Heisman hopefuls: Week 13

Rivalry Week is always exciting, but there's also extra incentive to perform well if the Heisman Trophy is in reach. Players with a chance to be considered for the most respected honor in the sport want to stick it to their opponents for extra style points before the last round of voting and rivals who want to make sure those players not only lose their games, but also lose their shot at the trophy. That makes for some additional drama in an already explosive week of football.

Some candidates thrived under pressure, while others fell by the wayside with gruesome injuries (McKenzie Milton) or poor performances in inclement weather conditions. But late in the season, only the strong survive and only a few players now can be considered for the Heisman Trophy.

Here are the players who have the best shot at being named the best college football player in the nation.

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama Crimson Tide 

Alabama’s golden boy has already had arguably the greatest season any Alabama quarterback has ever had. But it wouldn’t have mattered for many fans unless he used those prodigious talents to destroy the Auburn Tigers. Good thing he delivered.

The sophomore quarterback made quick work of the Crimson Tide’s hated rival in the Iron Bowl, tossing five passing touchdowns and adding a scoring run to cap off a perfect regular season for Alabama. The team has been the best in the country all year, and the Hawaiian flamethrower has been a big part of that with his huge arm. He heads into the SEC Championship as the heavy favorite to take down the Heisman Trophy.

Kyler Murray, Oklahoma Sooners 

With a spot in the Big 12 Championship on the line and a suspect defense in front of him, you knew that Murray was going to put on a show.

In a thrilling 59-56 shootout with West Virginia, Murray showed off his arm and leg talent, accounting for three touchdowns in the air and one on the ground in a huge win for the Sooners. The diminutive junior finished with 364 passing yards, completing 20 of 27 attempts and rushing for 114 yards on nine carries. Last year’s Heisman Winner and former Oklahoma quarterback, Baker Mayfield, had more passing yards than Murray at this point, but the Sooners’ current pass thrower has more combined yards, rushing and passing.

Alabama’s Tagovailoa might think this is a runaway Heisman campaign, but Murray is nipping at his heels.

Will Grier, West Virginia Mountaineers 

Grier might have taken the L against Oklahoma, but, man, did he go down swinging. The Mountaineers’ signal-caller left everything he had on the field with a spot in the Big 12 Championship game on the line, piling up 539 passing yards, four throwing scores and a touchdown run to put West Virginia in position to succeed against the Sooners. Too bad the defense didn’t show up to help him out.

Despite the loss, Grier showed he belongs in New York, with 3,864 passing yards and 37 touchdowns for the year. Arguably the greatest West Virginian quarterback to ever come through Morgantown might be on his way out, but at least he went out with a bang.

Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State Buckeyes 

There’s winning against a rival, and then there’s embarrassing them with the whole country watching. Haskins made sure Ohio State was on the right side of that. Michigan was helpless against the arm of the sophomore signal-caller, allowing him to carve up the defense to the tune of 318 passing yards and five touchdowns. The Buckeyes would finish with 62 points, and they gave the Wolverines a loss they won’t forget.

After demolishing Michigan, Haskins has over 4,003 yards through the air with 41 touchdowns. He also adds four rushing scores to his impressive resume and has done everything he could to make sure he's going to New York, where he will be sitting pretty when the winner of the Heisman Trophy will be announced.

Gardner Minshew, Washington State Cougars 

What was supposed to be a dream season for "the Mustache" and the Cougars ended in heartbreak. But that doesn’t mean Minshew’s overall season should be discounted. Washington State lost an ugly Apple Cup game to Washington, and Minshew’s lack of production in the face of terrible weather was a huge factor. The senior quarterback finished with 152 yards through the air and two interceptions to unceremoniously end the season.

Still, Minshew had himself a hell of a year. At the end of Week 13, he led the country with 4,477 passing yards playing in one of the biggest conferences in the nation, with 36 touchdowns, and he had the team seriously considered for a spot in the College Football Playoff. That’s nothing to sneeze at, considering how badly the rest of Division I looks down on the Pac-12 Conference. While his season was impressive, it won’t be enough to be named a finalist for the Heisman.