Oklahoma’s loss to Iowa State takes its toll on Baker Mayfield’s candidacy and more as we look at the Heisman Watch entering college football Week 7.
Coming into the 2017 college football season, it wasn’t really up for debate that Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield was going to be in the mix to win the Heisman Trophy. A finalist a season ago, another year in Norman only seemed to spell more success for the dynamic player and fiery leader.
Through the first four weeks of the campaign, that was undoubtedly the case. His numbers were on par with just about any player in football in terms of greatness. What’s more, he had his team sitting at 4-0 and looking like a College Football Playoff contender. However, the question was how he would fare in a tough October slate.
The only thing is, Mayfield and the Sooners faltered in the part of that slate that was supposed to be a cake walk. In Week 6, Oklahoma was taken down by the Iowa State Cyclones, a perennial bottom-feeder in the Big 12 and a team that, on paper, the Sooners should’ve simply dismantled.
Granted, the brunt of the blame can’t be put on the quarterback’s shoulders. However, it’s also no secret that losses — especially ones that are particularly egregious — can hurt a player’s Heisman candidacy. And as unfortunate as that is, that’s what happens here with Mayfield. He’s not quite on Sam Darnold’s level of being out of the race entirely just yet, but he’s dropping.
How does the rest of the race shake out entering Week 7? Let’s take a look.
5. Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
By now, you’ve probably at least heard of Rashaad Penny, which is more than many fans could say coming into the season. After all, the San Diego State Aztecs ball-carrier was emerging out of the large shadow cast by the diminutive Donnel Pumphrey. However, he’s done nothing short of making Aztecs fans forget about the NCAA’s all-time leading rush through the first six games of the season.
Penny has been the workhorse for San Diego State to this point, carrying the ball 143 times already on the season. However, he’s made the most of that work as he’s averaged 6.9 yards per carry for 993 yards and nine touchdowns already. For good measure, he’s also been a threat as a pass catcher with 16 receptions for 127 yards and a pair of receiving scores to his credit. Even more impressive has been the consistency as he’s yet to log a game with under 100 yards rushing on the season and has four games of 170 yards or more.
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Quietly, SDSU, sits as one of the remaining undefeated teams in the country right now. Given their strength of schedule, they could well ride that out to an unbeaten 2017 season. However, that strength of schedule is also to the detriment of Penny’s Heisman candidacy. His numbers are undeniable, but as they say, “But against who?” For him to rise up, he’s going to have to do some otherworldly things down the home stretch of the season.