Time to hand out a few helmet stickers for a job well done. Your stickers are in the mail, boys. We're even making history this week:
Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: Holy. Cow. Smith deserves the helmet sticker of all helmet stickers for his game on Saturday, leaving no doubt in regards to the Heisman Trophy race. He's officially the unquestioned frontrunner. In a 70-63 win over Baylor in West Virginia's first-ever Big 12 Conference game, Smith threw for 656 yards on 45-of-51 passing with a whopping eight touchdown passes. "Please explain to me how he can improve on that," coach Dana Holgorsen told reporters after the game. I ... I got nothin'.
Eric Ward, WR, Texas Tech: Ward had the play of the day for Texas Tech, hauling in a 19-yard touchdown pass on first-and-goal from the 19 to put the Red Raiders ahead by eight in their 24-13 road win over Iowa State. Ward gave the Cyclones fits all night and caught nine passes for 122 yards in a defense-laden game. Not everybody in the Big 12 has forgotten how to cover, but Ward worked to get free.
David Ash, QB, Texas: Ash helped Texas rally to beat Oklahoma State, 41-36, and finished the game with 304 yards and three touchdowns on 30-of-37 passing. Despite throwing his first interception of the season, Ash bounced back to lead Texas to touchdowns on three of its four final drives. He's grown up, and sure, he may suffer a bad game at some point down the line, but Mack Brown said it best after the game: "He couldn't have done this last year." He did it this year, though, and Oklahoma State's secondary is a whole lot different than Ole Miss' secondary.
Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor: This is a first, but it's unavoidable. I've never, ever given out a helmet sticker for a player on a losing team, but nobody's ever deserved to buck that trend more than Williams does after his performance on Saturday. On the road against a top-10 opponent, Williams led all receivers with 17 catches for 314 yards and added two touchdowns. He broke the single-game school records for catches and yardage. The Bears suffered a 70-63 loss to West Virginia, but it wouldn't have been a game without Williams.
Chris Hackett, S, TCU: Hackett was all over the place for TCU in the Frogs' 24-16 win over SMU. With apologies to Devonte Fields (4 TFL, 2.5 sacks), I'm giving the sticker to Hackett. Hackett scooped up a Zach Line fumble, returning it 11 yards to set up TCU's first touchdown of the night. Hackett later intercepted Garrett Gilbert. That loomed large in what became a sloppy, close win in the Dallas rain for the Frogs.