Many of the top teams were either on bye weeks or scheduled cupcakes, but that does not mean there were no game changing players. As the regular season comes to a close, these performances matter even more.
Who Shined?
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
In Pavia’s final home game as a Commodore, he made it one to remember. Although his rushing numbers usually stand out, it was his arm that took center stage in the blowout win over Kentucky.
Pavia tossed five touchdowns for 484 yards and added another score with his legs. He will have a chance next Saturday to send Vanderbilt to the playoffs with a win over Tennessee. The Volunteers will have a lot to deal with if they want to play spoiler.
Arch Manning, QB, Texas
It has been a very up and down year for the prodigy, and this was another upward tilt. After struggling against Georgia, a game in which his receivers gave him little help, he looked like a completely different player. Against a high powered Arkansas offense, you better bring your A game, and he did. Manning totaled six touchdowns and became the first player since 2014 to record a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in the same game. Suddenly, next Friday’s matchup between Texas and Texas A&M looks very juicy.
Joe Jackson, RB, Kansas State
Even though Kansas State lost, Jackson was unstoppable. He ran for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns. Utah had no answers for him, but the Wildcat defense could not get enough stops to turn this into the top performance of the week.
Who Struggled?
Athan Kaliakmanis, QB, Rutgers
Facing Ohio State’s defense is one of the toughest challenges in college football and it showed. A passing game that usually holds its own never got going. Kaliakmanis completed only half his passes for 81 yards and played almost no role in this game.
Joseph Filardi, QB, Syracus
It would have taken a historic performance for Syracuse to win with how many points they allowed, so I do not blame Filardi for not providing that. However, he was flat out terrible. Notre Dame led 21-0 before their offense even touched the ball (yes, you read that right) thanks to two pick sixes that Filardi threw on the first three drives. He later added a third interception once the game was already out of hand.
Aidan Laughery, Kaden Feagin and Ca’Lil Valentine, RB, Illinois
This trio has been steady for most of the year. You would expect them to punish a Wisconsin team playing out the string, but that was not the case. The Illini underestimated one of the best rush defenses in the country and paid for it. The group combined for 30 yards and no touchdowns, forcing Altmyer to shoulder everything. It was not enough.
My Heisman Four as of Today:
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Curt Cignetti clearly found the right guy in the portal. Mendoza has led Indiana to its first 11-0 start in program history and has played well enough to be the Heisman favorite going into the final week.
He has orchestrated clutch drives against top defenses like Oregon, Penn State, and Iowa. Last year’s Hoosiers were a Cinderella story and a first round playoff exit. Mendoza has made sure this team looks like a real contender for a Big Ten title and maybe even the National Championship.
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
Sayin is the best quarterback in college football. He just has not had his true Heisman moment yet. The week 1 win over Texas was impressive, but he did not stand out. Since then, he has probably played better than any quarterback in the country, but I still need to see something special to move him to number one.
Next week he heads to Ann Arbor in a heated rivalry game. If he leads Ohio State to a win, he can absolutely jump Mendoza.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
This is a strange Heisman year with no obvious standout, which opens the door for a defensive player. Rodriguez is my pick. The impact he is having is similar to what Manti Te’o did in 2012.
A linebacker with four interceptions and seven forced fumbles is playing at a different level. He is affecting games more than anyone in the sport right now, so he belongs high in these rankings.
Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M
This spot is still up for grabs, but Reed hangs on for now. With a win on Friday against Texas, the Aggies would finish the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1939. That alone boosts his case.
Although critics say A&M has not played the toughest SEC schedule, there are still quality wins. The road victory at Notre Dame might be the most impressive win anyone has all season, and it has aged beautifully.
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