Heisman Trophy Rankings: Mendoza vs. Moore

1. Dante Moore — QB, Oregon (Last Week: 1)

Week 6 Stats: Idle
Season Stats: 100-for-134 (74.6%), 1,210 yards (9.0 YPA), 14 TD, 1 INT; 24 carries, 122 yards (5.1 YPC)

Moore and the Ducks enjoyed a week off on the heels of the biggest game of his career. His three-touchdown performance in an upset at then-No. 3 Penn State — which turned around and lost to his former school, UCLA — cemented him as the Heisman frontrunner. Nothing has changed since then (except for the fact that the Nittany Lions fell out of the AP Top 25 entirely).

Moore ranks among the top 10 nationally in passer rating and completion percentage, evidence of his near unmatched efficiency. And he has the stats, to boot. No. 3 Oregon’s next game against No. 7 Indiana is not only a clash of Heisman candidates with Moore and Mendoza on the field, it’s also likely the hardest remaining game on the Ducks' schedule. Win that one and another undefeated regular season could be brewing in Eugene.

2. Carson Beck — QB, Miami (Last Week: 4)

Week 6 Stats (28-22 W at Florida State): 20-for-27, 241 yards, 4 TD; 3 carries, -1 yards
Season Stats: 102-for-139 (73.4%), 1,212 yards (8.7 YPA), 11 TD, 3 INT; 13 carries, 18 yards (1.4 YPC), 1 TD

Beck was lights-out in the Hurricanes’ first road trip of the season. He lit up the Florida State defense for four touchdowns — two each to Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels — to complete Miami’s sweep of its in-state opponents and pick up an FBS-best third top-25 win. The Seminoles struck first, but Beck was quick to respond with a methodical scoring drive. And when the ’Canes’ defense came up with an interception on the next drive, Beck went deep to Toney for another touchdown.

FSU eventually clawed its way back within one possession, but it was too little, too late. On a night when the run game wasn’t working like it had earlier in the year, Beck put the offense on his shoulders and showed no signs of the struggles he endured in a win over Florida two weeks earlier. Much like Oregon, Miami’s road to an undefeated regular season is clear with zero remaining ranked opponents. Beck and the No. 2 ’Canes look like they’re well on their way to their first ACC championship and CFP appearance.

3. Fernando Mendoza — QB, Indiana (Last Week: 2)

Week 6 Stats: Idle
Season Stats: 89-for-122 (73%), 1,208 yards (9.9 YPA), 16 TD, 1 INT; 30 carries, 102 yards (3.4 YPC), 2 TD

Mendoza and the Hoosiers had a week to rest up for their biggest game of the year. After avoiding a letdown at Iowa following a historic blowout win over Illinois, No. 7 Indiana heads out West to Oregon. This will mark the second time Mendoza has gone head-to-head with Moore. They first met three years ago when the former was at Cal and the latter was at UCLA — Mendoza’s Bears beat the Bruins handily.

Mendoza is easily playing the best football of his career. He’s setting personal bests across the board and has already matched his previous high for touchdown passes in a season just five games into the year. Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Hoosiers’ game against the Ducks is also their hardest remaining matchup — considering Penn State’s precipitous slide. Given how tight this race is at the top, whichever quarterback wins this matchup figures to be in pole position for the second half of the season.

4. John Mateer — QB, Oklahoma (Last Week: 4)

Week 6 Stats: Out — Oklahoma beat Kent State 44-0
Season Stats: 95-for-141 (67.4%), 1,215 yards (8.6 YPA), 6 TD, 3 INT; 43 carries, 190 yards (4.4 YPC), 5 TD

It’s been two and a half weeks since we last saw Mateer suit up for the Sooners. Will that change on Saturday in Dallas? There are rumblings he could return from the hand surgery that caused him to miss last week’s game against Kent State to face Texas in the Red River Rivalry. No. 6 Oklahoma might need him back to beat the Longhorns, and any more missed time will weaken his Heisman candidacy.

As it stands, Mateer’s stats in just four games aren’t that far off from some of his peers. The Sooners also have a pair of top-25 wins with Mateer under center. Oklahoma’s remaining schedule is the hardest in the country, which gives little margin for error down the stretch. The fact that Mateer's return is even a conversation this week bodes well for his availability for that remaining gauntlet. But a return — and a win — in a marquee rivalry game would do a great deal for his case.

5. Ty Simpson — QB, Alabama (Last Week: NR)

Week 6 Stats (30-14 W vs. Vanderbilt): 23-for-31, 340 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 9 carries, -6 yards
Season Stats: 111-for-158 (70.3%), 1,478 yards (9.4 YPA), 13 TD, 1 INT; 30 carries, 50 yards (1.7 YPC), 2 TD

Oh, how things have changed since Week 1. Tommy Castellanos and Florida State were riding high off their big win over the Crimson Tide, while the sky was falling in Tuscaloosa. Five weeks later? Not so much. ’Bama is back in the top 10, thanks to back-to-back wins over ranked SEC opponents. Simpson was excellent against Vanderbilt, overcoming an interception on the opening drive to even the game up at halftime with scores to Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. From there, the Tide iced the game away with mistake-free football.

Simpson has the Alabama offense operating at an extremely high level. He leads the SEC or is tied for first in passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating, and the turnover against the Commodores was his first this season. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Simpson and Co., who head to take on No. 14 Missouri on the road this weekend, but he looks more than up to the task.

Don’t Forget About

• Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, QB
• Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, WR
• Joey Aguilar, Tennessee, QB
• Julian Sayin, Ohio State, QB
• Marcel Reed, Texas A&M, QB

Sleepers to Watch

• Haynes King, Georgia Tech, QB
• Beau Pribula, Missouri, QB
• Behren Morton, Texas Tech, QB
• CJ Carr, Notre Dame, QB
• Ahmad Hardy, Missouri, RB