The college football season has been fantastic so far and week 4 was nothing short of great. Penn State versus Iowa may hold up as the best game of the season. Saquon Barkley was nothing short of amazing, and with his huge performance, he has dethroned Baker Mayfield as Heisman favorite.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
As mentioned above, Penn State was involved in a fantastic football game Saturday night. Barkley was a workhorse for the Nittany Lions, totaling 40 touches on the night, with 305 yards from scrimmage, and 53 return yards. After not carrying the ball more than 14 times in any of the previous three games, Barkley ran for 211 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. As Trace McSorley struggled most of the night, Barkley almost single-handily kept Penn State in the game, along with the defense. Vegas took note of the performance, crowning Barkley as the Heisman favorite, at 2-1 odds. After their latest road test this week, Penn State will be back in Happy Valley on Saturday, as they host fellow BIG opponent Indiana.
Stock: Rising
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Baker Mayfield’s time as the Vegas Heisman favorite was brief, lasting just one week. While Mayfield was sharp versus Baylor, he was not counted on as much as he was the first three weeks, his numbers were nothing short of impressive. Once again, Mayfield played without throwing an interception, completing 13 of his 19 passes for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns. On the season, Mayfield has a TD:INT ratio of an insane 13:0. With a bye week coming up, Mayfield and the Sooners may be even stronger when they face Iowa State on October 7, a scary thought for Cyclone fans. If he continues this torrid pace, Mayfield against Mason Rudolph may be the best QB matchup of the season on November 4.
Stock: Rising
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
If anyone was in need of a bounce-back game, it was Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals. Just one week after getting blown out by Clemson, Louisville came back and dominated Kent State in a 42-3 victory. Jackson also recovered from a weaker showing against Clemson, throwing for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns, while running for 34 yards and a touchdown against Kent State. The only blemish on Jackson’s line were the two interceptions he threw, bringing his season total to three, all in the previous two games. Still, Jackson has thrown for 1,387 yards and 10 touchdowns, while running for 337 yards and 4 touchdowns on the season. Jackson is throwing more, and more effectively, than he did last year, showing that he may indeed be able to play QB at the next level. While that may earn him more money come April, it may keep him from winning a second Heisman.
Stock: Rising slightly
Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
The Aztecs seem to produce Heisman candidates at running back out of nowhere. Last year, it was Donnel Pumphrey; this year, it’s Rashaad Penny. Lost in Pumphrey’s record-breaking 2016 season, was Penny’s impressive 1,005 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns and 7.4 yards per carry. This year, with Pumphrey suiting up on Sundays, Penny is on pace to obliterate his numbers from last season, already with 716 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns through four games. Penny has also added 87 receiving yards and a touchdown. In a close win against Air Force, Penny dominated the Falcons’ defense, with 128 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. Penny is quickly gaining traction in the Heisman race, as San Diego State has emerged as a legitimate sleeper to make a New Year’s Six bowl game.
Stock: Rising
Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Despite throwing another interception, Darnold was good overall against Cal, completing 68.4% of his passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Darnold has now brought his season total to 9 touchdown passes, slightly diminished by the 7 interceptions. The good news is that USC is still undefeated heading into a Friday night matchup with #16 Washington State, despite Darnold’s high turnover rate. Darnold will need to improve his play quickly, with three of the Torjan’s next four games coming against ranked opponents. With an impressive set of skill players, Darnold will not be counted on to carry the team, but as a second-year starter, the offense begins and ends with him.
