Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch has surged into second place behind Florida State’s Jameis Winston in the latest USA Today Heisman Survey released on Monday.
Winston was ranked first on 22 ballots and was left off of three to finish with 68 points. Lynch had 30 points and three first-place votes while AJ McCarron of Alabama had 20 points and one first-place vote.
In the BCS era, no player from a non-automatic qualifying conference has won the Heisman trophy, but it looks like Lynch has a great shot to make it to New York as a finalist.
Meanwhile, the race remains in a bit of limbo as Winston remains under investigation for an alleged sexual assault battery incident Dec. 7, 2012, though no charges have been filed as of yet.
Breaking down the ballots (three points are awarded for a first-place vote, two for second and one for third):
1. QB Jameis Winston, Florida State: 22-1-0 = 68
2. QB Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois: 3-7-7 = 30
3. QB AJ McCarron, Alabama: 1-5-7 = 20
4. QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State: 0-3-6 = 12
5. RB Andre Williams, Boston College: 0-3-2 = 8
6. QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M: 0-3-0 = 6
7. (tie) QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon: 0-1-2 = 4
7. (tie) QB Bryce Petty, Baylor: 0-2-0 = 4
9. QB Derek Carr, Fresno State: 0-1-0 = 2
10. (tie) RB Tre Mason, Auburn: 0-0-1 = 1
10. (tie) RB Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona: 0-0-1 = 1