Barkley holds narrow Heisman survey lead

A couple of running backs are neck-and-neck in the latest USA TODAY Network Heisman survey.

Penn State’s Saquon Barkley continues to hold the lead by the narrowest of margins over Bryce Love of Stanford. The Nittany Lions had the weekend off, but Barkley continues to lead the nation in all-purpose yards per game and is second to Love in rushing. His next two outings against Michigan and Ohio State could determine whether he stays on top.

Love, meanwhile, put up more big numbers in a Cardinal victory against Oregon and is averaging over 10 yards per carry.

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is comfortably in third place in the survey after the Sooners’ Red River Rivalry win against Texas.

Those three in some order appeared on a vast majority of the 20 ballots of official Heisman voters who work for Gannett properties. Only three other players, all quarterbacks, were mentioned this week. Last year’s winner, Lamar Jackson of Louisville, was joined by Jalen Hurts of Alabama and Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett, both mentioned for the first time in the survey this season.