It’s Week 11 of the college football season, and that means the stretch run for the Heisman Trophy. On the updated college football futures, it appears that it’s down to a two-man race to win the sport’s most important individual award: Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
Barkley had been the betting favorite for weeks but is now No. 2 on the board at +175. That’s because the junior, who is all but a lock to be the first running back taken in the 2018 NFL Draft (Barkley won’t be returning to State College), has been slowed of late. Since a 211-yard rushing game at Iowa on September 23, Barkley was held under 76 rushing yards in four of the next five – and his Nittany Lions have lost their past two.
Team success plays a big role in the Heisman. In a Week 10 upset loss at Michigan State, Barkley rushed 14 times for 63 yards (zero yards in first half) and saw his streak of 15 straight games scoring a touchdown by any method end. While Barkley is also a fine returner, he only ranks third in the Big Ten in rushing with 864 yards. Is that Heisman worthy? Wisconsin freshman running back Jonathan Taylor is having a better season.