Heisman Watch 2017: Week 6

4. Luke Falk, QB, Washington State

Darnold and USC losing to Washington State was both shocking and not so much at the same time. While that may seem impossible, it’s truly the case as it was stunning to see a player with the hype of the Trojans quarterback and with the talent of his team lose at all, but also relatively mundane as the Cougars were and are one of the most underrated teams in college football. And as Darnold goes in the Heisman Watch, Luke Falk comes.

The production that Falk has put up throughout his career in Pullman would’ve been staggering had he not even taken the field for his senior season. Yet, he’s only adding to his career marks and making them more absurd. In the upset victory of USC, the Wazzu signal-caller went 34-of-51 for 340 yards and two touchdonwns, though he did throw a pick. However, anyone watching could tell you that the composure by Falk late in that game was immensely important to their win, specifically manning the eight-play, 60-yard drive with the game tied late in the fourth quarter to give them the lead.

As terrific as Falk has been to this point in his career, though, he appears at his best now. All of the production is there with 1,718 yards, 16 touchdowns, only two interceptions and a 74.5 percent completion rate. But the element that’s most critical is the moxie and maturity he showed late in the USC game. That hasn’t always been there for him, and now that it is, it vaults him into the Heisman consideration.