Heisman Trophy Watch 2017: Big upsets shift order in Week 6

Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen received the bulk of the preseason hype among Pac-12 quarterbacks. But the best quarterbacks in the conference play a few states north. Jake Browning was a Heisman contender last year, but he has ceded position in this year’s race to his Apple Cup rival on the other side of the state.

Luke Falk has been putting up eye-popping numbers for the past few years in Mike Leach’s pass-happy Washington State offense. This year, Falk has the Cougars in contention for the conference title as one of two Pac-12 teams that still boast undefeated records. Against Oregon on Saturday in Eugene, Falk put up another solid performance to move the Cougars to 6-0 on the season.

Related Story: Washington State Football: Could Luke Falk be the best QB in the Pac-12?

It was technically his worst outing of the year, but winning will mitigate that fact. Falk finished 24-of-42, posting a sub-60 percent completion rate for the first time this year. He also failed to reach 300 passing yards for the first time in a full game this season. (Falk finished with 193 yards against Boise State in an injury-shortened performance.) The Washington State quarterback did throw three touchdown passes, though, and avoided an interception in the blowout win.

Last year Washington State leaped up into the national consciousness as they pushed Washington for the Pac-12 North title. Back in the discussion this season after upsetting USC and climbing into the top 10 of the AP Top 25, the Cougars’ success has opened the door for Falk’s Heisman campaign to take off in full force.