4. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. Troy Smith must really love Texas. First, he lit them up in his best game of the season. Second, a lot of people feel like maybe they missed the boat on Vince Young last year and now seem dead set on giving the award to a "Vince-like" quarterback this season (which would be Smith, of course). Third, Texas knocked off Oklahoma, which really damages Peterson's chances. The Sooner running back was probably Smith's chief competition and had OU defeated the 'Horns, Peterson might have been at the top of this list. Given the controversy surrounding the Oregon game, people really weren't holding Oklahoma's first loss against Peterson. Two losses? That is a different story. Since Peterson trails Wolfe, Ray Rice, and Steve Slaton in virtually every statistical story, "team success" becomes a vital factor. Now the margin for error is incredibly slim. If Oklahoma loses another game, Peterson's going to need Barry Sanders circa 1988 numbers to win the Heisman.
5. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia. He's got the big yards per carry (6.9, second best among BCS conference running backs, behind Cal's Marshawn Lynch), the big national TV showcase performance (when he had what seemed like 700 yards in the first quarter of the Maryland game), and he's playing for a team that has a legit chance to run the table. The downside is West Virginia's schedule. Not only does the cupcake nature mean that people aren't respecting the stats, it means that Slaton actually gets less of them. The Mountaineers often win so easily that he can't get more than 15-20 touches. He has 30 fewer carries than Peterson and Rice in as many games, and the trend may not change.
6. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers. Here is your big sleeper. Rutgers is the feel-good story of the year so far in college football with the 5-0 start and Rice is the straw that stirs that particular drink. He's second in the country in yards per game with 161.2 and has scored 11 touchdowns. If Rutgers can get to 8-0 heading into their home date with Lousville on national TV (the Thursday night game), Rice may have his chance to win over the hearts of voters everywhere. After that it is Cinci and Syracuse, which means that Rice and the Scarlet Knights could conceivably meet Slaton and West Virginia in a battle of unbeatens with both the Big East title and the Heisman on the line. Not likely, but conceivable.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
I wish college cared just a little more about stats for defensive players, because there's a whole crop of athletes that I feel ought to be considered. Thing is, I can't name-a-one.
2 - DJRadiohead
Really good work here, Adam. Irons is good but McFadden is a beast. Arkansas has already defied odds; if they somehow stick in the national rankings for awhile someone might have to pay attention to the guy. He won't win but he can play.
3 - Adam Hoff
Well, it looks like Manningham might be dropping out in next week's list. Perhaps McFadden takes his place?
As for defensive players, I feel like the Heisman has always been geared toward offensive guys and for a defensive player to really get in the mix, they have to be pretty special. I can't recall a single guy on the defensive side of the ball taking over a game this year, with the possible exception of James Laurinitais, linebacker for Ohio State (against Texas).
Maybe we should fire up a Lombardi Award and Outland Award watch as well? That might be fun, if not darn near impossible.
4 - DJRadiohead
The good news for McFadden is that he should have two more high profile games to shine in (plus a potential SEC Championship berth). Arkansas has games against Tennessee and LSU and both should draw decent national attention. If he plays well, regardless of the outcome of the game, he could get his name out there. He is something to watch.
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
Adrian Peterson's ranking may slightly go down, too.
6 - Adam Hoff
Not just Peterson's. Rough afternoon for big time backs.
My man Garrett Wolfe carried 18 times for just 37 yards and no touchdowns, which just kills his chances. He probably needed to go for 200+ every game, so this is just an awful turn of events.
Steve Slaton had a big game with 178 yards and two scores, but he was upstaged by teammate Pat White who ran for a whopping 235 yards and scored four times. Big numbers, but this game probably hurts his chances.
Ray Rice had his worst game of the season, running for 91 yards and no scores while losing a fumble.
Even McFadden failed to get big numbers because Arkansas won so easily.
Smith is putting more distance between himself and the field.
7 - -E
Congrats! This article has been selected as one of this week’s Editors’ Picks.
8 - Tony Taylor
Hey lets give some credit to those Arkansas Razorbacks. They have worked there tails off this year. Sure they won some close games. But theyve came out and showed great impovement. Look at Auburn, Wow. I think Darren Mcfadden is definately a true heisman trophy winner. He's one of the best in the game this year. Why is it that when Arkansas seems to make it to the top, the sports writers always make them the underdogs. I say lets have a little faith and give them some credit. Keep a close eye on this team, there are alot of great players and alot of talent. Arkansas will finish on top this year.
9 - NDfan807
WTF even if you are not a fan of ND you cant even consider Troy Smith, the ONLY thing he has is a perfect season, and its not due to him, its there steller Defense and a man named TED GINN JR., he has no games over 300 yards, and 3 under 200, Quinn has 3 games over 300 and zero under 200 and 8 more td passes, stats should count a little more, becuase ND has a decent rank and if they win out, Quinn WILL be the Heismann winner becuase they will be # 4 if it goes anything accroding to my calculations
10 - Adam Hoff
Um, this column is a month old. You might want to check out the four more recent versions. Also, your stats are wrong - I've got Quinn on top of my last two polls but he has three more touchdown passes, not eight.
Go to the "One Man's Heisman Poll" feature on the sports page to get the evolution of my choices.
11 - henry groves
IAN JONSON 4 HIESMAN