The NCAA has seen a lot of the usual suspects at the top of the rankings this year but there are some unexpected undefeated teams at week 5. These teams have been flying under the radar but are slowly creeping up into the BCS conversation. First Clemson has been one of the biggest surprises as they beat the ACC favorite Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles were the first big challenge for the Tigers as the Seminoles were ranked #15 and Clemson was not on the top 25. In a season changing game the Tigers beat the Seminoles and entered into the top 25 for the first time this season. Last week Clemson was ranked #13 and were facing the #11 Virginia Tech Hokies in another test that would make them move up in the rankings yet again. The Tigers took full advantage of this opportunity as they beat the Hokies 23-3 and moved into the top 10 as they look to continue the climb to a BCS Bowl. As the Tigers continue to climb so does a former great team that had been in the top of the rankings for years until the fell down outside the rankings. The Michigan Wolverines are riding there QB affectionately nicknamed “Shoelace.” Denard Robinson has this nickname because he never ties his shoes and nobody will want him to after the way he has been running all over defences. Robinson has burned defences with his arm and his feet and brought the Wolverines to the Top 25 again. Robinson has changed the Wolverines but the defence is what has been winning games for Michigan as a very good shutdown group that allows Robinson to continue running all over the NCAA. The biggest question for Michigan is whether or not they can keep it up or if they will falter like in previous years. With the dominance performances by Michigan the Blue and Maze could be back and it is in large part due to Denard Robinson aka “Shoelace.” Another surprise team has been the Illinois who have snuck in to the top 25 with almost nobody noticing. The Fighting Illini have quietly come out to a 5-0 season and are now ranked 19^th in the nation after their win against Northwestern 38-35. The Illini are not as meteoric as Michigan and Clemson but they are slowly sneaking up into the top of the rankings. If they can get by some of their conference big names they may be able to shoot up the rankings but it will be tough. There are also a number of other teams undefeated including Kansas State who was able to beat Baylor and their QB Robert Griffin to earn a top 25 ranking. Houston is one team that has not gained the respect that many 5-0 teams get as they remain undefeated but are on the cusp. Behind the arm of one of the best QB that nobody is talking about in Case Keenum, Houston has gone out to an undefeated start. All of these teams have come out quick and with 9 weeks left the toughest games are yet to come. This usually leads to the great debate over which team is a real threat to make it to the BCS Bowl. It seems like the best two teams in the undefeated club are the Clemson Tigers and the Michigan Wolverines. The Tigers are becoming the favorites in the ACC after beating the two preseason favorites and are through their toughest spot. They still have some challenges in Georgia Tech and South Carolina that may hurt them but with their performances and confidence they could pull it off. Michigan does not have much in their way to have an undefeated season as the only currently ranked teams they will face are Illinois and Nebraska who are both beatable. With Michigan’s history if they stay undefeated they will be in a BCS at the end of the season. These teams will battle it out to remain in the Top 25 and try to enter into the National Championship conversation.

The top of the rankings saw some changes for the second week after LSU took over the top spot from Oklahoma. LSU continued to keep their top spot after a convincing win over Kentucky that solidified their top spot. Meanwhile Oklahoma continued to fall down the standings after a dominant win over Ball State 62-6 but could not keep their ground. Alabama moved up from the 3^rd spot after beating Florida 38-10. The two SEC teams have taken out the Oklahoma Sooners who are from the Big 12. The SEC bias is making itself known as LSU and Bama have overtaken the Sooners without the Sooners doing anything that waranted them falling to #3 in two weeks. With the SEC being the best conference every team in the conference tends to be looked at in a different light. Alabama’s win against Florida was essentially considered better than Oklahoma’s dominance over Ball State. Granted Ball State is not a good team and if the Sooners had made it close it would have been bad. The Sooners did not let it get close though as Ball State only earned 6 points to Oklahoma’s 65 but it was not considered as good as a win against Florida. Alabama did not dominate Florida but they did win convincingly and even though Florida was ranked they were not as good as many had believed. Alabama won the game and took over the 2^nd spot in the top 25 as Oklahoma was left wondering how they can possibly get back to the top. With two SEC teams at the top the National Championship will involve one when they face each other on November 5^th. For Oklahoma it is a matter of time if they continue their perfect season they will benefit from the conference play that will have to happen.

Heisman Watch:

1. Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)

Luck was at it again after Stanford’s week off and he was facing the biggest rival for the Cardinal which is never an automatic win. As Luck went up against UCLA he burned them for another great performance as he begins to pull away from the challengers. Luck threw for 227 yards and 3 TDs that gave him even more room in the Heisman race after poor performances by some of his biggest competition. Luck also showed a little skill in the receiving game making an amazing one-handed catch at the sideline that will be on highlights reels for a while. Luck again stays at the top as he is easily the best QB in the NCAA and has yet to do anything to upend his Heisman bid.

Stats (4 games):

71.4 cmp%

1,013 yds

11 TD

1 INT

178.0 rtg

2. Russell Wilson, QB (Wisconsin)

Thanks to some poor performances by some of the favorites Wilson got the chance to move up in the race and did it with a great performance. The Wisconsin Badgers faced their toughest test in Nebraska and Wilson led his team to the win. Wilson threw for 255 yards and 2 TDs against a great team. This has solidified his rise to the #2 spot in the Heisman race as he was able to burn a very good defence in a week where other QBs faced lesser teams and struggled. Wilson will need to continue his performances if he hopes to beat out Luck for the Heisman but he is making progress.

Stats (5 games):

74.8 cmp%

1,391 yds

13 TD

1 INT

216.9 rtg

3. Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

Griffin has been the sensation of the year as he has been one of the most diverse QBs in the NCAA and has brought the Bears to relevance. This week Griffin took on the Kansas State Wildcats in what could have been another easy win. The Bears did not get the win however as Griffin took a small hit to his race. Thanks to some bad performances he moved up in the rankings. The majority of his movement was caused by his completed dominance over K-State that did not translate into another win. Griffin threw for 346 yards and 5 TDs as he did everything he could to pull out the win. Unfortunately his race hopes are teetering if Baylor continues to lose but if they can continue to win he could be at the top soon.

