College football Heisman watch: Buckeyes' Julian Sayin storms into contention while Dante Moore tumbles

The Heisman race is one of the biggest talking points in college football - and for good reason.

At the collegiate level, it's the most prestigious individual award in the sport, and a prize that has launched countless stars into long and successful NFL careers.

Each week, I track how my top Heisman candidates rise and fall. One strong performance can send a player soaring up the list; one off day can drop them right out of contention.

After yet another wild week of action, which saw teams rise and fall in our power rankings, the Heisman race has been turned on its head.

So strap in, and check out my rankings as I explain how my top five stack up heading into Week 8.

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1) Ty Simpson, QB - Alabama ▲2 Places

Most oddsmakers list Simpson and Beck side by side, or Beck even slightly ahead. I don't care. To my mind, of the two, Simpson has been the superior player and the bigger difference-maker.

Statistically, he’s been sharp, throwing for 1,678 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just one interception, with excellent marks across every category.

Numbers aside, what stands out more than anything is how Simpson has taken a flawed Crimson Tide program from afterthought to realistic contender, helping them win several close games against strong opposition.

2) Carson Beck, QB - Miami ↔ Unchanged

Carson Beck’s season has been steady and efficient. His four-touchdown outing against Florida State was his best performance yet, but that game serves as the highlight in an otherwise unspectacular year, devoid of true 'wow' moments.

However, on the back of a 73% completion rate and an impressive 11 touchdowns to three interception ratio, Beck has guided Miami to a perfect record, making him a deserving frontrunner in the race.

To retain this position, Beck will need to demonstrate he can carry the offense in the biggest of moments.

3) Fernando Mendoza, QB - Indiana ▲ 1 Place

I held off ranking Mendoza this highly for the same reason that might stand in his way of a realistic shot in this race - his platform at Indiana.

On paper, his numbers compare favourably with the best quarterbacks in college football.

Unfortunately, despite shocking the world by reaching the playoffs last year, and regardless of how well they're doing this season, the Hoosiers are not typically the kind of college that produces Heisman winners.

Mendoza wasn't perfect in Indiana's win over Oregon. But crucially, he put the interception behind him and, on the very next drive, overcame penalties to deliver a strike that sealed the victory.

Small program aside, that's the kind of resilience and game-winning performance that bears the hallmark of a Heisman winner.

4) Julian Sayin, QB - Ohio State ✨ New Entry

When Nick Saban offers his opinion, we listen. He has his detractors, but it's hard to argue that the winner of seven national titles, the most in college football history, doesn't know a thing or two about NCAA football.

Sure, Saban’s biased - he recruited Sayin at Alabama after all - but let’s be honest, he’s not renowned for offering hollow praise.

Since taking over the reins of the Buckeyes' offense, all Sayin has done is win. He's chalked up 15 touchdowns, only three interceptions, and completed a remarkable 78.4% of his passes.

5) Jeremiah Smith, WR - Ohio State ▼ Down 1

That’s right, two Ohio State stars in the top five. They've earned it, and, as the top program in the nation, are you really that surprised?

Smith isn't posting eye-popping receiving yardage, but he goes into every game knowing that the Buckeyes' opponents will be doing everything in their power to slow him down.

How has he responded? By posting more than 500 receiving yards, averaging more than one touchdown per game.

Former Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, when asked to explain how gifted Smith is, described Smith's talents as something he's "never seen before."

High praise, coming from a player who is currently in the running for the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year .

The chasing pack

The big news, of course, is that Oregon's Dante Moore has fallen all the way from number one to unranked altogether.

As I said at the start, margins are razor-thin in the Heisman race, and Moore’s two-interception game was a serious setback for his Heisman hopes.

Ole Miss' quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, is still in the hunt and has an opportunity to vault back into the top five with a strong performance in DAZN's featured Week 8 matchup between Ole Miss and Georgia.

You can and should watch that game, which features another Heisman hopeful in Georgia QB Gunner Stockton, free and live on DAZN this weekend - one of 22 NCAA fixtures available for college fans to choose from.

Aggies QB Marcel Reed and Notre Dame QB C.J. Carr are the remaining two who make up the chasing pack. They're playing well, but need statement performances to crack these rankings.

However, as this week's rankings have shown, the situation can change quickly from week to week, so be sure to check back in for the Week 9 update next Thursday.

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