Florida running back Jadan Baugh has muscled his way into The Sporting News’ Heisman Watch after a statement performance against Ole Miss.
Baugh did the damage in Florida’s 52-28 win on Saturday, piling up 142 rushing yards and three touchdowns while taking full advantage of the spotlight opposite Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. That outing was enough to push him onto the radar in a field already crowded with quarterbacks and star receivers.
The biggest splash last week came from Ohio State wideout Jeremiah Smith, who put together a huge day in a 42-19 win over Illinois. Smith finished with 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns, the kind of line that forces voters to pay attention.
Heisman Trophy voters Cliff Brunt and Jeff Hauser compiled the watch list, which is alphabetical and reflects the players they would strongly consider for their top three if ballots were due today. The highlighted names are in the top five for one or both.
Baugh’s season has turned into a full-on touchdown barrage. Through four games, he has 83 carries for 600 yards and a nation-leading 11 touchdowns, and he has already rushed for three scores in three games. Against Ole Miss, he handled 29 carries and kept the Gators in control throughout the blowout.
Florida’s next chance to build on that surge comes Oct. 3 at Missouri.
Chambliss, meanwhile, stayed productive in the loss. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 298 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he added 44 rushing yards on seven carries. For the season, he has completed 70.8 percent of his passes for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns, while also running for four scores on 28 carries.
The Ole Miss quarterback now gets a break, as the Rebels have a bye before visiting Vanderbilt on Oct. 10.
Elsewhere on the list, BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier has completed 71 percent of his passes for 642 yards and six touchdowns through three games, along with 64 rushing yards and two scores. He was 12 of 16 for 227 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in a 41-23 win over Colorado State on Sept. 19, and BYU heads to TCU on Saturday.
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover has been efficient and mistake-free, completing 70 percent of his passes for 850 yards with 80 passes without an interception and an 11-to-0 touchdown-to-interception line. He also owns a passer rating of 204.4.
In Friday’s 29-23 win over Northwestern, he went 19 of 29 for 201 yards and a touchdown. Indiana visits Rutgers on Saturday.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning has totaled 862 passing yards and seven touchdowns through four games, while adding 82 rushing yards on 32 carries. He completed 14 of 19 passes for 201 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in a close win over Tennessee on Saturday.
Texas has a bye before meeting Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 10.
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah has put up eye-popping numbers: 88.7 percent completions, 1,211 yards, 14 touchdowns and no interceptions, plus a passer rating of 228.0. Against Central Michigan, he completed 23 of 27 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a score in a 52-3 win on Saturday. Miami visits Clemson on Saturday night.
Miami receiver Malachi Toney has been just as dangerous, with 34 catches for 564 yards and seven touchdowns in four games. He caught six passes for 120 yards and a touchdown against Central Michigan, and Miami heads to Clemson on Saturday night.
The Sporting News also noted that Smith’s explosion against Illinois stood out as the biggest impression of the previous week, and that the watch list continues with more names on the fringe.
In Other News...
Ohio State Defense Faces A Road Test Iowa Can Expose
Ohio State heads into a ranked road matchup at Iowa with the kind of test that can sharpen a defense or expose a flaw. The Buckeyes will have to deal with a difficult environment and an Iowa offense that leans on quarterback Hank Brown, a productive backfield and a defense led by linebacker Cam Buffington and safety Zach Lutmer, while the bigger worry for Ohio State is whether it can hold up against the run and stay sound in coverage against tight ends.
The Hawkeyes have enough moving parts to make this more than a routine Big Ten trip, especially at home where the crowd can turn every series into a grind. Ohio States defensive front will be under pressure to set the tone early, because if Iowa can keep the Buckeyes guessing and force them to chase the game, this matchup could become a lot more uncomfortable than the rankings suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Defense Isnt In Trouble But One Concern Isnt Going Away
Ohio States defense has spent enough time under the microscope already this fall, and a former Buckeye who has been watching the unit closely sees a group with real room to grow rather than a unit in panic mode. He pointed to the kind of issues that can show up early in a season, including miscommunications and the absence of veteran star power, while still saying defensive coordinator Matt Patricia remains effective in his job. He also gave credit to Illinois quarterback Katin Houser for making the defense work for it.
The bigger takeaway, though, is that the concerns do not appear to be structural in his view. He expects the Buckeyes defense to keep improving and believes it will be good by the end of the season, even if the ceiling may not be quite elite. For a program used to treating every defensive hiccup as a minor crisis, that is a useful reminder that some early-season problems can be real without being fatal. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Sounds Different As Ohio State Heads Into Kinnick
Ryan Day spent part of the week laying out where Ohio State stands as it heads to Kinnick Stadium, and the conversation touched just about every corner of the roster. He gave updates on player availability, pointed to Julian Sayins continued growth, and said the running backs have made progress as the Buckeyes keep sorting out roles for Jeremiah Smith, Khary Wilder and Kyle Parker. It was the kind of check-in that comes with a road game like this, where the details matter and the margin for error tends to shrink.
Kinnick has a way of making even experienced teams feel uneasy, and Day acknowledged the challenge while framing Ohio States current state as a product of steady development since the season began. He also left open a few questions about how the lineup will look once the Buckeyes get through the week, including one involving Legend Bey and how much he can get done in practice before a decision has to be made. [Read more 🡒]