Heisman Race week 10: No change this week; Mariota, Petty face biggest tests Thursday

The Heisman front-runners were either in top form or idle last week, meaning there's no change to the top players this week. In fact the top nine stay the same from last week.

That means Marcus Mariota still tops our list after not playing last weekend. His Oregon teams takes on Stanford on Thursday on the road for the team's (and Mariota's) toughest test of the year. Stanford stifled the Oregon offense last year and two weeks ago harrassed Oregon State's Sean Mannion to the tune of 8 sacks. A good performance there (and a win) would further bolster Mariota's already strong claim to the trophy.

Johnny Manziel is becoming the guest that wouldn't leave when it comes to the Heisman. Already in possession of one trophy Manziel is making a good case for another, despite the two losses that should have disqualified him amidst the undefeated front-runners. Against UTEP Manziel accounted for 6 touchdowns, four through the air and two on the ground. He still needs a few other people to screw up if he wants to win it, but he's already practically guaranteed himself a repeat New York invite.

Jordan Lynch is another candidate that won't go away. His team's weak schedule makes a Heisman win all but impossible, but Lynch's performances are too good and others around the nation are starting to take notice. It could lead to a top-5 finish for Lynch. Right now we keep him at #3, with the understanding that he'll settle back in the coming weeks. But his third straight phenomenal game (this time four rushing TDs, and 1 passing TD) means the fade will have to wait.

Jameis Winston might have had the worst game of the front-runners, along with by far the best win. Winston had just one touchdown pass and two interceptions against Miami, but the Seminoles won 41-14 in their 2nd blowout of a top-ten team. If FSU wins out Winston will almost certainly pass Lynch and Manziel to compete with Mariota for the trophy. The next three weeks hold weak foes for FSU, so it will be an ideal time to match the big numbers Lynch and Manziel are putting up.

Tajh Boyd is still our #5 candidate. Written off after the FSU loss, Boyd broke the ACC record for career touchdowns against Virginia, throwing for three and rushing for another while completing 24 of 29 passes. #6 Teddy Bridgewater was idle and so had no opportunity to gain on Boyd for a potential New York invite.

