Post-Week 12 Heisman Trophy Watch: Melvin Gordon, Amari Cooper Rise

Nov 15, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) catches a touchdown pass defended by Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Jay Hughes (3) in the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Nov. 17, 2014 will be remembered as a day filled with upsets and exciting finishes…that hardly did anything to narrow down the College Football Playoff race.

But they did narrow down the Heisman Trophy race. In fact, they did a lot to narrow down the race. A record-setting performance, terrible play by some of the superstars, and the lack of games played by some of the candidates kept many of the same people on the list but dramatically shook up the race. We now have a solid 10 players that we keep shuffling around as we get set to bring you our Heisman Trophy Watch following Week 12 of the college football season.

More from Alabama Crimson Tide

• #10 Alabama football: 3 takeaways from close road win against USF
• College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 2
• Biggest winners and losers from College Football Week 2
• Alabama football: Is the Nick Saban Dynasty officially over?
• Alabama football: 3 bold predictions vs. No. 11 Texas in Week 2

Just like the MVP race in the NFL, these guys obviously have to be on good teams, but some of the stats are so amazing that we can’t leave people off that aren’t on national championship teams. In fact, we have to rank them much higher than you might expect.

There are still the staples of this year’s race. With three players from the SEC, two from the ACC, two from the Big Ten two from the Pac-12, and one from the Big 12, the race is spread out pretty evenly.

But because of what we saw over the weekend, we have a new No. 1. Take a look at who it is and where others stand in our Post-Week 12 Heisman Trophy Watch.

Next: Begin Heisman Trophy Watch Slideshow