Our staff debates whether LSU RB Leonard Fournette’s Heisman campaign is essentially over.

CAN LSU RB LEONARD FOURNETTE STILL WIN THE HEISMAN TROPHY?

Christopher Smith (@csmithSDS): Yes, but …

His shot is only theoretical.

Many people underestimate the game he had last weekend against Arkansas, as he nearly reached 130 yards of total offense against a very good run defense even as his team needed to throw the ball in an attempt to chase down the Hogs. With explosive outings against Ole Miss and Texas A&M, he has a tremendous chance to win the national rushing title and lead LSU to a 9-2 regular-season finish.

The biggest issue is that Fournette played his one bad game in the most visible SEC contest of the season — just as his main competition, Derrick Henry, put up Heisman-worthy numbers in a huge win. So, Fournette now is way behind in terms of public perception. Not only would he need to give otherworldly performances in the final two games (he’s capable of that), but Fournette needs players like Henry, Ezekiel Elliott, Baker Mayfield and DeShaun Watson to stumble, both individually as well as their teams.

The odds are very long.

Chris Wright (@filmroomeditor): Not likely

He still has a case. He still has the numbers. And two Heisman winners — Herschel Walker and Mark Ingram — overcame lower-yardage games than Fournette’s 31-yard effort against Alabama.

The problem is everybody saw this one.

Is he deserving? You could make that case, that he’s a cleanup hitter with no protection, still blasting 50 homers a year. But he whiffed so publicly against Alabama it will be next to impossible to overcome, and whatever slim chance he might still have will be rendered moot by LSU’s poor finish.

Tom Brew (@tombrewsports): No

That ship has definitely sailed. The Heisman race is all about Derrick Henry now.

John Brasier (@john_brasiersds): No

The Heisman race always comes down to momentum at the end of the season. Fournette lost his momentum with the voters against Alabama. Derrick Henry has the momentum after big games against LSU and Mississippi State. Though Fournette is probably the best player in the country, LSU’s late collapse and his offensive line’s poor showing against Alabama cost him any chance.

Talal Elmasry (@TalalElmasrySDS): No

He could’ve overcome one bad performance against an Alabama defense that’s shut every running back down this season, but he won’t overcome the fact that he didn’t bounce back from that performance by immediately reasserting himself as the best player at his position. That’s what he needed to do last Saturday, and he didn’t do it.

Still, Fournette’s accomplishments are incredible and his numbers are monstrous, but it’s also more about what Derrick Henry has done over the course of this season. Other than outshining him in the year’s biggest game, he’s averaging 178.6 rushing yards against ranked teams, and he’s gone for 200-plus in three of the last four outings.

It’s also hard to ignore the fact that Henry has scored a touchdown in every game this season (15 straight going back to last season).