The second half of the 2017 college football season has kicked off. That means the College Football Playoff race is heating up, as is the Heisman Trophy race. But what is the Heisman Trophy? It is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. It is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust in early December before the postseason bowl games. But, which players have the inside step towards a trip to New York in December?

Heisman Trophy Candidates

1. Josh Adams

Notre Dame’s shifty running back had 191 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-14 win over USC. That puts Adams at 967 yards for the season and marks his fourth 100-yard game. In a year of big-name running backs, Adams’ performance in a primetime game has launched him straight into the Heisman discussion.

2. Bryce Love

The nation’s leading rusher is coming off a bye, but there’s been no player more explosive than Love. He has a stunning 10.27 yards per carry and a majority of his 11 touchdowns have come from at least 50 yards out. His 198 yards per game is still best in the country by more than 30 yards.

3. JT Barrett

Barrett is also coming off a bye week but has a major game coming up Saturday against Penn State. His 1,351 yards and 18 touchdowns in the last five games have quietly made him one of college football’s premier passers. However, those numbers will be put to the test in a potential make-or-break Heisman game for the fifth-year senior.

4. Baker Mayfield

Mayfield continued to put the team on his back with 410 yards passing and two touchdowns against Kansas State. He holds the highest passer rating of any quarterback on the season and is the only one to have a rating of 200.

5. Saquon Barkley

Penn State’s stud running back ripped off a huge touchdown run and caught another touchdown as part of a three-score game against Michigan. He can firmly grasp the Heisman lead with a big game against Ohio State.