Heisman hopefuls: Week 5

Heisman candidates solidified their resumes in Week 5, as the stakes in college football only get higher. Quarterbacks put up some gaudy numbers, while a pair of relatively forgotten running backs pushed their teams' and respective Q-ratings over the top.

Here are five players who made the strongest case for the Heisman this week.

Will Grier, West Virginia Mountaineers
You knew Grier was going to light up the scoreboard when he saw Texas Tech across the line of scrimmage, and he didn’t disappoint. Grier wasted no time wrecking the Red Raiders, passing for nearly 200 yards in the first quarter with two touchdowns. He didn’t finish the game as hot but still passed for a total of 370 yards and three scores. It wasn’t an eye-popping performance, but it was one that will help him stay in the Heisman conversation for another week.

Kyler Murray, Oklahoma Sooners
Murray should be late for more meetings. After being kept out of the first series as a disciplinary action, the Sooners quarterback handed out a little punishment of his own. The junior thrower carved up Baylor to the tune of 432 yards and six passing touchdowns. He also used those evasive legs to add a score on the ground. If there’s any lesson to be learned here, it’s that Murray is well on his way to being a Heisman favorite.

Travis Etienne, Clemson Tigers
After losing quarterback prodigy Trevor Lawrence in a head injury and missing a quarterback who started 18 games and led the team to the College Football Playoffs, Clemson found itself in a hole against usually unthreatening Syracuse. Good thing Etienne was waiting in the wings. Not only did he run in the go-ahead touchdown with 41 seconds left in the game, but the sophomore running back also churned out 203 yards on 27 attempts and three touchdowns. Lawrence might not be out long, but Etienne showed he can shoulder a heavy load when the team needs it.

McKenzie Milton, UCF Knights
Quarterbacking the “national champion” UCF Knights is a tough job, but Milton makes it look easy. After accounting for six scores against Florida Atlantic last week, the junior quarterback put up another six-spot on the Pittsburgh Panthers, throwing for four touchdowns and running in another two. He could’ve been more efficient, but he has been piling up numbers and wins since the beginning of the season. It may only be a matter of time before he hoists the Heisman at this pace.

Eno Benjamin, Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State is flying under the radar in the Pac-12, but Benjamin is doing his best to let the rest of the conference know it’s a threat. The sophomore rusher had himself a game against the Oregon State Beavers, getting the rock 30 times and gaining 312 rushing yards to lead all Division I running backs in Week 5. He hit pay dirt three times on the ground and added a receiving score to put a cherry on top of his monster day. The Sun Devils are trying to find their identity under Herm Edwards, but expect Benjamin to be a big part of it moving forward.