Every 2015 Heisman Contender's Most Important Remaining Game
Through six weeks, there's no doubting who this year's Heisman Trophy winner is: LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette. The sophomore has already topped 1,000 rushing yards, has 12 touchdowns and is averaging 204.4 yards per game, all of which tops major college football. Plus he's only played five games because his original season-opener against McNeese State was cancelled due to weather.
But the Heisman isn't won in September or October. There's still a second half of the season yet to be played and a lot could happen between now and early December. That could either widen the gap between Fournette and everyone else, or another player could emerge.
Here are the most important games remaining for this year's Heisman contenders, who were selected based on at least 20-1 odds from OddsShark. Think of these as the best chances for the following players to have their "Heisman moment."
LSU Tigers Running Back Leonard Fournette
1 of 7
Leonard Fournette is technically coming off his "worst" game of the season against South Carolina. And all he did was rush for 158 yards at nearly eight yards a pop and a touchdown. That should tell you how practically unstoppable he's been.
When can Fournette really cement himself in the Heisman race? The Week 7 game at home against the Florida Gators is much bigger than initially expected, that's for sure. The Gators have one of the top defenses in the SEC and the country. However, though Florida could be bound for the SEC Championship game (without quarterback Will Grier, who will miss the rest of the season due to a positive PED test), it's impossible to think LSU's biggest game won't be at Alabama on Nov. 7.
The Tide have the top rushing defense in the SEC and rank fifth nationally with 2.61 yards per rush allowed. Alabama has given up just three touchdowns on the ground and only had one "bad" game against the run when it played the Georgia Bulldogs, but that outcome was decided before halftime.
Fournette is going to be the best running back Alabama faces this year, and Alabama will be the best defense Fournette faces. It's a matchup made in pigskin heaven, and if Fournette really wants to lock down the Heisman, that would be the game to do it.
Baylor Bears Quarterback Seth Russell
2 of 7
Baylor has been challenged once so far: against Texas Tech in Arlington. Even then, Baylor did what it does best and pulled away to a 63-35 win. Other than that, it has been easy street for the Bears and quarterback Seth Russell. In fact, the only game in which Russell did not average at least 10 yards per pass attempt came last week against Kansas, and he still managed 9.1 yards per attempt.
There aren't really any true shut-down defenses in the Big 12, though West Virginia, Kansas State and Oklahoma State have the personnel to match up well with Baylor's athletes. Ultimately, though, that Nov. 27 game at TCU still looms largest for Russell. For all of the instability in college football, Baylor and TCU remain undefeated and march ahead toward that fateful date.
If Russell can put up huge numbers at Kansas State, vs. Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State in successive weeks before the TCU game he'll build up some quality Heisman hype heading into the big showdown against the Horned Frogs.
Another huge game in Fort Worth, which will be the prime-time game the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Russell could launch himself late onto the Heisman finalist list.
TCU Horned Frogs Quarterback Trevone Boykin
3 of 7
Unfortunately for TCU, injuries and attrition have stolen much of the spotlight that, just a few months ago, belonged to quarterback Trevone Boykin.
However, Boykin is crushing it this year. He's on pace to account for slightly less than 5,000 yards of offense and 50 touchdowns, which would shatter his numbers last year. His 411.5 total yards per game is tied with Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II and is bested only by Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson.
Statistics aside, Boykin has made plays when he absolutely needed. Against Kansas State in Week 6, Boykin rushed for touchdowns of 14 and 69 yards, as well as threw for a 55-yard touchdown in the Frogs' final three possessions of the game.
Even if TCU and Baylor com into their Nov. 27 game in Fort Worth undefeated, that still stands out as Boykin's most important game. If nothing else, it figures to be a quarterback duel with Baylor's Seth Russell. The Big 12 title and a playoff spot could be on the line. With this game being geared toward offense, it'll likely come down to which quarterback can make the most plays.
Boykin has moved up to the No. 1 spot in the Heisman power rankings of Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel. If he wants to be the No. 1 selection in December, he must have his best game against the Bears.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Ohio State Buckeyes Running Back Ezekiel Elliott
4 of 7
Somewhat quietly, if that's possible considering he was a preseason Heisman favorite, Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott has had an excellent year. Despite Ohio State's offensive struggles, Elliott has rushed for at least 100 yards in every game this season. That extends his streak of 100-yard games to 11. The last time he rushed for under 100 yards was against Minnesota on Nov. 15, 2014.
Elliott has been the true MVP of the Buckeyes' offense this year. “The combination of speed and power, the ability to get to the second level and not be tackled, the ability to drop his pads — he’s different," said Buckeyes defensive coordinator Luke Fickell via Craig Merz of Ohio.com.
If he wants to be college football's most outstanding player, he needs to have his best game against Michigan at the end of the regular season. The rivalry with the Wolverines is always huge, but the 2015 edition takes on more meaning than in recent years because of Michigan's sudden resurgence under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Statistically, the Michigan game checks out. Though the preseason Big Ten game of the year was between Ohio State and Michigan State on Nov. 21—and that might still come to fruition—but the following game against Michigan puts Elliott up against a stingier defense. The Wolverines have the best rush defense in the Big Ten in yards per rush allowed (2.21) and have given up just a pair of touchdowns on the ground.
Michigan plays Michigan State in Week 7. Depending on the outcome of that game, the Ohio State-Michigan game could carry divisional, conference and national significance. What better stage for Elliott to have another late-season surge?
Florida State Seminoles Running Back Dalvin Cook
5 of 7
Similar to Fournette, Florida State's regular season finale against Florida looks like it could be far more significant now than previously thought. Still, the Seminoles' Nov. 7 game at Clemson will be the biggest game of the year.
Not just for Florida State, but for running back Dalvin Cook as well.
Cook has been the unquestioned MVP of the offense, if not the team. He leads the ACC in rushing yards and is picking them up at an astounding rate (9.0 yards per rush). Yet, we've already seen what Clemson's defense did to Notre Dame's rushing attack a couple of weeks ago. Specifically, the Tigers' D-line mauled Notre Dame up front, creating no room for Irish running back C.J. Prosise.
Clemson looks like it'll be a major challenge for Florida State's offensive line, which has been inconsistent. This might be a game in which Cook needs to pick up most of his stats in the yards after contact category.
But run for, say, at least 100 yards on Clemson's defense and that'll pique the interest of Heisman voters.
Alabama Crimson Tide Running Back Derrick Henry
6 of 7
No one has been as statistically dominant on the ground as Fournette, but Alabama running back Derrick Henry is a force all the same with the ball in his hands. Other than Fournette, no other SEC running back has more touchdowns this year than Henry (10).
It seems appropriate, then, that Henry's biggest remaining game of the year would be opposite Fournette. Just as Alabama is Fournette's most important game, LSU is Henry's most important game. All of this is to say, if you like bruising ground attacks, make some room on your Nov. 7 calendar.
Though Alabama is far more pass-happy than LSU, the cornerstone of its offense remains in the running game. Tide quarterback Jake Coker hasn't had the most consistent year, either. If Alabama wants to beat LSU, it might have to do it at its own game. The Tigers are one of the top teams in the SEC in time of possession, aren't an explosive offense outside of the run game and rank 13th out of 14 in total plays. In short, LSU feeds Fournette often and takes a lot of time to do it.
The longer Alabama can keep Fournette off the field, the better. That's where Henry comes in. And in a game against college football's top running back, there's no better time for another bruiser to dethrone Fournette.
Clemson Tigers Quarterback Deshaun Watson
7 of 7
Not to be redundant with these selections, but the option for Deshaun Watson is clear: Florida State. The remaining schedule for Clemson shapes up well. Other than the Seminoles, the Tigers play just three games against teams with a winning record: Miami, North Carolina State and Syracuse. Only one of them, North Carolina State, has a decent defense.
Florida State did allow Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya to throw for 405 yards in Week 6, so that would theoretically bode well for Watson. However, the Seminoles have the players to match up with Clemson's wide receivers, and Artavis Scott is the true No. 1 wideout for Clemson now that Mike Williams is out with a neck injury. That could put more pressure on Watson in the passing game. He might need to make some plays with his feet as well.
In Clemson's first marquee game of the year, against Notre Dame, the story was the Tigers' defense, not Watson and the offense. With Florida State being the last big game on the regular-season schedule, Watson needs that Nov. 7 game to be about him if he's going to have a shot at the Heisman.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