Stats (4 games):

82.3 cmp%

1,308 yds

18 TD

1 INT

230.3 rtg

Notable Challengers:

4. Kellen Moore, QB (Boise State)

73.9 cmp%

1,137 yds

14 TD

4 INT

170.8 rtg

5. Marcus Lattimore, RB (South Carolina)

124 rsh

677 yds

5.5 avg

9 TD

AP Top 25:

1. LSU Tigers (1)

2. Alabama Crimson Tigers (3)

3. Oklahoma Sooners (2)

4. Wisconsin Badgers (7)

5. Boise State Broncos (4)

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys (5)

7. Stanford Cardinal (6)

8. Clemson Tigers (13)

9. Oregon Ducks (9)

10. Arkansas Razorbacks (18)

11. Texas Longhorns (17)

12. Michigan Wolverines (19)

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (21)

14. Nebraska Cornhuskers (8)

15. Auburn Tigers (–)

16. West Virginia Mountaineers (22)

17. Florida Gators (12)

18. South Carolina Gamecocks (10)

19. Illinois Fighting Illini (24)

20. Kansas State Wildcats (–)

21. Virginia Tech Hokies (11)

22. Arizona State Sun Devils (25)

23. Florida State Seminoles (23)

24. Texas A&M Aggies (14)

25. Baylor Bears (15)

Key Scores:

#7 Wisconsin Badgers 48 – 17 Nebraska Cornhuskers #8

- In the closest rankings game of the week Wisconsin took home the win with a great performance by Heisman hopeful Russell Wilson

Kansas State Wildcats 36 – 35 Baylor Bears #15

- The Baylor Bears had been undefeated largely behind Robert Griffin III and his performance and the performance continued but it did not result in a win

#13 Clemson Tigers 23 – 3 Virginia Tech Hokies #11

-  Clemson continues their rise through the Top 25 in the NCAA rankings and beating the ACC favorite Virginia Hokies have given the Tigers even more reason to believe

#3 Alabama Crimson Tide 38 – 10 Florida Gators #12

- The Crimson Tide took on their conference rival in Florida and beat the #12 team to move up to the #2 spot in the Top 25

Key Matchups Next Week:

#3 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #11 Texas Longhorns (Oct. 8^th; 12:00 pm)

- Oklahoma will try to stop their falling ranking in one of the biggest rivalries in NCAA as they take on Texas in the Red River Rivalry

Boston College vs. #8 Clemson Tigers (Oct. 8^th; 3:00 pm)

- Clemson will look to continue their rise up the rankings and it could be a challenge to move up by beating Boston College but it is still fun to watch the Tigers

#1 LSU Tigers vs. #17 Florida Gators (Oct. 8^th; 3:30 pm)

- Florida took a beating in the SEC last week and will try to make up for it in another SEC matchup with the top ranked LSU Tigers

#15 Auburn Tigers vs. #10 Arkansas Razorbacks (Oct. 8^th; 7:00 pm)

- Auburn had the biggest jump after being unranked and jumping to #15 this week but the Razorbacks will look to bring them back down by beating them on Saturday

We are now through four weeks of college football and this is about the time we start to see players solidify their position as a Heisman candidate. Once again I have reshuffled my Heisman standings, this time due to a loss. Remember it’s not just about individual statistics, but how your team performs during the year.

With that said here is our week four Heisman standings.

1. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Stat Line: 20 carries, 150 total yards, 2 total TD
Season: 107 carries, 611 yards, 8 TD

Lattimore did not have his best day rushing, but nonetheless he was still able to total 150 yards and two touchdowns. Lattimore struggled to find running room all day against Vanderbilt, averaging 3.9 yards-per-carry. Where Lattimore was able to hurt the Commodores was in the receiving game. Lattimore caught three balls for 73 yards and a touchdown.

One of those receptions was a 52-yard catch that put South Carolina up 14-3 — putting the game out of reach. Lattimore is now second in the country in rushing, but due to the fact that he gets so many carries he is a good bet to finish the season leading the nation in rushing.

2. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

Stat Line: 23-29, 279 yards, 4 TD’s
Season: 83-105, 995 yards, 12 TD’s, 2 INT’s

All Kellen Moore does week in and week out is produce. Once again Moore had a great game this time coming against Tulsa as he powered Boise State to an easy victory. Moore is completing 79 percent of his passes this season — his career best is 71.3 percent.

So far Moore has quieted everyone who said their would be a dip in production now that Austin Pettis and Titus Young moved on to the NFL. Despite the weak schedule, if Moore continues to put up numbers at this pace it will be hard for people to not give him the Heisman.

3. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Stat Line: 29-33, 338 yards, 5 TD’s
Season: 70-82, 962 yards, 13 TD’s, 0 INT’s

Robert Griffin has more touchdowns (13) than incompletions (12). If that doesn’t scream Heisman than nothing will. He leads the country in quarterback rating at 236.2 and has also rushed for 167 yards. Griffin has become a pass first quarterback who can also beat you on the run. It is going to be tough for Griffin to win the Heisman as Baylor still has to play at Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and home against Oklahoma.

4. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

Stat Line: 23 carries, 288 yards, 2 TD’s
Season: 65 carries, 613 yards, 7 TD’s

Rushing for 288 yards is one way to get onto our Heisman list. Last weeks performance by James now makes him the leading rusher in the country with 613 yards, even more impressive his the fact that he is averaging 9.4 yards-per-carry. James certainly has a chance to win the Heisman at the end of the year. For him it all depends on how Marcus Lattimore does.

If James finishes with better numbers and if South Carolina loses than James could be the favorite. The good news for James is Oregon has a very favorable schedule going forward with their only tough game Nov. 12 at Stanford.

5. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Stat Line: Bye
Season: 57-85, 786 yards, 8 TD’s, 1 INT

For Andrew Luck to win the Heisman, Stanford will have to go undefeated. And that is very possible. Expect Luck to really go on a hot streak in the next month as Stanford plays UCLA, Colorado, Washington State and Washington. By the time Stanford plays Oregon in November

Luck’s stat line could look something like 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. If Stanford gets by Oregon then we might as just hand him the Heisman in his post game interview.

Three weeks into the college season and we are not starting to see some familiar faces on the Heisman list. Now that most teams are done playing cupcakes and begin to start conference play, we will see the cream rise to the top.

1. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Stat Line: 37 carries, 246 yards, 3 TD’s

Season: 87 carries, 534 yards, 7 TD’s

What can’t Marcus Lattimore do? Whenever South Carolina needs a play they turn to their workhorse in the backfield. Lattimore turned out his best performance of the season saturday against Navy as he carried the ball 37 times for 246 yards and three touchdowns. 37 carries is a lot, but when you are averaging 6.6 yards per carry you might as well continue to hand the ball off. Lattimore is separating himself from every other running back in the country at this point as he is the only back in the country to rush for more than 500 yards. The Gamecocks have a very favorable schedule moving forward which is always key to a player winning the Heisman. If they can get by a two-week stretch where they have to go to Arkansas and then home to Florida, South Carolina could very well be in the SEC Championship and undefeated.

2. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

Stat Line: 32-42, 455 yards, 5 TD’s

Season: 60-76, 716 yards, 8 TD’s, 2INT’s

Kellen Moore shredded Toledo on Friday night completing 76% of his passes and throwing for 455 yards. In his first game against Georgia Moore completed 82% of his passes. Boise State has a very easy schedule so we can expect Moore to continue to complete over 75% of his passes while throwing a lot of touchdowns. Remember the Heisman is not just based off of a players individual statistics but also how his team does. Moore’s team has the best chance to go undefeated out of all the players I will list. If Boise State gets by TCU at home on November 12 then Kellen Moore could be the favorite to take home the trophy.

3. Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Stat Line: 26-39, 324 yards, 5 TD’s

Season: 80-116, 892 yards, 9 TD’s, 1 INT

Yes Matt Barkley’s numbers are slightly better than Kellen Moore’s, but Barkley has also played in one more game than Moore. Barkley is really putting together an impressive season and showed on saturday why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Against a Syracuse defense who finished in the top ten last year in country, Barkley completed 67% of his passes and made it look easy all day. Barkley has plenty of weapons around him so we can expect him to continue to put up big numbers. Having Lane Kiffin as his coach also wont hurt as Kiffin is one of the best play callers in the country. The big obstacle for Barkley will be how will USC fare against Stanford and Oregon? If he plays well and they win watch out. If they lose both games then you can cross him off this list.

4. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Stat Line: 20-31, 325 yards, 2 TD’s

Season: 57-85, 786 yards, 8 TD’s, 1 INT

The bar is so high for Andrew Luck that I look at his stat line of 20-31, 325 yards and two touchdowns and go that’s it? If any other quarterback had that kind of day I would say that’s a very good game, but because it’s Luck I expect more. It’s not his fault, but with the amount of hype around him you begin to expect him to throw four touchdowns every week. Through three games Luck has been very good and will only get better. I am circling October 29 as a Heisman showdown, when Luck goes to the Coliseum. Only one will survive, will it be Luck or Barkley?

5. Robert Woods, WR, USC

Stat Line: 8 rec, 82 yards, 1 TD

Season: 33 rec, 361 yards, 4 TD’s

Consistency is how you win a Heisman and so far Robert Woods has been the most consistent receiver in the country. He has caught 17, 8 and 8 so far in his first three games. He leads the nation in receptions at 33, two more than Michael Floyd. He is tied for seventh in receiving yards and tied for third in touchdowns. Woods may not be most physically gifted receiver, that award goes to Justin Blackmon, but he does have the luxury of playing with one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Not only that, but he is in an offense that tries to get him the ball. It is tough for receivers to win a Heisman and it does not help that he would split votes with Barkley, but nonetheless Woods has had a great start to the 2011 season.

The NCAA is in the swing of things as they entered week 2 and many teams began playing their real schedules after their warm-up games. Some teams began their conferences schedules while others took on some big rivals as they all continue towards the #1 spot. Oklahoma Continues to have a hold on the #1 spot as LSU and Alabama battle for the #2 spot. Meanwhile Boise State and Florida State remain in the top five while Stanford is just on the outside led by Heisman favorite Andrew Luck. With some of these teams in action the movement at the top of the Top 25 was relatively low. One major aspect of the NCAA this year is the emergence of new QBs in some major programs. The biggest shoes to be filled are at Auburn where Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton has moved on to the NFL. In his place is Barrett Trotter as the Tigers look to repeat as National Champion but may be the only ones who believe they can. The loss of their QB was a big reason why the defending National Champs were ranked 23^rd to begin the season. Not many believed that Trotter could live up to the success of Newton but he is doing everything he can to do so. Unfortunately for Trotter, Newton’s shoes are very large but he is doing enough to be a true #1 starter throughout this year. He was not extremely sharp as the Tigers beat the #16 Mississippi State Bulldogs but he is throwing with a 71% completion rate as the Tigers lean on their running backs. Although he may not be the next Newton, Trotter is still more than capable of running the Auburn offence and could guide them to a top 10 finish if he continues to help them win. Meanwhile in Alabama the departure of Greg McElroy has led to the AJ McCarron era, well at least somewhat. Unlike the Auburn Tigers many of the big programs are still trying to find a QB and are using two QBs in order to find their next pivot. Alabama is one of these teams as AJ McCarron seems to be their #1 but has a Red shirt freshman, Phillip Sims, breathing down his neck. He is not alone as Ohio State has also used two QBs to replace Terrell Pryor as Braxton Miller and Joe Bauserman battle it out. Bauserman looks to be taking the lead as he remained in their game against Toledo who gave the Buckeyes a run for their money. As these teams continue to look for their QBs there are two that are showing why they will not be challenge by any others. Andrew Luck and Kellen Moore have been the top QBs in the league as they lead their teams in the race for #1. They have also become the top two players in the Heisman race with a number of different players nipping at their heels.

Heisman Watch:

1. Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)

The Heisman is Luck’s to lose and there are a few players that are becoming favorites right behind him. He still has not done anything to end the favoritism as he led Stanford against a less than great opponent in Duke. He went 20/28, 290 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT. Luck’s performance was not surprising or amazing but he did what was expected which is enough to keep him at the top in a week where a few of his biggest challengers took the week off.

Stats (2 games)

68.5 cmp%

461 yds

6 TD

1 INT

173.2 rtg

2. Kellen Moore, QB (Boise State)

Moore took advantage of the loss by the Oregon Ducks and LaMichael James and took over the second spot in the Heisman Race. Moore will have an easy road after facing Georgia, Boise State’s only BCS opponent. Moore will have a rough road as he will not face any strong teams and will need to dominate every defence or he will lose out to some up and coming stars. If Moore cannot put up very big numbers he will quickly slide in the Heisman race.

Stats (1 game)

82.4 cmp%

261 yds

3 TD

1 INT

170.1 rtg

3. Marcus Lattimore, RB (South Carolina)

With the Gamecocks big victory against Georgia Lattimore has gained some traction in the Heisman race. He made his biggest case in this game as the Gamecocks used him to their full ability calling his number 27 times as he burned the Georgia defence for 176 yards and a TD. Lattimore is one of the rising stars that looks to continue his strong performance and takeover the Heisman race. With South Carolina a dark horse favorite to make it to a BCS Bowl and a clear favorite to win the SEC Lattimore will get a lot of attention and if he keeps up his performance he will be in a strong battle at the end of the season.

