TOP 25 TAKEAWAYS

HEISMAN RACE BEGINS

Nowthat Justin Field has arrived, the Heisman Trophy race can begin. Though the front-runner might not be the quarterback you think. Fields made up some ground Saturday, with a spectacular season debut for No. 5Ohio State against Nebraska. He went 20for 21for 276 yards and a couple of touchdowns. His only incomplete pass was a deep ball that hit Chris Olave in the hands in the end zone, but the receiver couldn’t hold on after hitting the turf hard. “You guys sawthe armwe saw,” Nebraska linebacker CollinMiller said. “He’s making throws guys on Sundaysmake.” Fields also ran for 54 yards and a score, with a nice spinmove to get into the end zone. Fields and fellow Georgian Trevor Lawrence came into the season as the presumptive Heisman favorites, butwith the Big Ten starting late Fields will only get nine games tops to make his case. That could be enough. Meanwhile, Lawrence had hisworst game of the season throwing the first pick-6of his career and averaging only 6.7 yards per attempt as No. 1 Clemson messed around for a little while before puttingSyracuse to sleep. Of course a ‘bad’ game for Lawrence was still pretty good. So who’s the Heisman favorite at this point? Probably Alabama’s Mac Jones. Jones is surrounded by blue-chippers and he had a high bar to clear inTuscaloosa as Tua Tagovailoa’s replacement. But he’s not just another guy. The junior has three 400-yard passing games already and justmissed another, going for 387 against Tennessee. The Nittany Lions are now staring at an0-2start withOhioState coming to Happy Valley next week.

WINNING WITH DEFENSE

Just when the SEC looked as if it was turning into the Big 12, the best team in the conference known for wide-open offense and suspect tackling is doing it with the defense. No. 6 Oklahoma State remained the only unbeaten team in the Big 12, grinding down No. 17Iowa State. DuringMike Gundy’s long run as Cowboys coach, Oklahoma has been a quintessential Big 12 squad. Spread offense. Up-tempo. Notmuch D. Not this year. Cowboys came into the game leading the nation in yards per play allowed at 4.05. Other than a couple long runs by Cyclones star Breece Hall, defensive back Tre Sterling, linebackerMalcolmRodriguez and thePokesmostly held Iowa State in check. To be clear, this isn’t 2011 Alabama level defense, but the Cowboysmake their opponents uncomfortable.

AROUND THE COUNTRY

Two coacheswho really needed victories had good weekends: TomHerman’s Texas teamburiedBaylor to snap a two-game losing streak. In the SEC, Auburn got a late score to beat OleMiss and take some heat off Gus Malzahn. For the second time in three weeks, the Tigers got the benefit of a fortuitous replay decision on a play that could have decided the game. Regardless, Auburn is 3-2... Rutgers snapped a 21-gameBigTen losing streak bywinning at Michigan State in coach Greg Schiano’s first game in his second stint at the school. Not to take anything away fromthe Scarlet Knights but noBigTen team was positioned to fail this seasonmore than Michigan State. The Spartans had a late coaching change toMel Tucker after Mark Dantonio stepped down in February. Even in a typical year this would have been a rebuilding season in East Lansing. Now, the Spartanswill be fortunate towin a game or two ... No. 25Coastal Carolina played it first game as a ranked team and stayed unbeaten by beating Georgia Southern without quarterback GraysonMcCall.