USA TODAY International Edition
QBs lead Trophy race
The competition is about to ramp up for the front- runners in the race for college football’s most prestigious individual award. For now, the field is headed by three prolific quarterbacks followed by a few potential challengers as the season nears the midpoint.
Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts continues to lead the USA TODAY Sports Network Heisman survey, followed by his former Alabama teammate Tua Tagovailoa and LSU’s Joe Burrow.
In the weekly survey of 21 official Heisman voters who work for USA TODAY Sports Network properties, Hurts holds an 11- point advantage this week. He received 14 first- place votes and was named on all but one of the ballots heading into the Sooners’ annual Red River showdown with Texas.
Tagovailoa was also named on 20 ballots with a pair of firsts after he and the Crimson Tide had the week off. Alabama will pay a visit to Texas A& M on Saturday.
Burrow strengthened his grip on third place, picking up four No. 1 votes after throwing for five touchdowns against Utah State. Up next for the Tigers is a home date with Florida.
Only three other players earned mentions this week. Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor moved into fourth with a first- place nod after a huge five- touchdown performance, though it came at the expense of overmatched Kent State. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields remains on the radar, and Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown received a single point.