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Moment of truth
Revived Smith could clinch Heisman this weekend
The biggest storyline in Saturday's showdown between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan is, of course, the winner advancing to play in the BCS championship game. There is a secondary storyline however: Whether Buckeyes quarterback
Troy Smith can lock up the Heisman Trophy. He has been the one to catch since leading Ohio State to victory at Texas in Week 2, and a good performance against Michigan would likely seal the top spot, at least in these eyes.
The one thing however that has kept Smith ahead of No. 2
Brady Quinn in this column is Quinn's implosion against the Wolverines back in September. If Michigan embarrasses Smith the way it embarrassed Quinn two months ago, which I think is unlikely but still possible, we could very well have a new leader next week.
1. Troy Smith, Ohio State, QB, Sr.
Last week: 12-of-19 passing, 185 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 5 rushes, 15 yards in a 54-10 victory at Northwestern
Season: 170-of-256 passing, 2,191 yards, 26 TDs, 4 INTs; 58 rushes, 221 yards, 1 TD
Heisman-o-meter: When I heard last week that Smith had been playing with a sore right thumb, my first thought was that it was an excuse for some pedestrian numbers the previous two weeks. Saturday's effortless outing made me wonder more. He looked unaffected by the thumb, throwing passes with his normal zip. Either the thumb suddenly got better or Smith simply got back on track after a very temporary glitch. I'm leaning toward the latter.
Up next: Saturday vs. No. 2 Michigan
2. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, QB, Sr.
Last week: 14-of-19 passing, 207 yards, 4 TDs in a 39-17 victory at Air Force
Season: 230-of-357 passing, 2,786 yards, 29 TDs, 4 INTs; 63 rushes, minus-41 yards; 2 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: Let's hope the Air Force Academy is better at getting to the enemies of the United States than it was at getting to Quinn. The Irish signal caller, who moved up from No. 3, had all day to pick apart a Falcons defense that was barely more than a rumor with cool helmets. The main reason he didn't have a more prolific day was his own defense's inability to get the Air Force offense off the field.
Up next: Saturday vs. Army
3. Darren McFadden, Arkansas, RB, Soph.
Last week: 30 rushes, 181 yards, 2 TDs; 1 reception, 6 yards; 1 kickoff return, 17 yards; 1-of-1 passing, 12 yards, 1 TD in a 31-14 victory against No. 13 Tennessee
Season: 197 rushes, 1,219 yards, 12 TDs; 8 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD; 6 kickoff returns, 132 yards; 2-of-2 passing, 21 yards, 2 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: D-Mac jumps from No. 9 on the list because, after his mind-blowing performance against the Vols, I couldn't justify ranking another running back ahead of him. He hits the hole quicker than anyone (this includes
Steve Slaton) and when he takes the snap in the shotgun, his speed and decision making make the formation a devastating weapon. He even threw his second touchdown pass of the season on Saturday night. Is there anything this guy can't do?
Up next: Saturday at Mississippi State
4. Mike Hart, Michigan, RB, Jr.
Last week: 19 rushes, 92 yards, 1 TD in a 34-3 victory at Indiana
Season: 278 rushes, 1,373 yards, 11 TDs; 13 receptions, 122 yards
Heisman-o-meter: Last week's No. 2 did nothing wrong. He bulled his way to 89 rushing yards in the first half and was not needed in the second half, carrying the ball only once. He dropped however strictly in light of McFadden's sick skills. The guess here is that Hart will make a case to move back up this list with a big effort on Saturday.
Up next: Saturday at No. 1 Ohio State
5. Colt McCoy, Texas, QB, Fr.
Last week: 4-of-4 passing, 51 yards; 2 rushes, 1 yard, 1 TD in a 45-42 loss at Kansas State
Season: 174-of-250 passing, 2,102 yards, 27 TDs, 4 INTs; 64 rushes, 181 yards, 2 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: With McCoy playing only one series before leaving with a shoulder/neck stinger, we learned just how important he has become to the Longhorns' offense. Without him, Texas' once-crisp passing game suffered a rash of incompletions, drops, and sacks, partially because backup
Jevan Snead played as you would expect an inexperienced true freshman quarterback to play.
