Time for our weekly feature that rounds up the latest Heisman news and updates from around the media world.
The Buzz
Week four of the 2016 Heisman race is in the books. Here’s how the pundits saw it shaking out:
After seeing him pile up another seven touchdowns against Marshall (giving him 25 on the season), Mark Podolski of The Morning Journal of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, says Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson is the clear Heisman front runner with one quarter of the season played.
Safe bet for all who track this Heisman Trophy stuff: If Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson keeps averaging six touchdowns, the race for the most popular individual trophy in team sports is a done deal.
Elton Alexander of Cleveland.com calls Jackson “a highlight reel headed for the Heisman.”
Jackson made the cover of Sports Illustrated.
FoxSports.com’s Cory McCartney says we can’t anoint Jackson just yet.
Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey remain very much in this race with back-loaded schedules that could steal attention from Jackson. But with Fournette bowing out, along with Florida State’s Dalvin Cook and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson looking unimpressive, Jackson has simply been more consistent and more dominant than anyone else.
It’s been enough to own September. But we’ve seen where that gets you.
The Denver Post takes a look at the McCaffreys, Colorado’s first family of football.
Want to know a secret? If Christian McCaffrey wins the Heisman, it will be because his father is a Pokemon Go addict. Yes, it’s a wacky theory, but so strange I believe there’s a kernel of truth in the hypothesis.
Here’s McCaffrey after Stanford’s win over UCLA:
Florida State running back Dalvin Cook’s career-high 267 rushing yards was a boon to his Heisman hopes, writes the USA Today.
A Texas Tech fansite says Red Raider quarterback Patrick Mahomes probably won’t win the Heisman, but that doesn’t take away from his greatness. Mahomes leads the nation in passing yardage, averaging nearly 500 yards per game.
LSU running back Leonard Fournette comments on the firing of Les Miles.
San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey, the nation’s leading rusher, has been getting some national pub recently.
Michigan’s Jibril Peppers is an unlikely Heisman contender, according to Bleacher Report.
Stewart Mandel of Fox has a Heisman top five of Jackson, McCaffrey, J.T. Barrett of Ohio State, San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey and Peppers.
Here’s Campus Insiders once again with a Heisman top 10 plus a highlight reel from the past weekend.
This Weekend’s Schedule
A few games of Heisman interest are on tap:
#7 Stanford at #10 Washington is on Friday at 9 pm ET.
#8 Wisconsin at #4 Michigan is on Saturday at 12:30 pm ET.
#3 Louisville at #5 Clemson is on Saturday at 8 pm ET.
Break out the popcorn!
Odds and Ends
Seventy-five years ago, Bruce Smith used the Heisman to lift the nation’s spirits. The Gophers posthumously honored their only Heisman Trophy winner during Saturday’s game against Colorado State.
Eddie George has taken over for Archie Griffin as the ambassador for Wendy’s High School Heisman.
On Oct. 27-29, Danny Wuerffel will celebrate his Heisman Trophy anniversary in a “Rivalry for a Cause” at the 6th Annual Desire Cup fundraiser weekend at TPC Sawgrass during Florida-Georgia football game weekend.
Tim Tebow will take a break from baseball to appear as a guest speaker at the Loma Linda University Health Paralympic Training Program sports luncheon on Nov. 8 in Redlands, Calif. The fundraiser benefits PossAbilities, a non-profit community outreach program operated by Loma Linda University Health that provides people with permanent physical disabilities support and resources to live a healthy, active life.
A profile of Sam Bradford from the Pioneer-Press.
The story of John W. Heisman’s famous game against Cumberland, won 222-0 by Georgia Tech, has now been told in a book.
NFL Heisman Update
Sam Bradford came out on top in a Heisman v. Heisman battle with Cam Newton. Bradford passed for 171 yards and one touchdown as the Vikings beat Carolina, 22-10. Newton had 262 yards passing but was picked off three times.
Carson Palmer had a rough outing vs. the Bills. He threw for 287 yards but also had four interceptions in Arizona’s 33-18 loss.
Marcus Mariota came up just short against the Raiders. He threw for 214 yards and also had 22 rushing yards as the Titans fell, 17-10.
Derrick Henry had 10 carries for 45 yards against the Raiders.
Jameis Winston threw for 405 yards and three TDs, but the Buccaneers still lost to the Rams, 37-32.
Mark Ingram will play for the Saints on Monday night against the Falcons.
Video of the Week
Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, who just retired after 67 seasons broadcasting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, once shared the broadcast booth with former President Ronald Reagan at the 1989 All-Star game. And what did they call? Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson hitting a home run. Enjoy:
