Out of 120 FBS teams (formerly known as Division 1-A) only 44 will be in action this week. The remaining 76 are either waiting to see what Bowl they will be playing in, or preparing for next season already.
Three of our top five Heisman candidates are "in the clubhouse" and have submitted their resumes. There are no more games left to improve, or hurt, their Heisman stock.
RankPlayer, Position, SchoolRecent Game StatsSeason StatsNext Game1aTrent Richardson, RB,Alabama27 rush, 203 yards, rec. TDin 42-14 win over No. 24 Auburn263 rush, 1583 yards (6.0YPC), 20 TD, 327 rec. yards, 3 rec. TDBowl Game1bAndrew Luck, QB, Stanford20-30,233 yards, 4 TD, INT in 28-14 win over No. 22 Notre Dame261-373 (70), 3170 yards,35 TD, 9 INT, 2 rush TDBowl Game3Robert Griffin III, QB,Baylor7-11, 106 yards, TD, 62rush yards, 2 rush TD in 66-42 win over Texas Tech (didn't play in 2nd half)252-347 (73), 3678 yards,34 TD, 5 INT, 612 rush yards, 7 rush TDNo. 22 Texas4Matt Barkley, QB, USC35-42, 423 yards, 6 TD in50-0 win over UCLA306-446 (69), 3528 yards39 TD, 7 INT, 2 rush TDSeason Over5Case Keenum, QB, Houston33-46, 457 yards, 5 TD in48-16 win at Tulsa342-467 (73), 4726 yards,43 TD, 3 INT, 3 rush TDNo. 24 Southen Mississippi
On the bubble: Montee BallRBWisconsin, Kellen MooreQBBoise State
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Analysis:
1a) Trent Richardson: There is no doubt that Trent Richardson is the best running back in college football. Although Wisconsin's Montee Ball has more rushing yards and 11 more total touchdowns, the Heisman Trophy isn't awarded to the player with the best stats. Richardson rushed for a career-high 203 yards against Auburn on Saturday, a mark that may have won him the trophy (regardless of the fact Auburn entered the game with the 99th worst rushing defense).
1b) Andrew Luck: In the week leading up to Stanford's meeting with Notre Dame, media outlets everywhere were saying, "Andrew Luck needs a monster performance vs. the Irish to cement himself at the top of the Heisman list." Well, 233 yards and four touchdowns later, and it still doesn't seem as if Luck has done enough to win. At this point, I have him in a virtual tie with Richardson. Check back next week to see the final verdict.
3) Robert Griffin III: It's too bad that Griffin suffered a concussion late in the second quarter, because prior to the injury, he was having himself quite the game vs. the Red Raiders (Griffin left the game for one play, came back in and rushed for a 3-yard TD with 1:36 to play in the first half, and the Baylor medical staff had to take away Griffin's helmet at halftime to keep him off the field in the second half). The only way Griffin isn't invited to New York is if he has an awful performance against No. 22 Texas this weekend, to the tune of three or four interceptions -- don't count on it.
4) Matt Barkley: Despite the fact that Barkley threw for more yards and touchdowns than Andrew Luck, and threw less interceptions than Stanford's signal-caller, it was Luck who took home the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors on Monday. It will also be Luck who finishes ahead of Barkley in the Heisman voting, and will most likely be selected ahead of Barkley in the 2012 NFL Draft -- if Barkley elects to forego his senior year of eligibility (It's scary to think about it, but both Barkley and Luck could come back to college for another year in 2012). However, if Luck doesn't win the Heisman, it may be because of Barkley stealing away some votes from No. 12. These two will forever be linked because of the 2011 season.
5) Case Keenum: His year has been one for the record books, and the Cougars are sixty minutes away from a BCS appearance, and Keenum is sixty minutes away from receiving an invite to New York. Houston dismantled Tulsa on the road last Saturday, 48-16, and for those who don't believe in the Cougars, let's look at how other top-ranked teams fared against Tulsa...
- Oklahoma 47, Tulsa 14 -- Week 1
- Oklahoma State 59, Tulsa 33 -- Week 3
- Boise State 41, Tulsa 21 -- Week 4
Houston is legit and so is Case Keenum. However, a loss to No. 24 Southern Mississippi in the Conference USA title game and Houston's BCS dreams are dashed, and Kellen Moore will most likely replace Keenum in New York.
Check back next Monday for the final installment of Heisman Watch, before the winner is announced Saturday, December 10.
Drew Shiller is a Web Producer at CSNBayArea.com. You can follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller