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Heisman rankings – Week 8: Kyler Murray remains in the hunt

By Cody Williams

FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 20: Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs with the ball during the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and TCU Horned Frogs on October 20, 2018 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 20: Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs with the ball during the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and TCU Horned Frogs on October 20, 2018 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The 2018 Heisman Trophy race is getting thinner at the top, but Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray remains firmly in the mix behind Tua Tagovailoa.

With conference play well underway in the 2018 college football season, you expect to see the Heisman Trophy race to take shape for obvious reasons. When it comes to playing conference opponents, the stakes are raised. Not only does that type of environment tend to have more of an effect on players and, thus, test them further, but it also means that players and teams see the tough challengers within the conference.

For most players, we’ve seen that be the case. On Saturday in Week 8, Heisman candidate Dwayne Haskins and the Ohio State Buckeyes were put to the test and they ultimately failed, suffering their first loss of the season. Kyler Murray and the Oklahoma Sooners also came up short on their test back in Week 6 the last time that they’d played, as they fell to the Texas Longhorns.

The one player that stands out from this mix, however, is Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The true sophomore has been on cruise control seemingly all season and the team has been winning so handily still that he hasn’t had to crank it up a notch. Thus, he’s played near perfect, but it’s almost unsatisfying not seeing him be totally tested — but perhaps that’s coming as they face LSU next week.

Regardless, Week 8 in college football shook up the 2018 Heisman Trophy race, even if Tua wasn’t moved at the top. However, with upset and disappointing showings in addition to some big-time performances, the rankings are a bit different than they were a week ago.

With that, let’s get into the 2018 Heisman rankings after Week 8.

10. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

Some down games and the unforeseen struggles of the Wisconsin Badgers as a whole have really knocked Jonathan Taylor down a peg in terms of his 2018 Heisman Trophy candidacy. Having said that, there’s a reason that the sophomore has been in the mix all season — he’s darn good and can go off any week. This happened to be one of those weeks where the talented running back had a big game.

Teeing off on the Illinois Fighting Illini, Taylor was able to dominate on the ground with the help of fellow backfield mate Taiwan Deal. Taylor had the bulk of the work though with 27 carries for 159 yards, though it was Deal who found the end zone and not Taylor. Even still, the running back showed off his skill and makes it back into the rankings.

9. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Justin Herbert and the Oregon Ducks were everything that they neededto be one week ago. In a huge matchup against the Washington Huskies, the quarterback stepped up with a big performance and helped lead his team to an overtime victory. When he was needed again in Week 8 against the Washington State Cougars, however, Herbert simply looked lackluster on Saturday night, and that cost the Ducks their second loss of the season.

Herbert finished the 34-20 loss going just 25-of-44 for 270 yards and one touchdown through the air. Though he added a rushing touchdown, he was clearly not the impact player that the Ducks needed him to be in this game. Herbert had been establishing himself as a dark horse in this race, but this performance almost knocks him out entirely.

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