On3 Heisman Trophy Poll: Top 10 player rankings after Week 11

The Heisman Trophy pecking order has seen a shakeup following a riveting round of college football action in Week 11. After Indiana‘s late escape against Penn State, quarterback Fernando Mendoza has taken over the top spot in our experts’ poll.

On3 stops to poll its top national analysts for their take on college football’s top award. Voting in this poll are Andy Staples, Ari Wasserman, Chris Low, Brett McMurphy, Pete Nakos, JD PicKell and Charles Power.

Each of the national experts submitted a ballot with his top 10 players on it, and we’ve compiled the results to create a complete ranking using points — 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for second, etc. Let’s get into how the rankings unfolded below.

1. QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana – 65 points

WEEKEND STATS: 19-of-30 for 218 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 6 carries for 20 yards, 1 TD
Indiana was pushed to the brink by Penn State, trailing by four points with only a few minutes remaining. Yet Mendoza and company never panicked. Instead, they buckled down and simply went to work.

Mendoza came up clutch on the final throw of the drive, lofting on to the back of the end zone for receiver Omar Cooper Jr. It was a perfect catch, perhaps the catch of the year. It was a Heisman Trophy type moment and may be the signature play of Mendoza’s campaign should he take home the top honors later this fall.

2. QB Ty Simpson, Alabama – 58

WEEKEND STATS: 21-of-35 for 277 yards, 1 TD
Though he officially only took one sack on the afternoon, Simpson was under considerably more pressure throughout the evening against LSU than he has been in much of the rest of the year. Still, he operated well enough to keep Alabama in front throughout.

Simpson has a remarkably impressive touchdown-to-interception ratio, now sporting a 21-to-1 mark. He is completing almost 67% of his passes and has been excellent in the big games this year. He has Alabama poised to potentially compete for the SEC title and a first-round playoff bye.

3. QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State – 57

WEEKEND STATS: 27-of-33 for 303 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Sayin threw his first interception in the last six games, though it was hardly detrimental to the overall Ohio State effort. He also took a season-high two sacks. Still, he only threw six incompletions in this weekend’s game.

The Ohio State quarterback continues to post excellent numbers. On the season he now has 2,491 yards passing and 24 touchdowns, against just four interceptions. Elite stuff.

4. QB Marcel Reed, Texas A&M – 38

WEEKEND STATS: 20-of-29 for 221 yards, 2 TD | 5 carries for 29 yards
For the first time in the last five games, Reed was kept out of the end zone on the ground. He’d made that a mainstay of his game in recent weeks, able to stretch defenses any number of ways. Still, it goes to show his overall versatility.

Reeed finished with two touchdown passes against Missouri and Texas A&M never really had any doubts in the game. It’s 9-0 for the Aggies now, who are creeping closer to an SEC title game berth and a College Football Playoff berth. Both of those will get you some Heisman Trophy looks.

5. QB Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt – 36

WEEKEND STATS: 25-of-33 for 377 yards, 3 TD | 18 carries for 112 yards, 1 TD
Pavia very nearly hit the 400 yards passing, 100 yards rushing mark that two other quarterbacks have hit this season. He turned in a season-high 377 yards passing in an overtime win over Auburn, able to answer at every turn when needed.

Pavia’s numbers are exceptional at this point. His passing numbers alone compare favorably to most other candidates on this Heisman Trophy poll — 2,440 yards and 21 touchdowns. Then you throw in his 613 yards rushing and seven scores and you get a guy who very well could earn an invite to New York.

6. WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State – 31

WEEKEND STATS: 10 catches for 137 yards, 1 TD
Smith logged a season-high 10 grabs in the win over Purdue, while also going for 137 yards and a score. The yardage total was his second highest of the season.

Few receivers have had the kind of impact that Smith has had while being the singular focus of many defensive gameplans. He’s having a Heisman Trophy level impact, now at 862 yards receiving and 10 scores, to go along with 20 rushing yards and a touchdown.

7. RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame – 26

WEEKEND STATS: 13 carries for 94 yards, 2 TD | 1 catch for 27 yards
For the second straight weekend and the sixth time this year, Love managed to find the end zone twice. He’s been absolutely electric in providing a scoring threat for Notre Dame, and the Fighting Irish are a potential playoff team because of it.

On the season, Love is fast approaching the 1,000-yard mark. He has 988 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. He’s also a big pass-catching threat, with 24 receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns on the year.

8. QB Haynes King, Georgia Tech – 19

WEEKEND STATS: BYE
Georgia Tech was off this weekend after suffering the first loss of its season against NC State a week prior. As noted then in our Heisman Trophy poll, that loss was really no fault of King’s. He was absurdly good in the game.

In fact, King became just the 17th FBS player to throw for 400 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game — and the second to do it this season. He has now tallied nine passing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns on the season.

9. QB Dante Moore, Oregon – 18

WEEKEND STATS: 13-of-21 for 112 yards, 1 INT | 4 carries for 46 yards
On another wet and rainy weekend, Moore returned to action after taking a shot to the face against Wisconsin two weeks prior. He appeared to have some rust, though the conditions also made passing difficult.

Still, Moore has had a few games now where he hasn’t made a huge impact. He he wants to get back into the Heisman Trophy race he needs to make a major difference in remaining games against USC and Washington later in the year.

10. QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss – 13

WEEKEND STATS: 29-of-33 for 333 yards, 3 TD
Chambliss was pretty close to perfect in a game against an overmatched The Citadel team. He was basically done by halftime, with Ole Miss turning to former starter Austin Simmons to get him back into the swing of things after that.

Considering he hasn’t started all season long like some other competitors, Chambliss’ numbers are remarkably impressive. He has thrown for 2,356 yards and 13 scores (against two interceptions), while also rushing for 434 yards and six scores.

Rest of the Heisman Trophy Poll

11. QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia – 10
12. EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech – 8
13. QB Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati – 4
T-14. LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech – 1
T-14. LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State – 1