What to Watch For: FSU vs. Wake Forest

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to pass against North Carolina State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Florida State won 56-41.(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

5.) Jameis for Heisman

With Marcus Mariota taking a loss this week, FSU QB Jameis Winston could potentially be the front-runner in the Heisman race once again. If Winston can have a big day in the first half — or first three quarters — against an overmatched Wake Forest team, he will seriously help his candidacy. Obviously this isn’t something Winston is paying attention to — the redshirt sophomore isn’t worried about his Heisman hopes — but it is a story-line none the less.

With a big game Winston will stand in sharp contrast to Mariota who struggled against Arizona. But, given the caliber of the opponent, any interception or miscue is also going to magnified.

There’s a fairly unattractive truth (at least for Seminoles fans) about this year’s Heisman race– a good percentage of voters are not going to vote for Winston if there’s even a semi-viable alternative. Call it Winston fatigue, call it misplaced anger — call it anything you like — but if Winston is going to win the Heisman again he needs to be near-perfect and the competition needs to falter.

That’s why it will be interesting to watch Winston this weekend. A huge part of a Heisman campaign is just sustaining your own level of play. Winston still hasn’t lost. He’s never really had a bad game. If he can continue to play at a high level — and there’s no reason he shouldn’t again Wake Forest — those Heisman hopes will continue to grow.