Will Grier and Kyler Murray Begin To Separate Themselves in Heisman Race

Kyler Murray

Murray put on a show yesterday against the Baylor Bears. Murray, who played efficiently but lackluster last week, was on fire this week with six passing touchdowns plus a rushing touchdown. Kyler finished the day with 17-of-21 passing for 432 yards and 6 touchdowns while rushing 10 times for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Season Stats: 77/109 (70.6%), 1,460 yards, 17 touchdowns, 46 rushes, 285 yards, 3 touchdowns

Will Grier

Grier looked like he would throw for 1,000 yards and a million touchdowns in the first quarter. In the first 15 minutes, Grier completed 13/17 passes for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first quarter. Grier would finish the game with 27/41 for 370 yards and three touchdowns. That should be good enough to keep him in the race but the final 45 minutes, Grier only completed 20 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown.

Season Stats: 98/136 (72.0%), 1,487 yards, 17 touchdowns

Dwayne Haskins

Haskins wasn’t dominant last night against the Penn State Nittany Lions, but Haskins was efficient. It took a while for Haskins to find how to attack Penn State, but in the end Haskins did two things that are necessary to win the Heisman: won the game and avoided the meltdown. Haskins led a 96-yard touchdown drive into the teeth of Beaver Stadium that gave Ohio State the win. He would finish the night 22/39 for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns with one interception. It should be noted that Ohio State has played the toughest opponents to date: TCU in Arlington, TX and Penn State in State College. No one else has played as tough a resume, yet.

Season Stats: 109/154 (70.7%), 1,464 yards, 19 touchdowns, 14 rushes, 36 yards, 1 touchdown

Tua Tagovailoa

It isn’t Tua’s fault he only threw 8 passes and played one quarter of football but it is very hard to keep your name at the top of the Heisman Watch when you only go 8/8 for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. That can’t be your entire day. It just can’t be.

Season Stats: 66/88 (75%), 1,161 yards, 14 touchdowns, 20 rushes, 115 yards, 2 touchdowns

The rest of the field: These four players are really separated themselves from the field. Bryce Love didn’t break 100 yards in a lopsided loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Ed Oliver and Houston didn’t play but don’t have any more high profile games to put his name in the conversation.