (QB)
The Vanderbilt Commodores improved to 6-1 after defeating No. 10 LSU in Week 8, and sixth year senior Diego Pavia hit the Heisman Trophy pose and he has cemented himself in the discussion. Pavia has 1,569 yards and 15 touchdowns this year, including 160 yards, one passing touchdown and two rushing TDs in the win over the LSU Tigers.
Pavia has now led the Commodores to two wins against ranked teams this season, with Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee still on the schedule.
Vandy host Mizzou in the featured game of the week, Nashville will host ESPN "College Gameday" this Saturday.
4. Julian Sayin, Ohio State (QB)
First year starter Julian Sayin has thrown for 1,872 yards, 19 touchdowns, and three interceptions through Week 8, notching a top-five QBR.
In the Buckeyes' Week 8 34-0 shutout over Wisconsin, the San Diego, California threw for 393 yards and four touchdowns, helping his team improve to 7-0 and stay at No. 1 in the nation.
Sayin and Ohio State have a bye week before taking on a dreadful (3-4) Penn State team.
5. Gunner Stockton, Georgia (QB)
The Georgia Bulldogs are 6-1 with huge wins over Tennesee and Ole Miss two AP Top 25 teams. Georgia led by Gunner Stockton is making plays with his arms and legs. He's got seven rushing touchdowns and 10 through the air this season. Stockon has also added 279 yards on the ground and 1,553 passing on the season. In the Dawgs' big win over No. 5 Ole Miss, Stockton put up 289 yards passing with four TDs and another touchdown on the ground.
Stockon and Georgia are on a bye week before heading down to Jacksonville to take on the (3-4) Florida Gators.
6. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M (QB)
Marcel Reed has 1,770 yards through the air and 15 touchdowns on the season so far. He had a strong Week 8 performance, passing for 280 yards, three TDs and one rushing TD in the Aggies' 45-42 win over Arkansas.
Reed has his toughest test yet when the No. 3 ranked Aggies go on the road to take on No. 20 LSU Tigers. This is the highest AP ranking for Texas A&M since 1995.
7. Dante Moore, Oregon (QB)
The Penn State looks less impressive and Moore's play versus No. 2 Indiana was a complete bust where he was limited to 186 passing yards, -27 rushing yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interception.
But Dante Moore was able to bounce back and for the most part has had a stellar season with plenty of big games left to come. Moore tourched Rutgers, throwing for 290 yards and four touchdowns, completing 75 percent of his passes. He also ran the ball three times for 49 yards in the 56-3 win.
8. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (WR)
Ohio State electric sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had nine catches for 97 yards at Wisconsin but was stopped from catching a touchdown at Wisconsin this past weekend.
Smith has has 602 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns and 49 receptions this season.
9. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (RB)
228 rushing yards five catches for 37 yards to total 265 yards of total offense over USC in the biggest home game of the year in South Bend on primetime, yes Mr. Love is now entered the Heisman Trophy race.
Their 34-24 victory over USC has Notre Dame (5-2) leaping to their fifth straight victory and biggest win this season as it tries to rebuild its College Football Playoff case after an 0-2 start.
10. Rueben Bain Jr, Miami-FL (Edge)
The only defense player on out top ten Heisman Trophy list is Miami Hurricanes junior edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. Bain tallied one tackle on the evening and he entered the contest having notched two sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in the previous game against Florida State.
On the season, Bain has 27 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 30 QB pressures for the No. 9 Miami Hurricanes who sit at 5-1 on the season after their Friday night loss to Louisville.
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