In the first week of college football, there were many Heisman-caliber performances from players such as Georgia running back Todd Gurley and Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill.
The college football season officially begun, and the first day featured an upset from No. 21 Texas A&M over No. 9 South Carolina.
While there were no major upsets on Saturday, No. 1 Florida State narrowly escaped with a 37-31 road win over Oklahoma State. While it is too early to name a Heisman winner, there are plenty of players who are emerging as candidates for the coveted trophy.
Here are the top five Heisman contenders following Week 1 of college football.
5. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Although Wisconsin suffered a heartbreaking loss to LSU by blowing a 24-7 lead, Gordon still had a fantastic game against a tough Tigers team and picked up right where he left off last season. The running back finished with 140 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, but unfortunately quarterback Tanner McEvoy had an abysmal performance with only 50 passing yards and two interceptions. Gordon’s performance is enough to keep him on the Heisman radar though, and he already has a proven track record dating back to last season when he rushed for 1,609 yards and 12 touchdowns.
4. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Winston did not play up to his usual standards in the Seminoles’ season opener against Oklahoma State, so he cannot be considered the favorite to win the Heisman again. The quarterback threw two interceptions and didn’t throw a single touchdown pass until there was four minutes left in the fourth quarter. However, it was a crucial score as it allowed the Seminoles to take a 37-24 lead and hold off an Oklahoma State rally. The redshirt sophomore quarterback also rushed for a 28-yard touchdown earlier in the game and threw for 370 yards on 25-for-40 passing. Although Winston didn’t put together his best performance, his Heisman candidacy is alive and well after just one week.
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