Heisman Trophy Watch 2017: Several big contenders fall in Week 9

Several Heisman Trophy favorites either didn’t play or suffered significant losses in Week 9. How does it affect the field of contenders heading into November?

With one more month and at most five more games left to play, this is the time of year when Heisman hopefuls are going to start fading out of the race. We’ve already seen Rashaad Penny stumble after San Diego State dropped out of the New Year’s Six running in the Mountain West. For running backs, especially, this is the time of year when it is more likely to fall out of the top five than emerge out of the woodwork.

This week, it is Wisconsin’s freshman sensation at tailback who tumbles out of the picture. Jonathan Taylor started the game with 73 yards on 12 carries for the Badgers, but he was pulled out of the game with a left leg injury in the first half and never returned to the field. Wisconsin struggled to move the ball, but they still came away with a convincing 24-10 victory that showcased the Badgers’ ability to get things done even on an off day for their star in the backfield.

That opened up a spot for one new star to emerge in the race, on a weekend when upsets shook up the overall order of the contenders. Who sits in the driver’s seat of the Heisman race after nine weeks of the season? Keep reading for this week’s Heisman Trophy Watch.