It was a whacky weekend for college football ... and for the Heisman race. Five weeks into the 2007 season, this Heisman race is as wide open as any year in recent memory. The nation's top team, USC, was not-so-impressive against Washington and for its performance it should lose the No. 1 ranking (in my opinion, anyhow). The Trojans quarterback, John David Booty, was partially to blame for USC's woes and for it WILL lose his No. 1 ranking when the Strike the Pose top 20 is released this Tuesday.

Booty threw two interceptions in the 27-24 win. One wasn't his fault (bounced off a receiver's hands) but Booty had another near-interception that could have proven disasterous had it not been for instant replay. We like the idea of America's quarterback winning the race for the Heisman. We're not sure, however, if Booty plays for America's best team.

We have challenged -- begged -- Cal receiver DeSean Jackson to step up his play. Up until Saturday he hasn't run a very convincing Heisman campaign. But in a showdown with Oregon Jackson came alive. He'll leap up the rankings, but again, as mentioned last week, his do-or-die game is USC on Nov. 10.

Hey Tim Tebow fans ... don't hang your head. Saturday's home loss to Auburn was not Tebow's fault. It was, however, a loss, and that will not sit well with voters. Like Darren McFadden, Tebow will lose a few points this week, and a whole lot of points if he loses a second game. Then again, if he leads the Gators past LSU next week ...

Who is not getting enough Heisman ink? How about Kentucky's Andre' Woodson, who was a favorite among Heisman voters this summer but fell once the season began. Woodson's team has yet to lose, and he was terrific once again on Saturday against Florida Atlantic (301 yards, five touchdowns).

Want another quiet Heisman contender? Wisconsin's P.J. Hill has long been a bottom-tier top 10 candidate. Against an undefeated Michigan State squad this week Hill put the Badgers on his back and picked up 155 rushing yards and two scores. The sophomore now has 667 yards (four straight 100-yard games) and 10 scores for the 5-0 Badgers. Moving into the top 5? We'll see ...

Moving out of the top 5? Steve Slaton was ineffective (13 carries for 54 yards) on Friday against a sound South Florida defense. The loss set West Virginia back in the Big East race, but not as much as Slaton was set back in the Heisman race. And the loss didn't help injured teammate Pat White, either.

Another Big East back, Ray Rice of Rutgers, can feel Slaton's pain after Saturday's loss to Maryland ...

We took a Closer Look at Oklahoma's Sam Bradford on Friday. Ooops. Bradford will be lucky to get a glance after his Sooners dropped a key conference match to heavy underdog Colorado.

BC's Matt Ryan was merely average this week (24-of-42, one touchdown) but his team got its fifth win.

Charging up from the back of the pack the past few weeks has been Ohio State's Chris Wells. Don't count him out of this race yet. Wells made up more ground on Saturday, and he still gets to play in high-profile contests against Wisconsin and Michigan.

Hawaii's Colt Brennan threw for 369 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday ... he also tossed five interceptions. Yikes.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

When 19-year-old Sam Bradford stood under center for Oklahoma's Sept. 1 game against North Texas, he was as much an unknown to the average Sooner fan as the players on the Mean Green roster. Sure, the diehards knew him well -- the 12th ranked pro-style quarterback in the recruiting class of 2006, according to Rivals -- but Bradford had not yet taken a snap. Boom or bust, his football life was to be decided on that first day in September.

What Bradford did was nothing short of remarkable. He completed 21 of his 23 throws -- a 91.3 completion percentage -- for 363 yards and three touchdowns in a 73-10 Sooner rout. The following week he lit up Miami, Fla. by completing 76 percent of his passes and connecting on five scoring strikes. Games against Utah State and Tulsa followed with the same formula -- high percentage passing, few mistakes and big margins of victory. In all he's collected 1,067 yards and thrown 14 touchdowns as compared to just two interceptions (yes, he's not perfect, but close).

Coach Bob Stoops said in his press conference this week that Bradford also has the intangibles of a great passer. "He is very smooth and throws a good ball, a catchable ball," said Stoops. "He has good anticipation. Sometimes he brings a receiver back across a defender and that ball is let go before even a receiver makes that move. You see that kind of consistency in practice too."

Bradford is now a legitimate Heisman candidate (has been since the Hurricane win) and for as long as his Sooners ride the wave to the BCS, Bradford will likely remain a top 10 candidate.