SportsRatings Week 10 Heisman leaders

1. Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon (8-0; no game last weekend)
   LW:  idle (no game)
   TOT: 144-225 64.0% 2281yd 20TD 0int  56rsh  511yd 9.1av  9TD 2.5fmb
2. Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M (7-2; beat UTEP 57-7)
   LW:   16-24  66.7%  273yd  4TD 0int   7rsh   67yd 9.6av 2TD 0fmb
   TOT: 200-276 72.5% 2867yd 26TD 8int  96rsh  564yd 5.9av 8TD 1fmb
3. Jordan Lynch, QB N. Illinois (9-0; beat UMass 63-19)
   LW:   10-13  76.9%  160yd  1TD 0int  17rsh  119yd 7.0av  4TD 0fmb
   TOT: 164-258 63.6% 1871yd 19TD 5int 173rsh 1150yd 6.6av 12TD 1fmb 1recTD
4. Jameis Winston, QB Florida State (8-0; beat Miami 41-14)
   LW:   21-29  72.4%  325yd  1TD 2int   6rsh   27yd 4.5av  0TD 0fmb
   TOT: 149-212 70.3% 2502yd 24TD 6int  50rsh  153yd 3.1av  3TD 0fmb
5. Tajh Boyd, QB Clemson (8-1; beat Virginia 59-10)
   LW:   24-29  82.8%  377yd  3TD 1int   7rsh  -25yd  -4av  1TD 0fmb
   TOT: 192-292 65.8% 2620yd 20TD 6int 100rsh  194yd 1.9av  7TD 1fmb
6. Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville (7-1; no game last weekend)
   LW:   idle (no game)
   TOT: 179-243 73.7% 2557yd 23TD 2int  30rsh   19yd 0.6av  0TD 1fmb
7. Braxton Miller, QB Ohio State (9-0; beat Purdue 56-0)
   LW:   19-23  82.6%  233yd  4TD 1int   1rsh    7yd 7.0av  0TD 0fmb
   TOT: 108-149 72.5% 1316yd 15TD 3int  87rsh  410yd 4.7av  2TD 2fmb
8. Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin (6-2; beat Iowa 28-9)
   LW:   17rsh   62yd 3.6av  0TD 0fmb; 0rec 0yd 0TD; 0retYd  0TD 0fmb
   TOT: 124rsh 1074yd 8.7av 11TD 0fmb; 1rec 5yd 0TD; 0retYd  0TD 0fmb
9. Brandin Cooks, WR Oregon St (6-3; lost to USC 31-14)
   LW:   6rec   88yd  1TD 0fmb;  2rsh  40yd  20av 0TD 0fmb   0retYd 0TD 0fmb
   TOT: 91rec 1344yd 14TD 0fmb; 23rsh 174yd 7.6av 2TD 0fmb  71retYd 0TD 1fmb
10. [up 1] Aaron Murray, QB Georgia (5-3; beat Florida 23-20)
    LW:   16-25  64.0%  258yd  1TD 0int   6rsh    1yd 1.0av  0TD 1fmb
    TOT: 155-249 62.2% 2196yd 18TD 6int  38rsh   94yd 2.5av  5TD 3fmb
11. [up 1] Bryce Petty, QB Baylor (7-0; no game last weekend)
    LW:  idle (no game)
    TOT: 122-176 69.3% 2453yd 18TD 1int  28rsh   73yd 2.6av  6TD 2fmb
12. [dn 2] Sean Mannion, QB Oregon St (6-3; lost to USC 31-14)
    LW:   26-45  57.8%  277yd  1TD 3int   3rsh  -22yd  -7av 0TD 0fmb
    TOT: 296-436 67.9% 3540yd 31TD 6int  28rsh -174yd  -6av 0TD 2fmb
13. Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina (7-2; beat Miss. State 34-16)
    LW:   3 tackles 0 sacks + 0.0 tfl 1 pbu 0 int 0 ffmb 0 blocked kicks
    TOT: 27 tackles 2 sacks + 4.5 tfl 2 pbu 0 int 1 ffmb 0 blocked kicks
14. Marqise Lee, WR USC (6-3; beat Oregon State 31-14)
    LW:   5rec  105yd  1TD 0fmb;  0rsh   0yd 0.0av 0TD 0fmb   0retYD 0TD 0fmb
    TOT: 37rec  508yd  2TD 0fmb;  5rsh   1yd 0.2av 0TD 0fmb 145retYd 0TD 1fmb
15. A.J. McCarron, QB Alabama (8-0; no game last week)
    LW:  idle (no game)
    TOT: 145-209 69.4% 1862yd 16TD 3int  13rsh  -20yd -1.5av 0TD 0fmb

Braxton Miller had another solid game for Ohio State in their 56-0 blowout of Purdue. He went 19 of 23 for four touchdowns and 233 yards. Miller's overall stats are slight of course, and he needs to add 300 yards per game (and more than 7 rushing yards) to crack the contenders again. The Buckeyes are cruising and that's putting him back on the map, but not in serious contention.

Melvin Gordon had an off day against Iowa, averaging a pedestrian 3.6 yards per carry for 62 yards, dropping his overall average to an almost-human 8.7 ypc. Talk is shifting to Kadeem Carey as the nation's top back, with Lache Seastrunk getting notice, too.

But Gordon holds at #8 since the two below him, Oregon State's Brandin Cooks and Sean Mannion, both took a hit in the USC loss. Cooks had another sub-100 yard day receiving (1 TD) while Mannion threw three interceptions, matching his total for the year so far. The dynamic duo has been much less effective against strong defenses the last few weeks. Cooks holds at #9 and Mannion drops two spots to #11.

Moving up one are quarterbacks Aaron Murray and Bryce Petty. Murray's Georgia team held on to beat Florida while Petty's Baylor team was idle. This Thursday Baylor faces Oklahoma, the best pass defense they'll face all year. That could favor Seastrunk and hurt Petty if they run the ball more. But if Petty passes the test look for him to move up quickly as the Bears' schedule toughens.

Jadeveon Clowney and Marqise Lee hold steady as both had pretty decent games last week in wins. But look for the duo to be the first two eliminated next week as neither has had a great year. Newcomer A.J. McCarron of Alabama was idle last week; we chose McCarron over Derek Carr of also-undefeated Fresno State because, let's face it, Alabama is a lot better than the Bulldogs and deserves a representative more. He'll rise in the rankings as long as Alabama keeps winning and other candidates keep screwing up and eliminating themselves, but odds are vastly against McCarron winning the trophy.