The Heisman Five: Baker Mayfield Still in Control as Kerryon Johnson Continues Late Push

Kerryon Johnson had a big day in Auburn's win over Alabama as he continues to make a late Heisman run, but make no mistake: Baker Mayfield remains firmly in front of the pack.

Kerryon Johnson and Auburn have made a late run to make things more interesting, but this is still Baker Mayfield running away with the Heisman in what’s become a lopsided race as he’s lapped a talented crop of running backs.

1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, QB: He didn’t start against WVU , but he didn’t miss much. He torched the Mountaineers, going 14 of 17 for 281 yards and three TDs with no interceptions in a 59–31 win. He now has a 19–1 TD-INT ratio in home games and a 37–5 ratio overall. Next week it’s onto the Big 12 title game, where he faces TCU for the second time this season.

2. Bryce Love, Stanford, RB: The Cardinal star took it to Notre Dame, rushing for 125 yards on 20 carries. He didn’t score any touchdowns, but it’s a solid game against a good opponent as he closes in on 2,000 yards rushing for the season.

3. Kerryon Johnson, Auburn, RB: He ran for 104 yards and a TD against Alabama and threw for another touchdown. It was his eighth 100-yard rushing performance of the season and fifth against an SEC team with a winning record. He gets another shot against a salty Georgia defense next week in the SEC title game.

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4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin, RB: A big test against Ohio State looms next week, but the freshman stud ate up Minnesota, rushing for 149 yards. He’s over 1,800 rushing yards for the season with two games remaining. That’s a heckuva debut for the former three-star recruit.

5. (tie) Lamar Jackson, Louisville, QB: Once again he’s put up huge numbers. This week it was in a 44–17 rout at Kentucky, where he threw for 216 yards and ran for 156. He’s accounted for 42 total TDs against just six INTs. If he’d been a little better against the Cardinals' toughest opponents, he’d probably be giving Mayfield a bigger run.

5. (tie) Rashaad Penny, San Diego State, RB-KR: He gashed New Mexico for 203 rushing yards, his fourth straight game with more than 200 rushing, and he’s run for nine TDs in those games. He’s averaging 225 all-purpose yards a game, more than 40 yards per game better than anyone else in FBS.