On3 Heisman Trophy Poll: Top 10 player rankings after Week 9

It was a quiet weekend for the top 10 teams in college football, with everyone taking care of business. In doing so, there were some standout performances when it comes to the Heisman Trophy race.

On3 stops to poll its top national analysts for their take. 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 Ty Simpson, Alabama – 64 points

WEEKEND STATS: 24-of-43 for 253 yards, 2 TD
Alabama got all it could handle against South Carolina and trailed by eight points early in the fourth quarter. Simpson found a way to battle back and get the win.

He was excellent on the game-tying drive, finding Germie Bernard for the touchdown and then Josh Cuevas for the vital two-point conversion. Simpson has now thrown 20 touchdown passes and only one interception this season.

2. QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana – 56

WEEKEND STATS: 15-of-22 for 168 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT | 5 carries for 45 yards, 1 TD
Mendoza accounted for four touchdowns for the second straight week and the fifth time this season. He did throw an interception, his third in the last four games, but he was otherwise very good.

Indiana never really gave UCLA a chance in the game, jumping on them from the start. At this point, Mendoza is creeping up on the 2,000-yard mark passing, while he has 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Stellar stuff.

3. QB Marcel Reed, Texas A&M – 55

WEEKEND STATS: 12-of-21 for 202 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT | 13 carries for 108 yards, 2 TD
Like Mendoza, Reed accounted for four touchdowns in a blowout of LSU. Texas A&M scored 35 unanswered points during the second half, and Reed had just about everything working after a pair of early interceptions.

Reed’s numbers are plenty enough to get him into the Heisman Trophy discussion. But it’s his mentality and leadership that are really the qualities that make him a legitimate candidate for college football’s top award.

4. QB Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt – 52

WEEKEND STATS: 10-of-19 for 129 yards, 1 INT | 8 carries for 20 yards, 1 TD
Statistically it wasn’t a week to write home about for Pavia, and yet he continues to inch his way closer to the top of the Heisman Trophy polling. How? Well, he’s taking Vanderbilt to unprecedented heights.

After back-to-back ranked wins, Vanderbilt has entered the top 10 in the poll and looks to be a legitimate playoff contender. It wouldn’t be there without Pavia, which says all you need to know about the savvy veteran quarterback.

5. QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State – 34

WEEKEND STATS: Bye
Sayin hit a bye week coming off arguably his best performance of the season against Wisconsin. In that game he went 36-of-42 for 393 yards and four touchdowns, without an interception.

The Ohio State quarterback has accounted for 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in the last four games. He’s also got the Buckeyes back to No. 1 and in position to defend its national title from a year ago.

6. QB Haynes King, Georgia Tech – 28

WEEKEND STATS: 25-of-31 for 304 yards, 3 TD | 12 carries for 91 yards, 2 TD
If Pavia gets credit for willing his team to victories, King has to get the same credit in the Heisman Trophy discussion. And he posts better statistics, generally speaking.

Saturday was his highlight game, accounting for five touchdowns in a big win over Syracuse. King was nearly perfect, topping 300 yards passing and nearly notching 100 rushing as he tallied the five scores. Lights out.

7. QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss – 24

WEEKEND STATS: 24-of-44 for 315 yards, 1 TD | 12 carries for 53 yards
Chambliss isn’t necessarily putting up huge touchdown numbers, but he’s doing everything asked of him in terms of putting the offense into favorable positions. Coming off the loss to Georgia, Ole Miss was able to bounce back with a win over ranked Oklahoma.

The Ole Miss starter threw 20 incompletions in the game, so it was a high-volume day. On the year, Chambliss has thrown for 1,864 yards and nine touchdowns, despite not beginning the year as the starter. That’s impressive.

T-8. QB Dante Moore, Oregon – 15

WEEKEND STATS: 9-of-15 for 86 yards
Moore didn’t put up big numbers this week, in part due to injury. The offense was a little sluggish early on against Wisconsin anyway, then Moore was knocked out of the game after taking a hit to the face.

Luckily, the Oregon quarterback simply suffered a broken nose and should be no worse for the wear. It’s not anticipated that he misses any more time as he seeks to build out his Heisman Trophy resume.

T-8. QB Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati – 15

WEEKEND STATS: 13-of-21 for 111 yards, 2 TD | 11 carries for 85 yards, 1 TD
Sorsby has kept Cincinnati in the playoff hunt with his dual-threat ability. If not for a narrow loss to Nebraska in the season opener, the Bearcats might be talked up as one of the nation’s top teams.

Though he doesn’t get the publicity some of the other guys have gotten, Sorsby’s stats stand up to anyone’s in the Heisman Trophy race. He has thrown for 1,843 yards, with 20 touchdowns and just one interception. He’s also run for 425 yards and seven scores. That’s production.

10. QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia – 9

WEEKEND STATS: Bye
Like Sayin, Stockton was on a bye this weekend. However, he’s coming off his best game of the season, an absolute masterclass in a win over Ole Miss. He threw for 289 yards and four scores in that one, while also rushing for 59 yards and a score.

On the season, Stockton’s numbers are a little light in terms of touchdown passes. But Georgia doesn’t always ask him to do a ton. When he’s been asked to, he has proven perfectly capable. He has now helped Georgia win two shootouts.

Rest of the Heisman Trophy poll

T-11. RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame – 8
T-11. QB Joey Aguilar, Tennessee – 8
13. DL Rueben Bain, Miami – 5
T-14. QB Demond Williams, Washington – 4
T-14. WR Makai Lemon, USC – 4
16. LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State – 2
17. RB Justice Haynes, Michigan – 1