Week 9 brought chaos in the best possible way. We saw one quarterback throw for over 600 yards, a few others rack up five touchdowns, and plenty of players who would probably rather forget their Saturday. Let’s look at who shined and who stumbled as the Heisman race heats up.
Who Shined?
Drew Mestemaker, QB, North Texas
608 yards. Yes, you read that right. 608 yards in one game. Mestemaker didn’t just light up the scoreboard, he rewrote the stat sheet and added four touchdowns for good measure. With USF losing this week, North Texas suddenly looks like a real contender for the Group of Five playoff bid. Mestemaker has the Mean Green believing, and fans across the country are starting to take notice.
Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech has had a habit this year of playing down to its competition, but that wasn’t the case against Syracuse. The Yellow Jackets rolled to a 41–16 win, and King was in total control from start to finish. He threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 91 yards and two more scores. That’s five total touchdowns on a night when he did everything right.
Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU
There were questions about BYU’s offense heading into the season, especially after Bachmeier was unexpectedly thrust into the starting job in July. Those questions can be put to rest. Against Iowa State, Bachmeier was everything for the Cougars, throwing for 307 yards and three touchdowns while leading the team in rushing with 49 yards and another score. No dink-and-dunk here as he carried BYU from start to finish and looked every bit like a star.
Honorable Mention: Demond Williams Jr., QB, Washington
There were too many great performances this week to stop at three. Williams Jr. deserves a mention after a huge game that kept Washington’s playoff hopes alive. He threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns and added 66 yards on the ground, giving Illinois’ defense fits all night. His dual-threat ability was the difference in a statement win.
Who Struggled?
Kaidon Salter, QB, Colorado
It was rough in Boulder on Saturday. Utah beat Colorado 53–7, and the offense could not get anything going. Salter struggled from start to finish, completing just 9 of 22 passes for 37 yards and an interception. His backup nearly doubled that total in a few drives, and it all came against a Utah team starting a freshman quarterback. It was the kind of night you burn the film and move on.
Drake Lindsey, QB, Minnesota
Coming off a big win over Nebraska, Lindsey followed it up with a clunker. He threw three interceptions and finished with only 109 passing yards. The run game didn’t help much, but as the quarterback, the blame starts with him. Minnesota’s offense never found a rhythm, and it showed.
Sam Jackson V, QB, Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State was outmatched from the first snap against Texas Tech, and Jackson V had a tough night trying to get anything going. He completed less than half of his passes and finished with under 50 yards. A brutal performance that contributed to a long night for the Cowboys.
My Heisman Rankings (If the Season Ended Today)
- Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Alabama made things harder than they should have in a potential trap game, but Simpson still delivered. His touchdown-to-interception ratio climbed to an incredible 20-to-1, and he continues to push the ball downfield without making mistakes. His control and decision-making have kept Alabama steady through every test. - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Indiana’s rout of UCLA moved Mendoza up the board, but he still trails Simpson in the overall race. His Saturday numbers of 168 yards and two touchdowns don’t jump off the page, but he ran the offense perfectly and didn’t have to do much late with the game out of reach. Sometimes efficient is more impressive than flashy, and Mendoza keeps proving that week after week. - Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M
Reed has Texas A&M playing some of its best football in years. The Aggies have had plenty of false hope before, but this feels different. His latest showing came in a blowout win at LSU, where he added to an already strong season and kept A&M right in the thick of the SEC and CFP race. He’s becoming one of the most complete players in the country. - Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
I might be a week late to the party, but I’m officially on the Pavia bandwagon. Even in a low-scoring win, he continues to show that rare knack for making the right play at the right time. There’s no stat for the “it” factor, but if there were, Pavia would lead the country. He’s the kind of player who elevates everyone around him and finds a way to win when it matters most.
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