Tagovailoa, Haskins maintain lead in race

A chaotic weekend of upsets saw several players drop out of Heisman Trophy contention while the top three candidates remain solid.

TUA TAGOVAILOA, QB, ALABAMA

Tagovailoa continues on his torrid pace, passing for 265 yards and three touchdowns while leading top-ranked Alabama to another blowout win — this time 39-10 over Missouri. His numbers were down slightly because he was forced to leave the game after aggravating a troublesome knee injury. Still, the sophomore has completed 71 percent of his 123 passing attempts for 1,760 yards, 21 touchdowns and no interceptions. He leads the nation in passing yards per completion (20), yards per attempt and passer rating (248.1). Tagovailoa has been outstanding on third downs this season: 20-of-26 for 416 yards with eight touchdowns and a 312.8 passer rating. The concern this week is Tagovailoa’s health. He’s been cleared to practice this week, but how much he plays against Tennessee is to be determined. Saturday

DWAYNE HASKINS, QB, OHIO STATE

Much like Tagovailoa, Haskins has been playing lights-out so far this season. Haskins passed for 412 yards and three touchdowns while leading Ohio State to a 30-14 win over Minnesota last weekend. It was his second consecutive game during which he’s thrown for at least 400 yards, a school record. His 28 touchdown passes leads the nation and currently ties him for 10th on the Big Ten’s all-time touchdowns in a season mark. Six of those touchdowns have come on plays of 40 or more yards and 12 of those have come within opponents’ red zone. Haskins should add to these numbers against a Purdue defense that ranks near the bottom in passing defense.

Saturday at Tennessee, at Purdue,

KYLER MURRAY, QB, OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma is coming off a bye week following the Sooners’ crushing 48-45 loss to Texas during which Murray passed for 304 yards and four touchdowns while adding 92 yards and a score on the ground. He’s second in the Big 12 in passing touchdowns (21) and third in the league in passing yards per game (294). His 227.8 passer rating remains second in the country behind Alabama’s Tagovailoa and just ahead of Ohio State’s Haskins. Murray is fourth in the nation in points responsible for (156). He will try and bounce back this week against a TCU defense that is among the best in the Big 12 this season. at TCU, Saturday

JONATHAN TAYLOR, RB, WISCONSIN

Wisconsin’s hopes for a College Football Playoff semifinal berth may have disappeared after the Badgers’ loss to Michigan, but Taylor continues to be a possible threat for the Heisman Trophy. The talented running back delivered his seventh consecutive 100-yard rushing game going back to last season. He leads the Big Ten in rushing attempts (143), rushing yards (950), rushing yards per game (158.33) and rushing touchdowns (8). He’s 50 yards shy of another 1,000-yard rushing season and should reach that mark against an Illinois team that ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten in rushing defense.

vs. Illinois, Saturday

MCKENZIE MILTON, QB, UCF

After a series of blowout wins, UCF needed a second-half rally to erase a double-digit deficit at Memphis. The Knights pulled off a 31-30 win over the Tigers Saturday. Milton’s acrobatic seven-yard touchdown run that was capped by a flip into the air was the game-winner. He finished with 296 yards passing and two total touchdowns. The junior has thrown at least one touchdown pass during 20 straight games and his performance saw him move into fourth on UCF career passing yards (7,817) list just ahead of Blake Bortles. Another road test awaits against East Carolina.

at East Carolina, Saturday