Heisman Trophy watch: Week 9

In the middle of an intense season, the sweet relief of the bye week can be intoxicating to many college football players — so intoxicating that they may underperform in anticipation of the midseason break. Even the most elite players and teams can succumb to looking ahead a little bit.

Jonathan Taylor and Wisconsin had playoff aspirations but couldn’t overcome a hungrier Ohio State team before their bye week. Oklahoma was in the Playoff picture before falling to Kansas State, all but derailing its championship dreams.

Still, stars stepped up and piled up big numbers before heading into the bye. Here are five players who improved their Heisman chances before getting a week off — even if the rest of their teams didn’t show up.

Joe Burrow, LSU

LSU’s star quarterback has faced three AP top-10 teams so far and every time he has come out victorious. The Auburn Tigers were the latest victim to witness the greatness of Joe Burrow.

The senior quarterback ran into Auburn’s stout defense but was able to adjust and punish the Tigers as the game progressed. He finished the contest with 321 passing yards, one touchdown through the air and one on the ground. He retained his title as the most accurate quarterback in the country and is currently tied for second-most touchdowns responsible for in the country.

Burrow is coming up on his bye week, and he’ll need the rest. He faces Alabama in two weeks with a chance to really make a statement in his Heisman candidacy.

Chase Young, Ohio State

There hasn’t been a defensive player on this Heisman watchlist until this week, but then again, there isn’t a defensive player like Chase Young. Ohio State’s stud defensive end has had a great season, but his work against Wisconsin’s strong offensive line propelled him into the trophy conversation.

Young was disruptive and destructive, piling up five tackles for loss and four sacks against a Wisconsin line that was helpless to stop him. He also forced two fumbles and was the driving force behind the Buckeyes holding Wisconsin to seven points. He is now tied for most tackles for loss in the nation and is the outright leader in sacks.

Ohio State has favorable matchups against Rutgers and Maryland after the bye week, and that means Young will have plenty of opportunities to improve his already stellar numbers.

Justin Fields, Ohio State

Having one Heisman-caliber player is good but having two is just unfair. Must be nice to be Ohio State, huh?

Young is the new name on Heisman watchlists across the country, but no one should forget about the man who has continued to put Ohio State in position to win since the beginning of the season. Fields didn’t have his best yardage game with 167 passing yards, but he did pass for two scores and added a rushing touchdown to beat the Wisconsin Badgers this week. He is tied for second-most touchdowns responsible for and is currently fourth in passer efficiency rating.

Fields will have some time to recover from the bumps and bruises he received so far this season with a bye. When he returns, the soft Rutgers defense will be waiting for him.

Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

The Sooners may have had their national championship hopes dashed with a loss against unranked Kansas State on the road, but it wasn’t Jalen Hurts who was the source of their struggles. Hurts couldn’t help the defense play better, but he got the team within striking distance at the end of the game with his excellent play.

Hurts finished the game with 395 passing yards and a touchdown. He also led the Sooners in rushing, gaining 96 yards on the ground and scoring three times. Hurts currently has 34 touchdowns, which is the most in the entire country. He also is tops in the country in passer efficiency rating and passing yards per attempt.

Oklahoma heads into the bye week licking its wounds but can make up for it in two weeks against Iowa State at home.

Anthony Gordon, Washington State

Anthony Gordon may have left Eugene with a heartbreaking loss, but he can rest easy knowing he put the team in a position to win.

The senior quarterback finished the game against Oregon with 406 passing yards and three touchdowns, including one with one minute left to help put the Cougars up by one point. Gordon retained his spot at the top of the country in total passing yards and passing touchdowns.

He might be a dark horse to make it to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December, but the numbers he’s putting up are still worthy of consideration despite his team's lack of success.