I want to preface this article by saying that these rankings are not my own personal rankings on who I believe will win the Heisman. Instead, these rankings are based on how I think the voters will view these players as the season goes on.
1) Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State
Jeanty and his Boise State team had a bye week this week. Thus, he did not do anything to help his Heisman odds, nor did he hurt his odds. A bye week can hurt a player’s odds or even just allow other players to leapfrog them in the rankings, but I do not believe that is the case here. Jeanty has the same incredible stats as last week, 459 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, and the only player that could have taken this spot from him, Quinn Ewers, was injured last week.
2) Quinn Ewers | QB | Texas
Ewers suffered an abdominal injury during a week three game against UTSA and will miss one game at least and could miss more pending his recovery. As of right now, Ewers is only confirmed to be missing a single game and I believe that it will not be enough to drop him in the voters’ eyes. However, if Ewers misses multiple games, then the equation changes. As of now, Ewers’ stats are still great, 691 yards and eight touchdowns, and he even added to his totals before his injury with 185 yards and two touchdowns against UTSA pre-injury. If Ewers misses a second game, then we can start to think about moving him down in the rankings.Â
3) Cam Ward | QB | Miami
Ward had another amazing week throwing the ball and not turning it over, 346 yards and five touchdowns against Ball State keeps Ward at three for now. Ward’s team, unlike others on the list, will not face a top contender for the rest of the season. This is not technically a deal breaker for the Heisman, but it is as close as it gets. Other players on this list will play #2 Georgia, #4 Alabama, #18 Michigan and #1 Texas if they are not already on those teams and Ward’s toughest competition for the rest of the season will be #19 Louisville. Ward is going to have a great season and likely will be sitting next to his peers in New York when the Heisman is presented, but his lack of competition will be held against him.
4) Jaxson Dart | QB | Ole Miss
Dart played a great game against Wake Forest this past weekend, totaling 377 yards and three touchdowns. A stat line that has become familiar to Dart to this point, Dart has not thrown for under 370 yards in a game yet and he does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Dart’s Ole Miss Rebels are ranked number five in the nation and will provide Dart with all the support he needs to make his Heisman case this year. Dart will play against #16 LSU and #2 Georgia this year, two games that will make or break his case for the Heisman.
5) Jalen Milroe | QB | Alabama (New)
Milroe is the only new player on the list this week after a great performance against a good Wisconsin team this past weekend. Milroe, who has a total of 746 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air and on the ground, is playing the best football of his career through three games. Milroe is the most physically talented quarterback in the nation with his legs and big arm, while also avoiding turnovers. Two factors that bode well for Milroe’s performance for the number four Alabama Crimson Tide. Playing for Alabama, Milroe is going to face the toughest competition in the country with three teams on the Tide’s schedule currently in the top 10. This weekend Milroe and the Tide face #2 Georgia. A game that will really test Milroe’s legitimacy as a Heisman candidate.
