Power Ranking Top Heisman Contenders After Week 14 Action

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5. Derek Carr

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The only knock on Derek Carr is that his Fresno State Bulldogs play in the Mountain West Conference. Even though he’s thrown for 4,462 yards and 45 touchdowns, people will dismiss the strong-armed quarterback because of the competition he plays. To really see why Carr deserves the Heisman, take a look at his last two performances as he threw for over 500 yards in both games. Last week was the Bulldogs’ first loss, but it came in the quarterback battle of the year as Carr and David Fales threw for a combined 1,066 yards in a high-scoring affair.

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4. A.J. McCarron

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A.J. McCarron played well against Auburn this past weekend as the senior threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns in a dramatic loss. McCarron doesn’t carry an offense like the majority of players on this list, so it was crucial for him to finish the year unbeaten on his way to another National Championship. Now with a loss and mediocre stats, McCarron is down in the Heisman watch list with no time left to recover.

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3. Jordan Lynch

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Jordan Lynch has the same hurdle to overcome as Carr, and that is playing for a small school in a non-power conference. Lynch is showing to be one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the country as he’s eclipsed 1,700 rushing yards for the second consecutive year. Lynch also has 2,457 passing yards and 42 total touchdowns this season, and holds the record for most quarterback rushing yards in a single game with 321.

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2. Andre Williams

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Andre Williams is the least recognizable name on this list, but the senior running back from Boston College most definitely deserves to be mentioned with the others. Despite being game planned against every week with teams knowing he will touch the ball 30-plus times, Williams is still averaging 6.4 yards per run. With 329 rushing attempts, that equates to a NCAA-leading 2,102 rushing yards. Williams hasn’t caught one pass this season, but his dominant running style has helped the Golden Eagles earn a 7-5 record, an impressive feat knowing Williams has more yards than the team's starting QB.

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1. Jameis Winston

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Jameis Winston is looking to become the second consecutive redshirt freshmen to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Winston has the numbers, undefeated record and no. 1 ranking to show that he deserves the award. The off-field issues are what could hold Winston back, which may not be a huge deal considering that he will likely be vying for the award again next season. Winston is still the favorite to win the award, but it could be a close race given the recent allegations.