Heisman Trophy Watch Week 12: Trevone Boykin, Marcus Mariota Move Up

Nov 8, 2014; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports

9. Melvin Gordon, Running back, Wisconsin Badgers (7-2, 4-1 in Big Ten)

Last Game: 25 Carries for 205 Yards and 1 Touchdown; 3 Receptions for 44 Yards and 1 Touchdown (Defeated Purdue Boilermakers 34-16)

For 2014 Season: 198 Carries for 1,501 Yards and 19 Touchdowns; 11 Receptions for 83 Yards and 2 Touchdowns

Once again, Melvin Gordon went for more than 200 yards on Saturday. That makes his third 200-yard game on the year as a superstar running back who now has the Wisconsin Badgers back to being relevant again in the Big Ten title picture. Gordon has to split some time with Cory Clement and has minimal help in the passing game, but he is still putting up huge numbers.

Now, with Wisconsin in prime position to win the Big Ten West just like Nebraska and Minnesota, we get to see Gordon in the biggest games of the year as they all get to play each other and determine who wins the conference. It starts this weekend, as we hopefully get to see two of our Heisman candidates going against each other. But that rests on Abdullah being healthy.

With more than 1,500 yards, Gordon already has the stats to be in the Heisman race. Now comes the performances in big games, which will determine just how much stock we put in his numbers. He’ll either move up the list or fall out of the race with three games left in the season plus a potential conference championship.

Next: No. 8 Ranked Heisman Candidate