Why Bradford can win:
Voters like quarterbacks on winning teams. Look at the last seven Heisman races. Six of those years the quarterback for one of the country's top-ranked programs was handed the trophy -- six of seven! If you believe Oklahoma is a top three school, you have to believe Bradford is a top-tier candidate. Also, his numbers have been good enough and his efficiency is attention grabbing. When a guy throws few to no interceptions it's great. But when he completes just about everything he attempts, it's headline-worthy.

Why he won't:
For one, many voters still know very little about him. He burst on the scene without notice, and other than perhaps the Miami win his brilliant play has come in games that received very little national attention. Another reason: running backs Allen Patrick and DeMarco Murray. That duo has been just as responsible for Oklahoma's success. If voters smell that, it will detract from Bradford's Heisman appeal.

Strike the Pose odds: 15 to 1

Posted by Mike Beacom at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here is a look at where the top 10 candidates are at, and what fans and voters can expect this weekend. Several matchups pit two strong programs against one another. Games like those have a huge impact on how the Heisman picture shapes up. Also of note, we've added the opponent and appropriate defensive ranking for each candidate to add insight for our weekly preview. Enjoy ...

1. John David Booty, QB, USC
Opponent: at Washington; Rank against the pass: 61
Teams have had success against the Huskies on the ground, so Booty might spend much of Saturday handing off to his backs.

2. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers
Opponent: vs Maryland; Rank against the run: 70
Rice has scored three touchdowns in each of his three games this year. We're guessing that streak will end this week.

3. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Opponent: vs Auburn; Rank against the pass: 40; Rank against the run: 37
Will the Tebow legend live on for another week? Sure, but only because the Gators get to host this one.

4. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
Opponent: at South Florida; Rank against the run: 13
Slaton will face one of the country's toughest defenses. This test will either boost his campaign or force him to fall toward the bottom of the top 10.

5. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Opponent: vs North Texas; Rank against the run: 82
Another fun day for McFadden .. and this week his team will actually get a win out of his performance.

6. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Opponent: at Colorado; Rank against the pass: 26
Don't be fooled by the Buffaloes high pass defense ranking. They're not that good. Bradford should pad his stats on the road.

7. Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky
Opponent: vs Florida Atlantic; Rank against the pass: 99
Hey, Woodson deserves a treat after two tough challenges the past two weeks.

8. P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin
Opponent: vs Michigan State; Rank against the run: 26
This game will be a grind-it-out battle til the end. Badgers love to turn to Hill, especially when near the goal line, which is good news for his Heisman backers.

9. Pat White, QB, West Virginia
Opponent: at South Florida; Rank against the pass: 14; Rank against the run: 13
A difficult day for Slaton will be even more difficult for White. Does White really belong in the top 10? Guess we'll find out on Friday.

10. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Opponent: vs Auburn; Rank against the pass: 40; Rank against the run: 37
In a game sure to draw national attention, Harvin could finally have the blowup game we've been waiting for.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 06:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SI.com writer Gene Menez has a new No. 1 in this week's ranking. Menez also has a soft spot for Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell. He ranks Harrell ahead of other quarterbacks, like Colt Brennan, Brian Brohm and Dennis Dixon. We can't argue with the first two, but picking the 'system' quarterback over Dixon at this point is ridiculous. Oregon has done more, and Dixon is the more dynamic player. My kid could post 400 yards passing in the Red Raiders' attack. Harrell is good, but not special.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Even after suffering two losses, the Heisman Pundit has picked Arkansas running back Darren McFadden as its favorite in the site's latest ranking. For this we are surprised, although we do credit the Pundit for raising the question, 'How many more losses will Heisman voters tolerate from McFadden's Razorbacks?' Our answer: none.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 02:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You have to hand it to MSNBC Heisman columnist Mike Woods. The guy makes some gutsy picks, and for that we are grateful (what fun would a ranking be without the heated debate that follows?). In this week's ranking his most surprising pick is Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon at No. 4. We like Dixon, although not quite that much. If Oregon is somehow able to rise to the top of the Pac-10, Woods will look like a genius come December.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CSTV.com has launched its section dedicated to Heisman coverage. Be sure to visit the page often for updates (Strike the Pose posting can also be found there) ... also, the latest Heisman Watch poll has been released with a new frontrunner.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A second straight loss by the Razorbacks has wounded Darren McFadden's Heisman campaign. The former frontrunner is now desperately holding on to the bottom rung of the top five in this week's ranking. **Note: Last week's ranking in parentheses.