Stats (2 games)

50 rsh

288 yds

5.8 avg

4 TD

AP Top 25:

1. Oklahoma Sooners (1)

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (3)

3. LSU Tigers (2)

4. Boise State (4)

5. Florida State (5)

6. Stanford Cardinal (6)

7. Wisconsin Badgers (8)

8. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9)

9. Texas A&M Aggies (7)

10. Nebraska Cornhuskers (10)

11. South Carolina Gamecocks (12)

12. Oregon Ducks (13)

13. Virginia Tech Hokies (11)

14. Arkansas Razorbacks (14)

15. Michigan State Spartans (17)

16. Florida Gators (18)

17. Ohio State Buckeyes (15)

18. West Virginia Mountaineers (19)

19. Baylor Bears (20)

20. South Florida Bulls (22)

21. Auburn Tigers (–)

22. Arizona State Sun Devils (–)

23. TCU Horned Frogs (25)

24. Texas Longhorns (24)

25. Mississippi State Bulldogs (16)

Key Scores:

Michigan Wolverines 35 vs. 31 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

- The two longtime rivals fought to the end as Michigan QB Denard Robinson made a TD pass with 2 seconds left in the game

#12 South Carolina Gamecocks 45 vs. 42 Georgia Bulldogs

- In this essential SEC matchup the Gamecocks came out on top giving them an early advantage to win the SEC conference

Auburn Tigers 41 vs. 34 Mississippi State Bulldogs #16

- The unranked Tigers took on the Mississippi State Bulldogs for a big SEC matchup and also a big top 25 matchup as the Tigers fought back into the Top 25 by beating #16 Mississippi State

Key Matchups:

#15 Michigan State Spartans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Sept. 17^th; 3:30 pm ET)

- Longtime Rivals the #15 Michigan State Spartans will try to win the Megaphone and remain in the top 25.

Tennessee Volunteers vs. #16 Florida Gators (Sept. 17^th; 3:30 pm)

- The Vols and Gators are not the same teams as the past but are surprising many people and they will both face their stiffest competition in this contest.

#1 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #5 Florida State Seminoles (Sept. 17^th; 8:00 pm)

- The Sooners will look to keep their #1 ranking as they face their stiffest competition in #5 Florida State.

Our top three Heisman candidates from week one were all off this week, so with that sad there has been a bit of a shakeup in week two of our Heisman standings.

1. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Stat Line: 27 carries, 176 yards, 1 TD

Season: 50 carries, 288 yards, 4 TD’s

I had Lattimore ranked fifth last week after he had three rushing touchdowns against East Carolina. The only reason I had him ranked is because I believe he is the best running back in the country. This week Lattimore solidified his place on this list by single handily carrying the Gamecocks to a victory against a desperate Georgia team. Lattimore averaged 6.5 yards per carry on his way to rushing for 176 yards and South Carolina would need every yard. Stephen Garica really struggled throwing for just 142 yards and two interceptions. Lattimore put South Carolina up 38-35 late in the fourth a lead they would not give back. South Carolina plays Navy next.

2. Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee

Stat Line: 34-41, 405 yards, 4 TD’s

Season: 51-65, 698 yards, 7 TD’s

A lot of people are going to scratch their heads at this one. They shouldn’t though and hears why. Tyler Bray through the first two games of the season has been lights out. He has completed 78.5 % of his passes and has yet to throw an interception. Bray said before the season started that he set a goal to complete 70% of his passes and if he keeps this up he will have no problem reaching that goal. Yes it is only week two, but with Landry Jones and Kellen Moore not playing this week Bray was elevated. There is just no way that you can keep him off this list especially when he such great receivers like Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rodgers. With the talent around him, Bray may actually be a sleeper Heisman candidate for the remainder of the season.

3. Robert Woods, WR, USC

Stat Line: 8 rec, 102 yards

Season: 25 rec, 279 yards, 3 TD’s

I was wondering how Woods would follow-up his record-setting week one where he caught 17 balls against Minnesota. Well he followed up his stellar week one with another solid performance against Utah. His numbers were not eye-popping, but eight receptions for over 100 yards is still impressive. The important thing here is that Woods and Barkley are in perfect sync. Barkley is one of the most talented quarterback in college football and that will only benefit Woods. Winning the Heisman is a marathon not a sprint and Woods is showing he has the ability to consistently produce.

4. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Stat Line: 12 rec, 128 yards, 2 TD’s

Season: 20 rec, 272 yards, 2 TD’s

Justin Blackmon will be on this list all season long lets just throw that out there. He is in a pass first offense with a quarterback that knows how to get him the ball. Not only is he in a great offense, but he is the most physically gifted  receiver in the country. Last season he had 1782 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns and you can figure he will be hovering right around those numbers once again this season. If the Cowboys can go undefeated than Blackmon could become just the third receiver ever to win the Heisman.

5. Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

Stat Line: BYE

Season: 35-47, 375 yards, 1 TD

Oklahoma had the week off this week, but have a huge showdown next week when they travel to Tallahassee to play Florida State. If Jones completes 75% of his throws like he did against Tulsa than you can bet he will be back atop our Heisman rankings.

Week one of college football is in the books and some players stood out while others came up small in their games, i.e. LaMichael James. With all that said it is time to take a look at our Heisman rankings after week one of the college football season.

1. Landry Jones, QB Oklahoma

Stat Line: 35-47, 375 yards, 1 TD

Landry Jones connected on 74.5 percent of his passes as the Sooners cruised by Tulsa 47-14. Jones came into the season as my preseason pick to win the Heisman. This is his third season under center and last season Jones passed for 4,718 yards and 38 touchdowns. After week one all signs point to Jones putting up similar if not better numbers than last year. Up next for Jones is a trip to Florida State on September 17.

2. Kellen Moore, QB Boise State

Stat Line: 28-34, 261 yards, 3 TDs

Kellen Moore once again shined in a big game. He picked apart Georgia’s defense to the tune of 261 yards and three touchdowns. A lot of questions were surrounding how Moore would play now that Titus Young and Austin Pettis moved on to the NFL. Moore put all those questions to rest as he connected with nine different receivers. You have to believe that Moore has a very good chance of winning the Heisman now that Boise beat Georgia. The Broncos will likely run the table setting Moore up for a return trip to New York City. Next game at Toledo.

3. Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor

Stat Line: 21-27, 359 yards, 5 TDs

RG3 as everyone is calling him lit up a TCU defense that has finished No. 1 in total defense the past three seasons. Coming into the year Griffin was a dark horse candidate because of his athleticism. Well it was on display in Waco as he threw for over 350 yards and rushed for another 38. His biggest play of the game didn’t even come from him throwing or running, rather it was him running down the middle of field catching a pass on third and ten that led the Bears past TCU. It is going to be tough for Griffin to remain on this list because Baylor is just an average team, but this week he is certainly on it. Next game versus Stephen F. Austin.

