In a weekend full of crazy upsets, it's nice to know that there's at least one thing you can still rely on in college football: Todd Gurley.
Gurley has been the most consistent player in the country this season, and has looked better than everyone else every time he steps onto the field. His numbers are eye-popping, but what might be even more impressive is that he's taken an average Georgia team and made them the favorite to win the SEC East.
With Marcus Mariota and Oregon losing, Gurley takes over the top spot in our rankings. How far did Mariota fall, and which Heisman campaigns got a major boost?
DARK HORSES
10) Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska
Previously Ranked: 6
Last Week: 45 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 22 receiving yards in 27-22 loss to Michigan State
Up Next: Bye
Season Stats: 878 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 6.4 YPC – 130 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Abdullah had become a Heisman contender by putting up big numbers against lousy teams, but Michigan State was the toughest test on Nebraska's schedule, and his subpar performance almost knocked him off the board completely. Abdullah did score two touchdowns, but was limited to just 45 yards on 24 carries (good for 1.9 yards per carry). That just won't get it done, and it effectively killed his Heisman chances.
9) Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Previously Ranked: 9
Last Week: 297 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT in 43-3 win over Wake Forest
Up Next: Sat. at Syracuse
Season Stats: 1,288 passing yards, 8 TDs, 5 INTs - 42 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Winston did not look spectacular against Wake Forest this past weekend, but he remains on our list because, as the reigning Heisman trophy winner, we know he's one of the best players in the country...and there hasn't been anyone able to kick him out of the top 10. While Florida State has managed to stay undefeated, Winston needs to elevate his game if the Seminoles want to repeat as national champions.
8 ) Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor
Previously Ranked: 8
Last Week: 111 passing yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs in 28-7 win over Texas
Up Next: Sat. vs TCU
Season Stats: 1,024 passing yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT – 86 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Baylor's high-powered offense fell flat on its face against Texas, but they still managed to do the most important thing - win. With all the other top teams that lost, the Bears moved up to No. 5 in the country, largely because of Petty (even though he was less than stellar this past week). We thought Baylor's only big game of the season would come against Oklahoma, but with undefeated No. 9 TCU coming to town fresh off a victory over those Sooners, Petty will have a big stage to show Heisman voters what he can do earlier than expected.
7) Bo Wallace, QB, Ole Miss
Previously Ranked: NR
Last Week: 251 passing yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs in 23-17 win over Alabama
Up Next: Sat. at Texas A&M
Season Stats: 1,522 passing yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs
Wallace led Ole Miss to the biggest upset of the weekend over No. 1 Alabama, and it put both him and the Rebels in the national spotlight. Now No. 3 in the country, Ole Miss faces another test against No. 14 Texas A&M, which has a Heisman trophy candidate of their own at quarterback in Kenny Hill. If Wallace has another great week and outplays Hill, he'll become a serious contender for the Heisman. As long as Ole Miss keeps winning, expect Wallace to become a factor in the Heisman race.
6) Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M
Previously Ranked: 3
Last Week: 365 passing yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs in 48-31 loss to Mississippi State
Up Next: Sat. vs. Ole Miss
Season Stats: 2,110 passing yards, 21 TDs, 5 INTs - 171 rushing yards
Hill still has the most impressive stats on any quarterback on this list, but he threw more interceptions on Saturday than he had all season leading up to that point. Hill looked rattled against a tough Mississippi State squad, but the SEC West is full of chances to redeem yourself, and Hill will be looking to do just that against Ole Miss.
CONTENDERS
5) Everett Golson, QB, Notre Dame
Previously Ranked: 4
Last Week: 241 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT in 17-14 win over Stanford
Up Next: Sat. vs. North Carolina
Season Stats: 1,383 passing yards, 13 TDs, 3 INTs – 138 rushing yards, 4 TDs
Golson looked uncharacteristically rattled against Stanford's tough defense, but he still managed to bring the Irish down the field for a game-winning drive, throwing the winning touchdown pass on a 4th and 11 with just over a minute to go. Golson had trouble hanging on to the ball (one interception, one fumble lost), but he managed to put in a solid performance against what might be the best defense in the country. Golson now has to keep playing well and avoid a trap game against a struggling UNC squad before hitting the road to face Florida State.
4) Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Previously Ranked: 5
Last Week: 9 rec, 91 yards in 23-17 loss to Ole Miss
Up Next: Sat. at Arkansas
Season Stats: 53 receptions, 746 yards, 5 TDs
Ole Miss held Cooper to his first game under 130 receiving yards this season, but he moves up our list this week because it showed how valuable he is to Alabama's offense. The Crimson Tide struggled without Cooper dominating the field, and while he didn't put up superhuman numbers this week, he still looked like the best player on the field for either team.
3) Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Previously Ranked: 1
Last Week: 276 passing yards, 2 TDs, O INTs in 31-24 loss to Arizona
Up Next: Sat. at UCLA
Season Stats: 1,411 passing yards, 15 TDs, O INTs – 215 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Thursday's home loss to Arizona was by no means Mariota's fault, but he was one of many Oregon players who didn't come through when his team needed him the most. Mariota made the most of the chances he was given, but Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich kept choosing the run the ball on big plays despite having arguably the nation's most talented quarterback under center. While Saturday's game against UCLA doesn't have the same appeal it did a week ago, it's still a chance for Mariota and Oregon to right the ship.
2) Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
Previously Ranked: 7
Last Week: 286 passing yards, 2 TDs, O INTs - 77 rushing yards, 3 TDs in 48-31 win over Texas A&M
Up Next: Sat. vs. Auburn
Season Stats: 1,232 passing yards, 13 TDs, 2 INTs – 455 rushing yards, 6 TDs
No player in the country helped themselves more than Prescott did over the weekend. Not only did he have a huge performance against a top-10 team on a national stage, he also dramatically outperformed another Heisman hopeful (A&M's Kenny Hill). Prescott now has two signature victories on the year - one over LSU in Death Valley and one over the Aggies - and has another chance to insert himself into the conversation against No. 2 Auburn on Saturday.
1) Todd Gurley II, RB, Georgia
Previously Ranked: 2
Last Week: 163 rushing yards, 2 TDs in 44-17 win over Vanderbilt
Up Next: Sat. at Missouri
Season Stats: 773 rushing yards, 8 TDs, 8.8 YPC
As mentioned at the top, Gurley has been unstoppable this season every time he's hit the field. However, Georgia head coach Mark Richt had - until this point - limited him in games against lackluster teams to help Gurley avoid injury. In doing so, backups Keith Marshall and Sony Michel have gotten hurt, so Gurley had to go the distance against Vanderbilt.
Oh, and it turns out Gurley can also throw the ball:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvEc5kVwPE0
With a road trip to SEC East-leading Missouri up next, expect Gurley to get plenty of touches - and expect him to solidify his position at the top of the Heisman race.
Who’s your pick to win the Heisman? Is your dark horse missing from the list? Tweet your responses to @brauf33 and leave a response in the comments!
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