Fansided

Heisman rankings Week 8: Tua injury changes everything

By Cody Williams

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 19: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to pass against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 19: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to pass against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 19: Oregon’s (10) Justin Herbert (QB) scrambles out of the pocket during the college football game between the Washington Huskies and the Oregon Ducks on October 19, 2019 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

6. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

There’s no debating that Justin Herbert has been both efficient and productive for the Oregon Ducks this season. However, with the season-opening loss to Auburn and his wildly mediocre second-half play in that game being the only competition he’d faced this season, it was hard to find him a spot in these Heisman rankings. After a heroic comeback win over Washington in Seattle, though, Herbert finally joins the party.

Herbert had some shaky moments in the second quarter against the Huskies but, when the game was on the line, he stepped up. The Oregon signal-caller orchestrated three second-half touchdown drives to erase a 14-point deficit and pick up the win. As he finished with 280 yards passing and four touchdowns to give him just shy of 1,900 yards and 21 touchdowns to only one pick on the year, the Ducks quarterback belongs handily in the mix.

5. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

Talk about disappointing. Jonathan Taylor and the Wisconsin Badgers fell victim to a trap game on Saturday, losing by one point on a last-second field goal to Illinois, a team that was a 31-point underdog entering the contest. The Badgers were clearly looking ahead to a Week 9 date with Ohio State and let their foot off the gas. And while Taylor didn’t step up to save the day, which doesn’t help him, his final numbers were still quite good.

The junior running back finished Saturday with 28 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown. However, Taylor lost a fumble in an ugly game for Wisconsin and simply didn’t rise to the occasion to make the big plays or carry the load for the offense when things got heated. It’s tough to see this type of game from a player as productive and talented as Taylor but it knocks him down a peg in the Heisman rankings, to be sure.

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