4. Robert Woods, WR USC

Stat Line: 17 rec, 177 yards, 3 TDs

Justin Blackmon has received all the hype this offseason, but the best receiver in the country may be playing on the west coast. Robert Woods was the No. 1 receiver in his class a couple years ago and against Minnesota he showed why. Woods and Matt Barkley were on the same page all day as Woods caught all three of Barkley’s passing touchdowns. I believe that Woods has staying power as a Heisman candidate because he has one of the best quarterbacks throwing him the ball. If USC can have a good season then look for Woods to be a mainstay on our Heisman standings. Next game versus Utah.

5. Marcus Lattimore, RB South Carolina

Stat Line: 23 carries, 112 yards, three touchdowns

There were a lot of other running backs that had a better week than Lattimore, but I believe Lattimore is the best running back in the country and his three touchdowns justifies his place on the list. Lattimore never really got it going against East Carolina as his longest run was only 16 yards. With that said though he plays in the SEC where he will have plenty of games to showcase just how good he is. With questions still surrounding the quarterback situation for the Gamecocks you can expect Lattimore to get plenty of touches. Next up for South Carolina at Georgia.

Luck decided to stay in school and is already the favorite to be the top pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Can this pro ready QB finish out his college career with a Heisman?

1.  Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford, Sr:

Last year’s Heisman runner up decided to stay for his senior year to hopefully lead his team to a national championship and to win the Heisman this year.  Luck passed for 3,338 yards and 38 TD’s last year.  A problem for Luck is the Cardinal are filled with young receivers which could lead to miscommunication in the early part of the season.  Despite the youth of receivers, Luck still has the tools to be a great QB this year and in the NFL.  Luck has drawn a lot of comparisons to another Stanford grad in John Elway.  As long as Luck doesn’t go down the road Jake Locker went, Luck will be tearing defenses apart once again.

2. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon, Jr:

James finished in third place in the Heisman voting last year and should be very motivated to win it this year.  Rushing for 1,731 yards and 21 TD’s last year, James showed that he has a great burst of speed which makes him a threat to take it to the house anytime he touches the ball.   The fact that Oregon runs a spread offense helps James’ stats as he can also be a threat to get the ball as a receiver.   The one problem between James and a shot at the Heisman is the offensive line as only two starters return.  Because of that, James could have a difficult time getting another invite to New York.

3. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise St, Sr:

Playing in the WAC, Kellen Moore tends to slip past people’s minds sometimes, but the stats don’t lie.  Moore passed for 3,845 yards and 35 TD’s last year.  Moore will be without his go to WR in Titus Young this year and there are no returning wideouts.  With a young receiving core, this year will tell if he is a leader and can make the players around him better.  If so, then Moore should be high up on draft boards and should be in the Heisman talk once again.

4.  Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma, Jr:

Last year, Landry Jones established himself as a star QB in college football, and this year, Jones looks to solidify himself as one of the best QB’s in the country.  Jones passed for 4,718 and 38 TD’s last year.  Helping to pad Jones’ stats will be wide receiver Ryan Broyles, who could also be a Heisman candidate by the end of this year. When Broyles is being double teamed, Jones has a bunch of other experienced wide receivers to throw to.  As long as Oklahoma is successful, Landry Jones should be in Heisman consideration the whole year.

5. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina, So:

Marcus Lattimore exploded on to the scene as a freshman last year, as he rushed for 1,197 yards and 17 TD’s last year.  Lattimore was a key factor of why the Gamecocks played in the SEC championship game last year.  Lattimore doesn’t look to be slowing down this year either, with a veteran Gamecock team coming back to Columbia.  It may be a long shot that Lattimore wins the Heisman, as a sophomore, but if he improves on his freshman stats, at the least he should be getting an invitation to New York.

Dark Horses: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma WR; Case Keenum, Houston QB; Trent Richardson Alabama RB; Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St. WR.

The college football season is about to kick off in a matter of weeks. With that said, it’s time to handicap the field and take a look at a couple of the early favorites, some teams that will give you more bang for your buck and a couple of potential sleepers. All lines are from bodog.

The Favorites:

Oklahoma-9/2: Oklahoma returns eight starters on offense and seven starters on defense. It should surprise no one that Oklahoma is the early favorite to win it all and is preseason number one.

Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles are both preseason candidates to win the Heisman Trophy. Last season Jones threw for 4,718 yards and 38 touchdowns. Bryoles, Jones top target had 1,622 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. You should expect both Jones and Broyles to put up similar numbers, especially with a shaky running game this year. Oklahoma will have to find a way to replace DeMarco Murray who graduated. Roy Finch looks like the early favorite to replace him. If Finch is the starter he should have easy sledding as Oklahoma returns all five offensive linemen from a year ago.

The defense of the Sooners does have a few question marks, but overall is very good. The defensive line returns three starters from a year ago and the linebacking core boost one of the best linebackers in the country in Travis Lewis. Unfortunately for Oklahoma, Lewis is going to miss the first two months of the season with an injury. The secondary of Oklahoma has the most question marks as they need to find a replacement for Jamal Flemming, who dropped out of school.

The Sooners are a safe bet this season. They have a fairly easy schedule with only two tough tests. One of those tough tests will come week two when they travel to Florida State, a team they crushed a season ago. If Oklahoma can beat Florida State, it should be smooth sailing until their last game of the season when they go to Stillwater to play Oklahoma State.

If Bob Stoops is going to get rid of the nickname “Bob Oops” than this is the team he will do it with. If you bet $20 the payout will be $90.

Alabama – 11/2: Once again Alabama is a favorite to win the BCS National Championship. This years team however is a big question mark and its at the quarterback position. AJ McCarron and Philip Sims are in a battle for who will be the starter. I believe McCarron will win the battle.

Whoever wins the battle, their job will be a bit easier as they have Trent Richardson in the backfield. Richardson has shown glimpses that he can be a star. Now he will get the chance to be the man and he will have to be the man if Alabama is going to navigate through a very tough SEC.

Alabama like Oklahoma returns all five starters on the offensive line, which will provide Richardson with plenty of running room and should give plenty of time whoever the quarterback is.

Defensively Alabama has one of the best linebacking cores in the country with Dont’a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw. If both stay healthy the front seven of Alabama will be scary. The secondary also looks solid. The Crimson Tide have had a few injuries at the cornerback position, but Mark Baron and Robert Lester are shaping up to be one of the best safety tandems in college football.

