Source: jokeblogger.com / The top candidates have emerged, but the Heisman race is completely wide-open

Week 3 of the college football season is under way with a few games tonight, and another full Saturday slate of action on tap for tomorrow. But before we get to another action-packed weekend, let's take a look at how the early season Heisman race is shaping up.

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Unsurprisingly, after a couple weeks worth of action, there is still much to be decided in the seemingly wide-open Heisman race. While those at the very top have cemented themselves as the leading candidates (Bama's Tua Tagovailoa & Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor we are looking at you), others have emerged as legitimate contenders to take home the trophy.

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The season is just two weeks old, but there has already been shuffling along the 'Heisman Contender List". QB Joe Burrow of LSU has catapulted himself into the middle of the race, while early-season co-favorite Trevor Lawrence has went tumbling down the list. Lawrence's tremendous upside, talent, and overall favorable schedule the rest of the way, however, keeps him in the race after a surprisingly slow start to the season.

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A pair of WRs are on the list after impressive starts to the season, but of course, will have to put up monster numbers week-in & week-out to keep up with the prolific output of the QBs at the top of this list. The season is just starting to heat up, and so is the Heisman Race. Without further ado, here's how the contenders stand after the first couple of weeks of action:

(Next to each player is an indicator of how they trending: ⬆️ up, ⬇️ down, or ↔️ neutral)

Source: AL.com / Bama QB Tua Tagovailoa has picked up right where he left off last season - thrashing opposing defenses while the Tide have rolled out to a 2-0 start.

(1) QB TUA TAGOVAILOA BAMA ⬆️

Season Stats: (2 games)

42/55, 536 pass yds, 7TD, 0INT

7rush/48 rush yds, 1TD

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Tagovailoa has led the Crimson Tide to an easy 2-0 start to the season, while throwing 7TDs and 0INTs. It's the type of start that everyone expected, and keeps him atop the list. However, with several contenders off to big starts, he will need to keep it up. The Alabama-LSU showdown could have a major impact on the Heisman race later in the season as well.

Source: collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com / Taylor has yet to even play 3 full quarters in a game this year, but torched both South Florida & CMU for 4TDs in each game.

(2) HB JONATHAN TAYLOR WISC ⬆️

Season Stats: (2 games)

35rush/237 rush yds, 5TD

5rec/65 rec yds, 3TD

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Taylor is off to a superb start to the season, and it's not just the Junior's running ability that's making headlines, but his pass-catching as well. How about this stat: through 2 games Taylor has not even played 6 quarters worth of football, has touched the football a total of 40 times (rush & receptions), and 8 of those touches have gone for scores. 1 in every 5 times Taylor gets the football, he scores. That impreasive start is definitely Heisman-worthy.

Source: oudaily.com / Hurts has done it through the air & the ground, ripping Houston's atrocious D for 6 total TDs in the season opener (3 pass, 3 rush).

(3) QB JALEN HURTS OKLA ⬆️

Season Stats: (2 games)

34/41, 591 pass yds, 6TD, 0INT

24rush/223 rush yds, 3TD

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Hurts took the college football world by storm after ripping apart Houston's D for 6 total TDs & over 500 yards of total offense to open the season. He's off to an incredible start, but now has to do it against much better competition. Tearing up Houston & South Dakota won't win you the Heisman, but it can get you off to a great start in the race. Hurts has cemented himself as a top-5 contender in OU's high-powered offense.

Source: theathletic.com / QB Joe Burrow of LSU absolutely scorched the Longhorns last week in a highly entertaining game from Austin, TX. LSU is now #4 and so is Burrow in the Heisman race.

(4) QB JOE BURROW LSU ⬆️*

Season Stats: (2 games)

54/66, 749 pass yds, 9TD, 1INT

10rush/10 rush yds

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The LSU Tigers are mostly known for a dominant defense & superb running game, but now add elite passer to the mix. QB Joe Burrow has gone crazy to open the season, seemingly throwing where he wants to, when he wants to with ease. He torched Texas on the road last week for 471 yards and 5TDs while completing an insane 31/38 passes! The Longhorns are a solid football team and they were absolutely gutted by Burrow. Last week was his coming out party, let's see if the Tiger continue their newfound pass-happy ways going forward.

Source: thelantern.com / QB Justin Fields & OSU have been very impressive over the first two weeks. Fields has done it with both his arm & his legs accounting for 9 total TDs already.

(5) QB JUSTIN FIELDS OSU ⬆️

Season Stats: (2 games)

38/50, 458 pass yds, 6TD, 0INT

21rush/103 rush yds, 3TD

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Fields has been nothing short of terrific in the early-going. He has stepped in and run the Ohio State offense confidently & smoothly through the first two weeks, including last week's surprise blowout of a solid Cincinnati team. With 9 total TDs and 0 INTs after 2 games, he has announced himself as a legitimate contender. The competition ratchets up this week however, with a trip to Indiana & the start of Big TEN play.

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'NEXT' Group of Contenders:

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(6) QB SAM EHLINGER TEXAS ↔️

Season Stats: (2 games)

59/85, 677 pass yds, 8TD, 0INT

27rush/94 rush yds, 1TD

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(7) WR JERRY JEUDY BAMA ⬆️

Season Stats: (2 games)

18 rec/ 240 rec yds, 4TD

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(8) QB JUSTIN HERBERT ORE ↔️

Season Stats: (2 games)

47/63, 552 pass yds, 6TD, 0INT

8rush/-16 rush yds

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(9) QB TREVOR LAWRENCE CLEM ⬇️

Season Stats: (2 games)

37/58, 436 pass yds, 2TD, 3INT

7rush/13 rush yds, 2TD

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(10) WR RONDALE MOORE PUR ⬆️

Season Stats: (2 games)

24 rec/ 344 rec yds, 2TD

2rush/3 rush yds

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