1. John David Booty, QB, USC (1)
2. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers (4)
3. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida (13)
Somehow we're not surprised that Tebow rhymes with 'eat crow.' The Florida QB makes the biggest jump this week after another superb performance. We're still not gang-busters for him, but if he throws and runs for two scores against LSU in two weeks, we'll have no choice.

4. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia (3)
5. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (2)
6. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (5)
Too bad for McFadden, he doesn't have Slaton's supporting cast. Bradford's work was too easy against Tulsa on Friday.

7. Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky (8)
8. P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin (7)
9. Pat White, QB, West Virginia (12)
Woodson and Hill flipped spots, although Hill didn't deserve to drop; he is the reason his Badgers are still 4-0. White re-enters the top 10 after a brilliant performance on Saturday.

10. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida (10)
11. Dennis Dixon, QB, Oregon (16)
12. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College (14)
On the road against Stanford, Dixon accounted for five touchdowns in a rout. Ryan did toss two interceptions, but he also added three more touchdowns (and 356 yards) in Boston College's fourth win of the year.

13. Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas (NR)
14. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii (11)
15. DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal (6)
Brennan took the week off with a sprained ankle. The biggest disappointment so far? Yep, it's Jackson, who has done little in recent weeks. We suspect Jackson's Heisman campaign can now only be saved if he is brilliant in an upset win over USC on Nov. 10.

16. Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State (18)
17. Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri (15)
18. Cullen Harper, QB, Clemson (19)
19. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville (9)
20. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas (17)
Wells is slowly picking up steam as his Buckeyes are riding high in the Big Ten. Losing to Kentucky and Syracuse in consecutive weeks has put Brohm's campaign on life support.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 06:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What do losses mean to Heisman campaigns? They're not good, even if the candidate posts monster numbers. Read on ...

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden has been the Heisman favorite for most of the race, but a second straight loss by his Razorbacks, this time to Kentucky, has dimmed McFadden's chances for the Heisman. Not such a big deal, you say. Why should team success be mixed with individual accomplishment? Take a long hard look at the Heisman winners of the past. Losing is never (well, almost never) part of the equation.

What has winning done for Kentucky quarterback Andre' Woodson? It's pushed him toward the front of the Heisman race. Upset wins over Louisville and Arkansas ... Woodson is becoming the feel-good story of the season.

It was another big week for Tim Tebow. The Florida QB helped avoid a near disaster at Ole Miss by passing for two scores and rushing for two. Oh yeah, and he set a school record for most rushing yards by a QB (166). And, in case you're interested, Percy Harvin caught 11 passes for 121 yards and a score. Will Tebow make ground in our Sept. 25 ranking? Oh yeah.

Like Tebow, West Virginia QB Pat White threw two and ran two in for scores. But even more special: White completed 18-of-20 attempts.

The top-ranked Heisman candidate at QB, however, will remain USC's John David Booty. His four TD passes in a rout over Washington State will keep Booty in the No. 1 spot ... for now.

Bye-bye Brian Brohm.

P.J. Hill's Heisman campaign has wheels. In primetime Hill rolled up 113 yards rushing against a stout Iowa defense. For the past three weeks Hill has been on fire, and for as long as Wisconsin remains undefeated, Hill will remain a top 10 candidate.

Yes, we're aware of the damage Texas QB Colt McCoy did to Rice. No, we're not impressed.

Few quarterbacks have provided as much excitement in 2007 as Oregon's Dennis Dixon. Against Stanford this week Dixon collected 367 yards, four touchdowns and a rushing score. Still, Dixon is receiving very little respect from Heisman voters. Here's a hypothetical: let's say Oregon upsets USC in Eugene on Oct. 27? Think Dixon will be a serious candidate then?

We challenged Cal's DeSean Jackson to dazzle us this week. He failed to deliver.

The best team in America could be LSU and yet it does not have a serious Heisman candidate ... and, no, we're not ready to throw Glenn Dorsey into the mix yet. Dorsey's play has been superb, but not historic.

Mike Hart back in the Heisman race? Nah, but nice try.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 02:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The path to 2007 has been long and unkind to Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. After seeing a few snaps in 2004, Ryan has guided the Eagles to much success with little national praise. In fact, 2005, Virginia Tech is the only ACC team with more total wins than Ryan's Eagles (22).

Entering 2007, Ryan was a borderline Heisman candidate. He didn't have the high-profile-program advantage of John David Booty, or the projected numbers of Colt Brennan. He's not the dual threat that Tim Tebow is, nor was he as recognizable to voters as Brian Brohm.

After collecting 2,942 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior, Ryan was an underdog playing for one of the country's biggest underdog programs.

But three games into this season things have changed.

The Eagles are undefeated, and now the favorite to win the ACC's Atlantic Division. Ryan has a pair of 400-yard performances and seven touchdowns as compared to three interceptions.

Last week's important win over Georgia Tech is the real reason Ryan's Heisman campaign has gotten a boost. Not only was that third win a third conference win, giving BC a huge head start over the rest of the conference, but he was a one-man show against the Yellow Jackets. Ryan completed 68.2 percent of his passes for a career-high 435 yards.

Ryan re-entered the Strike the Pose ranking and CSTV.com's Heisman Watch this week, and he showed up in the No. 8 spot in the Heisman Pundit's most recent straw poll (ahead of Brohm). He's also become fodder for bloggers wanting to back his campaign.

With a difficult stretch of BC's schedule behind him, Ryan will benefit from the road ahead. With an easy four-game stretch on tap, Ryan should only continue to pad his numbers in the bitter month of October when losses and rocky play will undoubtedly knock out a few names ahead of him on most Heisman watch lists.

Before we know it, the underdog could become one of the top dogs in this race.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Where is Tim Tebow? Where is Tebow? No, we did not forget him, we're just not crazy about him yet. His inexperience will show, and Heisman voters force quarterbacks to be winners first, athletes second. When Florida loses the Tebow hype will quickly die down (same as it has for Brian Brohm of Louisville).

With regard to 'Where is Tim Tebow' for this week, the answer is in Mississippi, preparing for the Rebels. Here is a look at where the top 10 candidates are at, and what fans and voters can expect this weekend ...

1. John David Booty, QB, USC
Don't dismiss Washington State. They're a solid team who gave Wisconsin a good run for three quarters. This game should force Booty to work harder than the Cornhusker game did; regardless, as mentioned above, as long as his team continues to win, Booty will be in the thick of the Heisman hunt.

2. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Kentucky is ranked and the Razorbacks are not --- that won't be true for long, not after McFadden is through on Saturday afternoon.

3. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
Hmm, Slaton will face East Carolina at home. We're guessing a big first half and a spot on the bench to watch the rest of the show.

4. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers
Rice will rest up this week for his date with Maryland on the 29th.

5. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Tulsa is an interesting matchup for Bradford and the Sooners ... interesting if you like lots of points and big yards from our No. 5 candidate.

6. DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
Maybe Jackson will give the Arizona administration one final reason to send coach Mike Stoops packing.

7. P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin
The most important matchup for a top 10 candidate this week, Hill's Badgers must beat Iowa to keep his Heisman hopes from fading.

8. Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky
Woodson vs. McFadden -- we like it. We just don't like Woodson's chances playing in unfriendly Fayetteville.

9. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
Syracuse is a gift to Brohm's campaign. Trust us, an absolute gift!

10. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Harvin will dance while Tebow grins big for the cameras. The Gators should walk all over the Rebels.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

While it's been difficult enough to swallow the wave of support for Tim Tebow in major media Heisman rankings, it's a bit odd that MSNBC still has Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan in its top three. Good numbers, sure. Good player, you bet. Better candidate than John David Booty (No. 7)? Ahh, not in our opinion.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 01:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CSTV.com editor Adam Caparell is running a series of Heisman-related stories on the site this fall. This week he spoke to former Nebraska running back Mike Rozier. A week ago it was BYU great Ty Detmer. Great reads, check 'em out

Posted by Mike Beacom at 01:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We love Sports Illustrated's Gene Menez, but we have to question two of his picks in this week's top 10 Heisman ranking: Michigan's Mike Hart (No. 10) and Louisville's Brian Brohm (No. 3). How can Hart exist in any Heisman ranking, let alone a top 10? The Wolverines are done, and no voter is going to applaud Hart even if Michigan wins out and gets a respectable bowl bid. As for Brohm ... top 10, sure. Top 3? No way!

