The number of legitimate contenders for the Heisman Trophy is dwindling every week. college football The regular season is entering its final stretch. With the Week 10 calendar moving to November, only six players have a chance to win. FanDuel Better than +3000 to get the reward. All are members of two top conferences: two play in the Big Ten and four play in the SEC.
Of course, there are many more Heisman contenders outside the top echelon. The unpredictable nature of this season in particular could open the door for one or more of them to join the awards race next month. But as time dwindles, opportunities to capture a Heisman moment or shine against top-division opponents become fewer and fewer as the season draws to a close.
It looks like a six-man battle for the award, and the betting market has the two Big Ten quarterbacks in that group as the brightest prospects. No. 2 Indiana Fernando Mendoza took the lead again heading into week 10 and took first place. Ohio State Julian Sayin stands behind him.
But don't count on SEC hopefuls to be in the spotlight during what promises to be an exciting final month of fighting for conference supremacy and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Week 10 Heisman Trophy Odds
Stock up: Haynes King gives ACC insight
To find the first player outside of the Big Ten and SEC, you have to go seven spots down the odds chart. That's where Georgia Tech guard Haynes King is at +3000.
This isn't the first time King has hovered on the fringes of the Heisman race. He entered the conversation earlier this year when the No. 8 Yellow Jackets beat then-No. 1 Clemson and haven't lost much ground since. King solidified his position last week with a season-best 25-of-31 passing for 304 yards and three touchdowns, plus 91 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground.
The five-touchdown performance lifted Georgia Tech to a dominant victory over Syracuse and extended the Yellow Jackets' winning streak to eight games. They remain undefeated and in complete control of their paths to the ACC and College Football Playoffs, one of only two teams still perfect in conference play.
Stocks are out: Dante Moore leaves early after a mysterious performance
A bloodied Dante Moore left Oregon's sixth-leading 21-7 win over Wisconsin after being hit in the face by a Badgers defender. He didn't return, and the Ducks struggled to separate themselves from the struggling Badgers with or without him in the lineup. In terms of efficiency, it was the second-worst start of Moore's Oregon career, even before the injury. He completed just 9 of 15 passes for 86 yards, lost yardage on the ground and failed to throw a touchdown for the first time as a Ducks starter.
Oregon State coach Dan Lanning stated this week that Moore will be ready to go when the Ducks return to the field on November 8th at Iowa.
Week in Review: QB Bear Bachmeier, BYU (+20000)
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier has been one of the most impressive recruits in college football this season, and at +20,000 to win the Heisman, he may not be getting the recognition he deserves. Bachmeier didn't arrive on campus until the summer, was named to the starting job late in the offseason, and had no college experience by the time he made his debut in the season opener. That didn't stop him from leading BYU to a perfect 8-0 start.
A true dual-threat talent, Bachmeier leads the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns (9) without sacrificing his production through the air. Early in his career, he completed 61.8% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He could play an even bigger role in the offense this week if star running back LJ Martin is sidelined with an injury he suffered in last week's win at Iowa State.
Week 10 performances worth watching
The Heisman frontrunners, for the most part, are either out this week or will face unranked opponents in matchups. We typically use this section to highlight top 25 matchups, but in the lighter format it requires a little more creativity.
Diego Pavia at number 20 Texas
It's the biggest game of the week because of its elimination potential in the SEC Championship, and it carries huge Heisman significance for Diego Pavia. No. 9 Vanderbilt will have three straight wins over top-25 opponents, including a win on the road at Texas, and if that happens, Pavia will be a big reason why. However, he hasn't seen such a strong defense all year.
Brendan Sorsby in No. 24 Utah
Brendan Sorsby appeared in our Weekly Recap earlier this season, and frankly, he's still undervalued in the Heisman market. He hasn't thrown an interception since an error in Week 1 against Nebraska and has multiple passing touchdowns in every game except for the season-opening loss. Sorsby has number 17. Cincinnati is on track to reach the Big 12 Championship Game but faces a tough road test at No. 24 Utah State.
Gunner Stockton Vs. Florida
Georgia has won each of its last four rivalry games against Florida and seven of its last eight. It's vital for Gunner Stockton and his award hopes that the No. 5 Bulldogs extend their dominance in the series. He threw five touchdowns his last time out and leads the SEC with a stellar 70.5% completion rate.
