Heisman Watch 2015: Christian McCaffrey closing on Leonard Fournette

Oct 24, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs from Western Kentucky Hilltoppers linebacker Nick Holt (10) during the fourth quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Western Kentucky 48-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sport

Here’s the updated Heisman Trophy rankings after Week 8 saw Dalvin Cook struggle, Seth Russell injured, Trevone Boykin off and Leonard Fournette look human.

As we head into the brunt of the conference schedules, these candidates are starting to slow, at least most them are. Teams are having to grind out some wins and some of them aren’t pretty, but they’re getting the job done.

There’s only five weeks left in the season, and the candidates have made it this far, now its time for them to push through and guide their team to victory, allowing them to have their Heisman moment.

Teams are starting to lose their perfect season, and we saw that with Utah and Florida State, which takes a toll on their Heisman candidates.

With some lacking the usual production, it’s allowing other candidates to quickly rise, such as Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey who had another 300-yard performance. Memphis Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch is slowly starting to garner some attention, and he’s climbing the ranks as well.

Seth Russell went down with an injury, and it’s unclear how much time he’ll miss, but that will certainly hurt his Heisman stock.

The Big 12 teams will face the tough part of their schedules, and with more losses, draft stock suddenly starts to decrease and you can play yourself out of the Heisman conversation.

With three candidates hailing from the Big 12, it’s leaving even more doors wide open for anyone to get an invitation to New York, to sit next to Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey.

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