A strong weak for Mayfield and a rough week for other front-runners has created more separation in the race than there has been in some time. The guy to watch: Josh Adams. With a big performance against Miami, he could really make a move.

Others considered: QB Lamar Jackson (Louisville), RB Rashaad Penny (San Diego State), QB Brandon Wimbush (Notre Dame), QB Kelly Bryant (Clemson), and DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)

10. QB Khalil Tate [Last Week: NR] (Arizona)—The Wildcats’ signal caller is doing some major damage on the ground. Even a loss against USC has him rising in the race.

9. QB Jalen Hurts [Last Week: NR] (Alabama)— Hurts was under 50% passing, but he was still the key cog in the Tide offense.

8. QB J.T. Barrett [Last Week: #7] (Ohio State)— Coming off the game of his life, Barrett had a game to forget, with 4 interceptions versus Iowa. His candidacy is essentially dead.

7. RB Nick Chubb [Last Week: #8] (Georgia)—Chubb has been unspectacular, but he is the best player on one of the nation’s best teams. Will need a major game against Auburn to be relevant.

6. QB Mason Rudolph [Last Week: #6] (Oklahoma State)—He wasn’t quite good enough, but he still threw for 448 yards in the loss to Oklahoma.

5. RB Bryce Love [Last Week: #5] (Stanford)—Love has built his candidacy on a truly remarkable season. After what was far and away the worst game of the season, he is still averaging 9.6 ypc.

4. RB Jonathan Taylor [Last Week: #7] (Wisconsin)— Like his team, Jonathan Taylor is being hurt by the Badgers’ schedule. Still, his 183 yards against Indiana bolstered his candidacy.

3. RB Josh Adams [Last Week: #4] (Notre Dame)—Adams was limited against Wake Forest, but he could become a real factor this week against Miami.

2. RB Saquon Barkley [Last Week: #3] (Penn State)—Some still have Barkley as the frontrunner. I don’t get it. Another marginal week against the Spartans, and the Penn State running back is here only by default.

1. QB Baker Mayfield [Last Week #2] (Oklahoma)— After passing for nearly 600 yards in a key rivalry game, Mayfield is now in command of the Heisman race.