2019 Heisman Trophy Picks & Predictions: Week 14 Power Rankings

2019 Heisman Trophy Picks & Predictions – Week 14 Power Rankings: Week 13 of the 2019 College Football season is in the books, and as we head into rivalry week, not a lot has changed when it comes to the Heisman Trophy race, at least when it comes to the top spot. It continues to be LSU quarterback Joe Burrow’s award to lose, but the race to finish as the runner-up is heating up with Ohio State defensive end Chase Young making a statement in his return from suspension. We can also say goodbye to Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert’s chances of being a finalist thanks to a lackluster performance in the Ducks’ upset loss to Arizona State.

2019 Heisman Trophy Picks & Predictions: Week 14 Power Rankings

1. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU Tigers

Burrow did nothing to relinquish his stranglehold on the Heisman Trophy in Week 13, completing 23 of his 28 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns. The performance put him over 4,000 passing yards for the season, and he is up to 41 touchdowns. Burrow is second in the country in both those categories, and he leads the nation on completion percentage and quarterback rating. I really can’t envision a scenario where the season doesn’t end with him hoisting the Heisman.

2. Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma Sooners

He didn’t have his prettiest performance of the year in Week 13, but Hurts tossed a couple of scores and ran for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Sooners survived TCU. He now has 30 passing touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards through the air to go with 1,156 rushing yards and 17 scores, and with a pair of ranked opponents still to come in Oklahoma State and Baylor, Hurts is poised to solidify his status as a Heisman finalist, if the not the runner-up for the award.

3. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State Buckeyes

Young returned from a two-game suspension with a bang, logging nine tackles, including four tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles as the Buckeyes knocked off eighth-ranked Penn State. He is up to 16.5 sacks for the year, and Young continues to stand out as the best player on the field in all of Ohio State’s big games. He will have another chance to make a statement this weekend when the Buckeyes face rival Michigan, and after that, the Big Ten title game looms. If Young continues to be a one-man wrecking crew, I believe he is going to finish as the runner-up for the Heisman.

4. Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State Buckeyes

A couple of fumbles made the Penn State game a little more interesting than it had to be, but for the most part, Fields was his efficient, productive self in the victory. He sits third in the country in quarterback rating heading into the rivalry game against Michigan, and if he puts up big numbers against the Wolverines and in the Big Ten Championship Game, Fields still has a decent shot to finish as the runner-up for the Heisman. Not bad for a first-year starter.

5. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin Badgers

No, he isn’t going to be winning the Heisman this year, but I was a little to quick to write Taylor off as a potential finalist after he was completely bottled up by Ohio State. He gashed Purdue for 222 yards in Week 13, giving him three straight 200-yard efforts and 1,685 rushing yards on the year. Taylor has added 20 catches to go along with 22 total touchdowns, and more importantly, the Badgers are back in the mix for the Big Ten title. If Taylor delivers another big performance against Minnesota this week, Wisconsin will be playing in the conference title game, and Taylor could be on his way to New York.