Did you know that Notre Dame's Everett Golson still hasn't lost a regular season game? Fighting Irish fans sure do.
It's hard to wrap your head around that, particularly after Golson was literally completely absent from the college football scene last fall. Yet after the dust settled from Saturday's games, Golson was THE storyline for completing 25 straight passes against Syracuse.
The last time we saw him, Golson and the Irish were getting destroyed by Alabama in the national title game. Throw in his year off, and it's easy to see why he was an afterthought in 2014.
Next, Notre Dame faces a Stanford team desperate for a big win. The Cardinal have the nation's best defense through four weeks, and they're giving up 6.5 points per game - if Golson can keep rolling, he'll move from afterthought to the forefront of the Heisman race.
Golson is just one of a few players whose strong performances vaulted them into college football's top tier. Where do they all stand after Week 5?
DARK HORSES
10) Taysom Hill, QB, BYU
Previously Ranked: 10
Last Week: Bye
Up Next: Fri. vs. Utah State
Season Stats: 876 passing yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs - 428 rushing yards, 7 TDs
Hill hasn't had a particularly impressive season on the field, but he's at the helm of the team that has the best chance to go undefeated. For him to win, BYU has to win out and a lot of other guys have to fall off...but he's still hanging around.
9) Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Previously Ranked: 4
Last Week: 365 passing yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs in 56-41 win over NC State
Up Next: Sat. vs. Wake Forest
Season Stats: 991 passing yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs
Winston has failed to recapture the magic that made him last year's Heisman Trophy winner, and his hopes of repeating are hanging on by a thread. He struggled early against NC State but managed to carry the Seminoles to the victory, all while looking less and less like a guy who should be competing for the Heisman. FSU has two easy games coming up against Wake Forest and Syracuse where Winston should get a chance to boost his stats, and his next real test comes against Notre Dame on October 18.
8 ) Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor
Previously Ranked: 7
Last Week: 336 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT - 47 rushing yards, 2 TDs in 49-28 win over Iowa State
Up Next: Sat. at Texas
Season Stats: 913 passing yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT - 79 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Petty's numbers aren't great, but that's because he hasn't played for more than three quarters in a single game so far this season. Baylor's schedule is extremely soft, and because Petty and the Bears offense is so good, they often turn games into blowouts by the second quarter. His chances of winning the Heisman are slim, but look for Petty to stay in the conversation by continuing to put up gaudy numbers.
7) Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
Previously Ranked: 8
Last Week: Bye
Up Next: Sat. vs. Texas A&M
Season Stats: 964 passing yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs - 378 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Prescott threw himself into the Heisman race with his huge performance in Mississippi State's upset win over LSU in Death Valley, and got an extra week to prepare for Kenny Trill and Texas A&M. In a game between two Heisman hopefuls, only one usually emerges as a true contender...so look for Prescott to step his game up against the Aggies.
6) Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska
Previously Ranked: 9
Last Week: 208 rushing yards, 3 TDs in 45-14 win over Illinois
Up Next: Sat. at Michigan State
Season Stats: 833 rushing yards, 8 TDs, 7.3 YPC - 108 receiving yards, 2 TDs
This weekend, Abdullah has the most to gain out of anyone on this list when his Cornhuskers face Michigan State. He already has three 200-yard rushing games, but Nebraska's faced a fairly easy schedule and thus Abdullah is still overlooked on the national stage. If he performs against the tough Spartans defense and carries Nebraska to a huge road win, he'll be challenging Georgia's Todd Gurley as the best back in the country.
CONTENDERS
5) Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Previously Ranked: 5
Last Week: Bye
Up Next: Sat. at Ole Miss
Season Stats: 43 receptions, 655 yards, 5 TDs
I gushed last week about how good Mr. Cooper has been this season, and it's been an awful long time since a receiver competed for the Heisman. Cooper stays fifth due to a bye week for the Crimson Tide, but this weekend provides another true test (seems like these happen every week in the SEC West) against the Rebels in which Cooper can once again prove his worth to Alabama's offense.
4) Everett Golson, QB, Notre Dame
Previously Ranked: 6
Last Week: 362 passing yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs in 31-15 win over Syracuse
Up Next: Sat. vs. Stanford
Season Stats: 1,142 passing yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs - 104 rushing yards, 4 TDs
Golson threw his first two interceptions of the season against Syracuse, then completed the 25 straight passes we were talking about - a Notre Dame record and one short of tying the FBS record. He now has his first tough test of the season against a Stanford defense that's only given up two touchdowns so far on the year, and he'll get a chance to show the country that he's a true Heisman contender.
3) Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M
Previously Ranked: 3
Last Week: 386 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT in 35-28 OT win over Arkansas
Up Next: Sat. at Mississippi State
Season Stats: 1,745 passing yards, 17 TDs, 2 INTs
Hill rescued the Aggies from a 28-14 fourth-quarter deficit this past weekend, but things won't get any easier for head coach Kevin Sumlin's squad. Mississippi State is up next, and this will effectively be a Heisman elimination game between Kenny Trill and Bulldogs QB Dak Prescott. If Hill can play well and lead his team to another road victory over a ranked SEC team, he'll move up our list.
2) Todd Gurley II, RB, Georgia
Previously Ranked: 2
Last Week: 208 rushing yards, 2 TDs in 35-32 win over Tennessee
Up Next: Sat. vs. Vanderbilt
Season Stats: 610 rushing yards, 6 TDs, 8.8 YPC
Gurley has essentially played in only three games this season after getting just six carries against Troy, but he's backed up every bit of hype about him being the best running back in the country. Head coach Mark Richt is (smartly) limiting Gurley's touches to save the injury-prone running back for Georgia's biggest games, so don't expect to see a lot from the Heisman hopeful this weekend against Vandy.
1) Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Previously Ranked: 1
Last Week: Bye
Up Next: Thurs. vs. Arizona
Season Stats: 1,135 passing yards, 13 TDs, O INTs - 214 rushing yards, 3 TDs
The Ducks got an extra week for prepare for their Thursday night matchup with Arizona, and they're hoping to avenge their upset loss to the Wildcats from last season. Extra preparation plus extra motivation means we should be expecting a HUGE game from the man running the show.
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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