Wisconsin Football: 3 overreactions from win over Michigan in Week 4

3. Just give Jonathan Taylor the Heisman Trophy now

Make sure you read the heading before you send me any hate tweets — you can send them to @pastorddp by the way — we ain’t scared. Jonathan Taylor is a legitimate Heisman contender barring a season-ending injury. He may not win the Heisman, however. There’s a chance he doesn’t even make it to New York.

This is not at all an indictment of Taylor, his ability as a running back, or even his ceiling at the next level. This is about the direction the award has taken.

First of all, Wisconsin has built a stellar reputation a stalwart program in the Big Ten, but the Badgers aren’t the national brand Alabama is, or that Clemson has become. Second, it’s become the other quarterback award. In the last 20 years (1999-2018) running backs have won the award twice. For your trivia knowledge that would be Ron Dayne (1999) and Mark Ingram Jr. (2009).

If he even wants a chance to get to New York, he’ll have to find a way to get ahead of preseason darlings Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert (all quarterbacks) and Justin Fields — a player from his region and conference — has played lights out so far this year (also a quarterback).

I haven’t even mentioned new favorite Jalen Hurts and his conference rival Sam Ehlinger, or “Smokin'” Joe Burrow. This might sound like hyperbole, but Taylor would have to break both Barry Sanders’ records for rushing yards and touchdowns; that might only get him an invite.