2016 College Football Heisman Watch: Favorites and Contenders after Week 5: The 2016 college football season is approaching its midway point, and while it’s still way too early to hand any player the Heisman Trophy, there is a definite hierarchy starting to develop. Equally as important, several players who were expected to contend have already suffered major setbacks.
Two early losses have likely doomed the Heisman hopes of Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield. Meanwhile, do-it-all Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey was unable to make an impact in an ugly loss in Week 5 in a battle of top 10 teams. McCaffrey may be able to recover, but a bad game on a big stage will make it tough. Florida State RB Dalvin Cook and LSU RB Leonard Fournette have seen their Heisman campaigns derailed but the struggles of their respective teams.
While some players fall out of contention, others take their place. Check out a closer look at the players who are establishing themselves as the frontrunners for the 2016 Heisman Memorial Trophy.
2016 College Football Heisman Watch: Favorites and Contenders after Week 5
The Favorites
While pulling out a win over Clemson on the road would have given Louisville QB Lamar Jackson a stranglehold on the Heisman, he didn’t exactly hurt his stock despite coming up on the wrong end of a 42-36 thriller. Jackson threw for 295 yards and a score and ran for 162 yards and two more scores, rallying the Cardinals from an early hole before coming up a few yards short on the final drive. Jackson put on a show, and if the incredible offensive numbers continue, he is going to remain one of the frontrunners for the Heisman.
He did exactly what he was supposed to do against a struggling Rutgers team, and Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett tossed four scores in a 58-0 win, setting a school record for touchdown passes in the process. There are plenty of tough tests still to come, but if Barrett and the Buckeyes keep rolling, he is going to a heavy Heisman favorite. Barrett finished fifth in the voting two years, and he looks even better so far in 2016.
The Contenders
Clemson turned QB Deshaun Watson loose against Louisville, and it resulted in a big win against a top five opponent and served as a reminder of why Watson was a preseason Heisman favorite. He threw for 306 yards and five scores, and he added a season-high 91 rushing yards. The Tigers still have the inside track to an ACC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff, and if Watson leads them there, he will be a Heisman finalist and potentially hoist the trophy.
He has been enjoying a solid season, but until this week, Washington QB Jake Browning was missing a statement game. That changed when he tossed three scores and completed 71.4 percent of his passes in a 44-6 win over Stanford, outshining Heisman hopeful Christian McCaffrey in the process. Browning has now thrown 17 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions this year, and he is completing more than 70 percent of his passes. Washington looks like a potential playoff contender, and Browning’s stock should continue to rise as long as the Huskies keep winning.
Houston rolled by Connecticut, and QB Greg Ward piled up 454 yards of offense and five scores, and he completed 84.2 percent of his passes for 389 yards. Houston doesn’t face many tough opponents in conference play, but Ward’s impressive numbers should keep him relevant in the Heisman race. Meanwhile, a showdown with Louisville looms, and that matchup could ultimately decide whether Ward or Lamar Jackson hoists the Heisman.
The Sleeper
For the second week in a row, Tennessee looked dead in the water against a ranked opponent, but QB Joshua Dobbs pulled off another miracle comeback. He tossed three touchdowns, including the game-winning Hail Mary, and ran for another score. The Volunteers aren’t making it easy, but they are still undefeated with plenty of big games left to play. If Dobbs keeps pulling rabbits out of his hat, his Heisman campaign should keep gaining steam.
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