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Forde-Yard Dash: The Heisman Race Is Coming Into Focus

Forty names, games, teams and minutiae making news in college football (party supplies sold separately at Rice, where the Owls have a winning record five games into the season for the first time since 2013):

THIRD QUARTER

THE HEISMAN SORTING MECHANISM IS ENGAGED

The 21st-century formula for winning the Heisman Trophy is fairly simple: Star on a team that is in the running for the national championship all the way into late November or early December; put up huge numbers; play for a brand name.

Only three of the last 20 winners have come from outside that formula, and none of them were far outside: Louisville QB Lamar Jackson in 2016; Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel in ’12; and Baylor QB Robert Griffin III in ’11.