Up next: Nov. 24 vs. Texas A&M
6. Ray Rice, Rutgers, RB, Soph.
After a quiet first half, Ray Rice turned it up in the second, helping Rutgers to its historic win over Louisville last Thursday.
David Bergman/SI
Last week: 22 rushes, 131 yards, 2 TDs in a 28-25 victory over No. 3 Louisville
Season: 245 rushes, 1,334 yards, 15 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: Rutgers' defense, particularly in the second half, was the biggest reason behind the Scarlet Knights' landscape-changing comeback win over Louisville. The second biggest was Rice, who was at his best when it counted the most, rushing for a combined 75 yards on Rutgers' two fourth-quarter scoring drives. The A-plus effort should convince some doubters to believe that Rice's numbers are, in fact, legitimate and not just the product of an easy schedule.
Up next: Saturday at Cincinnati
7. Steve Slaton, West Virginia, RB, Soph.
Last week: 12 rushes, 148 yards, 2 TDs; 2 receptions, 4 yards in a 42-24 victory over Cincinnati
Season: 181 rushes, 1,363 yards, 12 TDs; 14 receptions, 165 yards
Heisman-o-meter: Slaton got almost all of his production on two big runs, one for 65 yards and another for 63. And he hasn't solved his ball handling issues; One week after losing two fumbles against Louisville, he had another against the Bearcats. (West Virginia recovered the ball.) I have to think that the Big East Offensive Player of the Year award will come down to Slaton, Rice and possibly Mountaineers quarterback
Pat White when Rutgers and West Virginia meet on Dec. 2.
Up next: Thursday at Pitt
8. Marshawn Lynch, Cal, RB, Jr.
Last week: 16 rushes, 102 yards; 2 receptions, 4 yards in a 24-20 loss at Arizona
Season: 168 rushes, 1,090 yards, 9 TDs; 25 receptions, 265 yards, 4 TDs; 5 kickoff returns, 101 yards
Heisman-o-meter: He shockingly got just 16 carries though Arizona's defense did do a good job swarming him pretty much every time he got the ball. The one time he did break one -- a 79-yarder for a touchdown in the first quarter -- it was partially nullified by a penalty downfield. With so many running backs in contention, chances are this dynamic back needs a big game on Saturday to make a case for an invite to New York.
Up next: Saturday at No. 4 USC
9. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin, RB, Fr.
Last week: 28 rushes, 77 yards, 1 TD; 2 receptions, 21 yards in a 24-21 victory at Iowa
Season: 273 rushes, 1,447 yards, 14 TDs; 17 receptions, 193 yards, 1 TD
Heisman-o-meter: The holes were never there for Hill, so his 242 pounds were moving more east-west than usual at the line of scrimmage, resulting in just his third game with less than 100 rushing yards all season. His last chance to make his Heisman resume comes against a Bulls defense that ranks 115th against the run.
Up next: Saturday vs. Buffalo
10. Colt Brennan, Hawaii, QB, Jr.
Last week: 27-of-40 passing, 406 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 6 rushes, 60 yards, 1 TD in a 61-17 victory over Louisiana Tech
Season: 275-of-380 passing, 3,753 yards, 43 TDs, 7 INTs; 52 rushes, 266 yards, 3 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: System guys have to do something special to be considered for this list, and Brennan is doing just that. This former Colorado Buff is on pace to crush the NCAA single season record for touchdown passes in a season (54) and has Hawaii's run-and-shoot offense ranked No. 1 in total offense, passing and scoring. The biggest argument against Brennan however is the competition. The record of the seven I-A teams that Hawaii has beaten is 20-49.
Up next: Saturday vs. San Jose State
