Dante Moore surged to the top spot in the Heisman odds after five steady performances in Oregon's first five games, but the Heisman race is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world.
There's bound to be some movement during the Ducks' bye week, although Moore gets another premier stage next weekend when No. 2 Oregon hosts Fernando Mendoza and No. 8 Indiana at Autzen Stadium, 12:30 p.m. PT on CBS.
With the Ducks idle other contenders get the attention, which is bound to shift the odds a bit. Moore can tighten his grip on the top spot by outdueling Mendoza in Autzen, but today in college football Ty Simpson threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns while leading Alabama to a 30-14 win over No. 16 Vanderbilt.
Carson Beck and Miami lead No. 18 Florida State 28-3 in the fourth quarter with Beck throwing for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin tossed three TDs as the Buckeyes lead Minnesota 35-3 in the Horseshoe. Jeremiah Smith pulled down 7 of those passes for 67 yards and two scores.
Much of Heisman voting is regional and slightly irrational with an outsized component of it shaped by the trending story and momentum, like when Travis Hunter swept to the award last year based on his two-way heroics.
Moore has plenty of time to book his trip to the Big Apple, but it's essential that he plays well next weekend: The Hoosiers are a tough, upset-minded opponent, and the Heisman electorate will quickly forget a West Coast candidate who stumbles. SEC schools won four of the last five before Hunter.
As a team guy Moore doesn't care about the Heisman particularly but it'd still be great for recruiting and the program. Marcus Mariota remains Oregon's only winner in 2014.