All of Alabama’s toughest test come at home as they host both Arkansas and LSU. It will come down to their game at Auburn on Nov. 26. If they get through that game, they very well could finish undefeated.

At 11/2 odds, a $20 bet will win you $110.

Florida State- 10/1: There is a whole lot of hype surrounding this Florida State team. Understandable, they return 16 starters and the ACC is weak this season.

EJ Manuel takes over for Christian Ponder this season. Manuel has started six games for Florida State posting a record of 4-2 in that time. Manuel has the ability to pass and run and has a good supporting cast around him. Chris Thompson returns to the backfield and has the potential to rush over a 1,000 yards this season. The wide receiving core is loaded with talent, but to this point the production has not matched the talent.

Defensively Florida State is stacked. Brandon Jenkins is one of the best defensive linemen in the country after posting 13.5 sacks last season. FSU also trouts out one of the best cornerback duo’s in the country in Greg Reid and Xavier Rhodes.

Florida State’s schedule is very manageable. Their toughest game will be against Oklahoma which will be a home game. If they get past the Sooners they should run the table. Even if they lose to Oklahoma they will reach the ACC Championship game and should finish the year with only one loss, which would have them in contention for a National Championship appearance.

At 10/1 odds Florida State will pay the best out of the top three favorites. A $20 bet would win you $200.

Bang for your buck:

Wisconsin -18/1: The biggest question surrounding Wisconsin this season was who was going to play quarterback for the Badgers? Well they solved that question in a big way by landing former NC State quarterback Russell Wilson.

Last season Wilson threw for 3,563 yards and 28 touchdowns and is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Adding Wilson to the mix gives Wisconsin one of the most complete offenses in the Big Ten. Behind Wilson will be James While and Monte Ball. Both are excellent backs and will split the carries this year. Last season they combined for 2,048 yards and 32 touchdowns.

The loss of defensive end J.J. Watt leaves a huge whole on the line for Wisconsin. If someone can fill the void he left they should be solid. The secondary will be the strong point as Antonio Fenelus and Aaron Henry return to anchor a team that made it to the Rose Bowl last season.

The Big Ten will be competitive this season, but overall Wisconsin’s season is not too difficult. They get Nebraska and Penn State at home and have to travel to Ohio State and Michigan State. The Michigan State game will be their most challenging game this year.

At 18/1 odds a $20 bet will win you $360.

South Carolina -25/1: If I am betting on a long shot to win it all South Carolina is the team I am looking at the hardest. They are favorite to win the SEC East, have the best running back in the country and one of the best receivers in the country.

Fifth year senior Stephen Garcia is back and under center for the Gamecocks and if this team is going to make a run for a national championship then Garcia will have to keep his head on straight. Garcia has been suspended twice in the past year, but he has talent after throwing for 3,059 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Lining up behind Garcia is Marcus Lattimore, the best running back in the country. As a freshmen Lattimore rushed for 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns. Not only do the Gamecocks have Lattimore, but they have Alshon Jeffery. Last season Jeffery had 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns. Jeffery and Lattimore are both Heisman candidates.

Defensively South Carolina has some playmakers. Defensive end Devin Taylor had 7.5 sacks last season and they also bring in the nation’s top recruit in Jadeveon Clowney. The defense is a bit shaky in the secondary, but that is ok because the front four will get plenty of pressure on the quarterback this season.

South Carolina’s toughest test will come on Nov. 5 when they play at Arkansas. They is their only tough road game all year. Luckily for them they get to play Auburn, Georgia and Florida at home. They do travel to Mississippi State, but I do not see them having much trouble with the Bulldogs.

With two Hesiman candidates this is a low risk high reward bet. A $20 bet will win you $500.

West Virginia- 30/1: WVU has a new coach and that coach is Dana Holgorson. If you don’t know who Holgorson is then you will soon. He was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, Houston and Texas Tech. Everywhere he has went his offensive has produced and in a big way.

Holgorson loves to pass the ball, a lot. He has the quarterback in Geno Smith where he can throw the ball 40 plus times and be successful. Last season Smith threw for 2,567 yards and 23 touchdowns and this season those numbers should jump up to around 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns. WVU returns all their wide receivers for the most part and they have a lot of talent at the position. Smith’s former high school teammate Stedman Bailey is the guy to watch, he has great chemistry with Smith and all the tools to be a star. The running game is a question mark after losing Noel Devine. As of right now it looks like a true freshmen will take over at running back. But overall this is not terrible because WVU is going to throw the ball 50 times a game.

Last season WVU finished 3rd in defense. This year they will have to rebuild after losing seven starters. Defensive end Bruce Irvin returns to anchor the front three and Keith Tandy will be roaming in the secondary. WVU runs the 3-3-5 which confuses a lot of teams. It may take a few weeks for this unit to come together, but Jeff Casteel has proven to be on of the best coordinators in the country.

If WVU can get by LSU, who they play week four in Morgantown than this team could run the table. The Big East is a weak conference and their road games are at Syracuse, Rutgers, Cincy and USF. All four of those road games are very winnable.

In a bad conference WVU is an intriguing bet. A $20 bet will win you $600.

The Long shots:

Michigan State -60/1: Here is a team that went 11-2 last season and returns their starting quarterback and both running backs. Yes they are a long shot, but they have the pieces to make some noise.

Last season Kirk Cousins passed for 2,825 yards and 20 touchdowns and will have some weapons around him. In the backfield Edwin Baker returns after rushing for 1,201 yards and 13 touchdowns. Sophomore Le’Veon Bell also will see carries after he rushed for 605 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshmen.

Defensively the Spartans line will be their strong point as Jerel Worthy and William Gholston look to anchor the front four. The secondary will also be solid as Michigan State returns both their starting corners in Trenton Robinson and Johnny Adams, who combined for seven interceptions last season.

Michigan State’s schedule is pretty tough. They have to go to Notre Dame, Ohio State, Nebraska and Iowa. They also play Michigan and Wisconsin at home. Michigan State surprised a lot of people last year. Don’t expect them to creep up on teams this year as they will get everyone’s best shot.

A $20 bet would win you $1,200.

Auburn -100/1: Hey they are the defending national champions so why not take a flyer on them?

Everyone know’s they lost Cam Newton and Nick Fairley, but there is still some talent on this Tigers roster. The talent starts at running back with Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb. Dyer is poised for a breakout year after rushing for 1,093 yards and five touchdowns as a freshmen. McCalebb also looks to have a big year as he averaged 8.3 yards a carry a year ago and had nine touchdowns. If Barrett Trotter can manage games for Auburn and not lose them, then they could make some noise.

On defense the big question is who will replace Fairley? The Tigers only return one starter on the defensive line and that is Nosa Eguae. The secondary like the line also has questions as Neiko Thorpe is the only returning starter in the secondary. Gene Chizik is known as a defensive guy so he will be tested with this young group.

The Tigers have a great rushing attack and Gus Malzahn is one of the best offensive coordinators in the game. With that said their schedule is very difficult. They play at South Carolina, Arkansas and LSU all within a four-week span. They also end the season with Alabama at home. Some young players will have to step up and fast if the tigers are going to repeat.

A $20 bet will win you $2,000.

In The Discussion:
Denard Robinson QB Michigan- Electrifying player that can do almost anything with the ball in his hands, needed to win more ballgames though.
Brandon Weeden QB Oklahoma State- If the Cowboys keep winning and he keeps playing great, he could very well be invited to the presentation.
Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas- He has the stats, just not enough wins to take the award home this year.

TOP 5

5th Kendall Hunter RB Oklahoma State

STATS-  226 Carries 1356 Yards 16 TD 17 Receptions 90 Receiving Yards

The heart and soul of the Cowboy offense, he contributes something different every week.  Finally getting the recognition he deserves his senior season.  This isn’t a lifetime achievement award though.  He has the stats and the top 10 team to prove he belongs here.

Remaining Schedule: November 20 @ Kansas,  November 27 Oklahoma

4th Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State

STATS-  84 Receptions 1430 Yards 16 TD 4 Rushing Attempts 77 Yards 1 TD

Just ridiculous!  His stats and playmaking ability are just that.  Blackmon leads the nation in Receiving yards, TD and Yards per game and is second in receptions.  This kid has made people forget about Dez Bryant in Cowboy country.

Remaining Schedule: November 20 @ Kansas,  November 27 Oklahoma

3rd Kellen Moore QB Boise State

STATS-  2588 Yards 71.9 Completion %  24 TD 4 Interceptions

Mr. Efficiency is what I like to call Kellen Moore.  He makes all the throws without mistakes and has tremendous stats.  I know this is discussed every week, but he is usually out of the game in the 3rd quarter du to how bad the Broncos are beating their opponents.  His weak schedule really hurts him in my opinion.

Remaining Schedule:  November 19 Fresno State, November 26 @ Nevada

2nd Cameron Newton QB Auburn

STATS- 2038 Yards 68.2 Completion % 21 TD 6 Interceptions 1297 Rushing Yards 17 Rushing TD

If the whole investigation never takes place, he walks away with the Heisman Trophy easily.  It did happen and this may sway quite a few voters in different directions.  Hands down, Cam Newton has been the most spectacular player in college football, but with the whole pay-to-play allegations arising, I just can’t make him my winner at this time.  I honestly think this is going to hurt his chances to win.

Remaining Schedule:  November 26 @ Alabama, December 4 SEC Championship Game vs South Carolina

1st LaMichael James RB Oregon

STATS- 225 Carries 1422 Yards 17 TD 10 Receptions 149 Yards 1 TD

After watching most of the Cal-Oregon game on Saturday night, LaMichael James earned my vote.  He had a leg injury, but the team still leaned on him throughout.  His tough running in the 4th quarter helped run out the clock to seal the Ducks victory.  He left the game on crutches Saturday night, but luckily for the Ducks they have a bye this week.

Remaining Schedule: November 26 Arizona, December 4 @ Oregon State

Cameron Newton (QB/Auburn):  When you’re leading your team in rushing as a quarterback and your team is ranked #1 in the country, you’re making a very strong case for the Hesiman.  Newton’s numbers have been sick this season, averaging over 305 yards per game with 27 total touchdowns.  He will get at least one more chance to shine on national television when he leads his Tigers into Tuscaloosa to face Alabama in the Iron Bowl.  A strong performance against Nick Saban’s defense would essentially lock up the Heisman and an SEC Championship game.

Sophomore LaMichael James leads the most explosive offense in the nation (google images)

LaMichael James (RB/Oregon):  After missing the opener due to a suspension, many writers had removed the talented running back from their Heisman watch lists.  But James has burst back onto the scene and currently leads the nation in rushing yards per game with 161.  If Oregon keeps winning and James keeps getting his touches, he could be the fourth straight sophomore to win the coveted award.

Kellen Moore (QB/Boise State):  Once again, BSU’s quarterback has quietly put together the most efficient passing attack in the NCAA.  The junior signal caller has thrown for over 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns, with only one interception.  With six more games remaining, he could end up with video game statistics again this year, and his Broncos have their best chance ever at playing for the BCS Title.  If his stats hold up (and based on his career, they should) and if BSU can secure a BCS Title game, Moore will have as good of a shot as anyone at winning the Trophy.

Justin Blackmon (WR/Oklahoma State):  Dez Who?  Blackmon has ripped through secondaries all season long for the 6-1 Cowboys and leads the nation with 158.9 yards per game.  In last weekend’s shoot out with Nebraska, the sophomore wideout eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark to go along with 14 TD receptions.  If he keeps this pace, he would finish the season with 1906 yards and 24 touchdowns–numbers that should lock him up for a trip to New York.  OSU has a tough road to finish the season, with games against Texas and Oklahoma, so keeping that pace will not be an easy task.

Look for another breakdown in a few weeks that will provide our pick for the top three, along with who College FootBlog thinks will ultimately bring the award home.

5th  Kellen Moore QB Boise State Broncos  

He is nearly flawless this season, but with his schedule he should be.  He takes a step back this week due to the bye, but he holds on in the top 5.  I really think he will continue to drop because he plays a weak schedule the rest of the way. 

4th  Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State Cowboys

Another week, another huge game.  This week he put up giant numbers on the vaunted Nebraska defense.  With 5 catches for 157 and 2 scores against the Huskers he continues to lead the nation in a number of statistical categories.  The Cowboys need to win a few more games and keep putting up the offensive numbers for Blackmon to get more attention.

3rd  John Clay RB Wisconsin Badgers 

John Clay helped lead the way for the Wisconsin Badger’s victory over the Iowa Hawkeys on Saturday.  He rushed for 91 yards and 2 scores, churning out yards against the future NFL D-line of the Hawkeyes.For the season Clay has close to 900 yards and 13 TD.

2nd  LaMichael James RB Oregon Ducks 

The most explosive player on the number one team in the country deserves some love, right?  James has been consistent all season, rushing for 123 yards and 2 TD in the Ducks 60-13 romp over the UCLA Bruins.  He should continue his tremendous season throughout the Pac-10.

1st Cameron Newton QB Auburn Tigers

Did you see his long touchdown run on Saturday against LSU?  If you didn’t check it here(that song is pretty good too, Winner by Jamie Foxx).  Plays like that are nothing new for Newton, he has been doing it all year.  He has the Auburn Tigers at 8-0, with their next toughest match coming at Alabama on November 26.  He could have a TD number in the mid 40′s by then.

In The Discussion

DeMarco Murray RB Oklahoma Sooners, Robert Griffin QB Baylor Bears, Kirk Cousins QB Michigan State, Matt Barkley QB USC Trojans, Taylor Martinez QB Nebraska Cornhuskers, Terrelle Pryor QB Ohio State Buckeyes, Denard Robinson QB Michigan Wolverines

5th Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State Cowboys  He leads the nation in most major categories for receiving and is a major reason behind his Cowboys being 6-0 with a big time battle against Nebraska this week.  He will be matched up with stud CB Prince Amukamara for the Huskers.  If he has a big game here, he will climb on this list.

4th DeMarco Murray RB Oklahoma Sooners   The All-Time leader in Touchdowns for the Oklahoma Sooners keeps getting it done every week.  He padded his stats against a weak Iowa State team last week, but he will have a national spotlight on Saturday night when his Sooners head to Mizzou for a battle with the Tigers.

3rd LaMichael James RB Oregon Ducks  He dropped a spot after the bye week, but LaMichael still has a great shot to hoist the trophy in December.  Look for him to have a huge game against the Bruins this Thursday night.

2nd Kellen Moore QB Boise State Broncos 14-16 fro 231 yards and 2 TD, and that is just in the half he played.  His stats would be twice as impressive if he played in the 2nd half of any games this year.  The fact that he plays a weak schedule in the WAC is what bothers me about him.

1st Cameron Newton QB Auburn Tigers His performance in the shootout against the Razorbacks was incredible.  He added another 4 TD’s to his tally this season and almost rushed for 200 yards.  He has the Tigers up to number 5 in both polls and 4th in the BCS rankings.  He finds a way to get it done every week.

5th Kellen Moore QB Boise State   He has 14 TD to 1 INT this season, and is averaging 9.9 yards per completion.  These stats are great considering he hasn’t played much in the 2nd half of the last few games.

4th Taylor Martinez QB Nebraska Wow!  That is all I can say about his performance last Thursday against KSU.  He made the Wildcat defense look silly with his blazing speed.  Martinez leads all FBS schools with 10.8 yards per rush and 12 rushing TD.

3rd Terrelle Pryor QB Ohio State  Slowly, but surely Pryor is beginning to quiet his critics.  He is throwing the ball better this season than he ever has, coming off a great performance against Indiana.  He was 24-30 for 334 yards and 3 TD.  For the season he has 15 TD to 3 INT and is completing nearly 70% of his passes.

2nd LaMichael James RB Oregon  Had an impressive game last week with 223 total yards and 3 scores.  He has been an extremely consistant performer so far this season and that is what it takes to win the Heisman Trophy.

1st Cameron Newton QB Auburn  He continues to put the Tigers on his shoulders and they continue to win.  He had 4 rushing TD last week, adding to his impressive total TD mark of 21.  If the Tigers keep winning, he will stay atop this list.

5th Cameron Newton QB Auburn Tigers

He has carried the Tigers on his super-sized shoulders to a 5-0 record, both throwing and running the football.  His mix of accuracy, a big time arm and mobility are 3 of the biggest reasons Auburn is undefeated.

4th Daniel Thomas RB Kansas State

This do it all running back has the odds stacked against him every week, but he still manages to get his yards and big plays.  This former QB is a pro at running the Wildcat for HC Bill Snyder.

3rd DeMarco Murray RB Oklahoma Sooners

Did you see him tip toe the sidelines against Texas last Saturday?  He is a do it all player for the Sooners who deserves more pub.

2nd Colin Kaepernick QB Nevada

I know this is probably way too high for many peoples liking, but he is as good as they come with the ball in his hands.  He should lead his team to an undefeated record when the Wolfpack face Boise State later in the season.

1st Denard Robinson Michigan Wolverines

I really don’t need to say much about this phenom.  He is the Heisman winner right now and if his season continues this way, it will be impossible to overlook Mr. Robinson.

After splitting snaps with Robert Marve as a freshman, Harris took the reigns last season exclusively.  And the then-sophomore QB didn’t disappoint.  When the dust settled, Harris led the ACC with 3,352 yards passing. In order for Harris to have a legitimate shot at the Heisman, at least two things must happen in 2010.  College FootBlog takes an in-depth look at these items and analyzes Harris’ chances of punching a plane ticket to New York this December.

Harris must cut down on his mistakes this fall if he wants a shot at the Heisman (google images)

Many of those picks were due to poor decisions and/or bad reads.  Other picks were caused by pressure up the middle that did not allow Harris to properly step into his throws, which caused the ball to float, giving the defensive backs time to adjust and attack the ball at its highest point.  He must improve this if he wants to show up on anyone’s Heisman radar this fall.

Will it happen?  It should.  With a full year under his belt and home games against Virginia Tech and North Carolina (two games Harris really struggled) and an off-season to study film can only help him.  An injured thumb on his throwing hand didn’t help Harris last year, either.  Harris had surgery on that thumb and appears to be ready to go for two-a-days, and because he was not able to throw this spring, he spent his time in film study, which should improve his decisions and reads this fall.

Harris must shine in his nationally televised games:  This point directly ties into the previous one–decision-making.  Harris will lead his team into some of the most hostile stadiums in the country this year, traveling to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes and they travel to Death Valley to take on Clemson, who Harris struggled against last season.  

Each of those games has a great shot at national coverage, and the annual rivalry games against Florida State and Virginia Tech will likely be opportunities for Harris and the ‘Canes to play in front of a national audience.  If North Carolina continues where they left off last season, there is a chance for yet another nationally televised game against the Tar Heals as well.  Big performances in those games would go a long way in impressing Heisman voters who are not in the southeastern United States.

Will it happen?  Probably, but how much he improves is debatable.  What should concern ‘Canes fans is that ten of his 17 Int’s came against the good defenses he faced.  Miami played five games against defenses that ranked in the Top 20 in the country, and there was only one of those games (Wisconsin) that Harris made it through the game without throwing the ball to the wrong-colored jersey.

The Hurricanes will again have to face top-tier defenses in 2010, and that includes trips to Ohio State (ranked #5 in total defense in 2009) and Pitt (ranked #23 in total defense in 2009).  They get North Carolina and rivals Florida State and Virginia Tech at home, but they travel to Death Valley to take on a Clemson defense that roughed Harris up several quarterbacks last year.