Posted by Mike Beacom at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Heisman Pundit has Pat White listed among its top five in their latest ranking. Let this serve notice to all sites still high on White, his ship has set sail and it isn't coming back.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the latest ESPN poll, Florida's Tim Tebow is on the rise. But the second ranked Heisman candidate? You won't believe it when you see it ...

Posted by Mike Beacom at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CSTV.com's weekly Heisman poll is out. Arkansas running back Darren McFadden is No. 1. The second-ranked player may surprise some you (surprise to me) ...

Posted by Mike Beacom at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've trimmed our ranking from 25 to 20 now that the season has shown us who the true candidates are. As we creep closer to the end of the season, the ranking will eventually be trimmed to the top 10. This week we showcase a new frontrunner. Read on to find out more. **Note: Last week's ranking in parentheses.

1. John David Booty, QB, USC (3)
2. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (1)
3. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia (5)
With win over Huskers, Booty jumps into top spot. McFadden is still a major candidate, despite Arkansas' slide, and Slaton has separated himself from teammate Pat White in the race.

4. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers (4)
5. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (10)
6. DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal (7)
Is any running back more under-appreciated than Rice? Bradford may not be perfect, but so far this season he's been close.

7. P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin (9)
8. Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky (14)
9. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville (2)
Hill continues to post monster numbers for a shaky Wisconsin team. Woodson beat Brohm, then leapt past him in the ranking all in one week.

10. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida (11)
11. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii (8)
12. Pat White, QB, West Virginia (6)
Brennan is losing his luster even if his numbers are still astronomical. White had a rough performance last Thursday, and took a big tumble.

13. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida (13)
14. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College (NR)
15. Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri (21)
Tebow had a big week, but not as big as Ryan, who re-enters the poll after a week away.

16. Dennis Dixon, QB, Oregon (16)
17. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas (15)
18. Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State (NR)
19. Cullen Harper, QB, Clemson (NR)
20. Terry Grant, RB, Alabama (25)
Dixon stays put, but if he continues to have big weeks when the Pac-10 opens he'll make progress quickly. McCoy has not looked great, but he is leading a winning team (so far). Wells and Harper are additions to this week's ranking after having fast starts to 2007.

Archive:
Sept. 11 Top 25 Ranking
Sept. 4 Top 25 Ranking

Posted by Mike Beacom at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

It was a wild week. One big-name Heisman candidate took a tumble, another arrived on primetime -- and the Wolverines won a game. Read on to find out which Heisman candidates did well this weekend ...

One man's struggle becomes another man's window of opportunity ... it didn't take long for Brian Brohm to fall from grace. A loss to unranked Kentucky was enough. Brohm did well (three touchdowns) but a top Heisman candidate can't afford a loss like that. On the flip side, the upset did wonders for Wildcat quarterback Andre' Woodson's campasign (four touchdowns). Stay tuned for Tuesday's ranking ...

UCLA's Kahlil Bell? Never heard of him.

Sooner back Allen Patrick gained 100 yards in just eight carries. Teammate DeMarco Murray did it in just four. But Oklahoma's true Heisman candidate, quarterback Sam Bradford, had a heck of a good day, too. In a blowout win over Utah State, Bradford completed 19-of-26 for 255 yards and three touchdowns. As long as Bradford continues to operate such an efficient attack, he'll climb up our weekly ranking.

Here we go again! Tim Tebow tossed two touchdowns and ran in another score .. but look at Percy Harvin's numbers! He averaged 8.3 yards per carry and collected 120 receiving yards on four catches. Only one score, but 195 yards from scrimmage on just 13 touches. Wow. And it came against Tennessee.

Thursday's win for West Virginia was a big boost for Steve Slaton, who should gain a spot or two in our Tuesday ranking

P.J. Hill tied a Badger record with five touchdowns (168 rushing yards). Of course, his Badgers had to work hard to beat Citadel. Yikes. If Wisconsin pulls it together, Hill could make his way to the ceremony. A key game this week (Iowa) will tell us where the Badgers are headed.

Don't expect for Arkansas back Darren McFadden to fall too far this week. Sure, his Razorbacks suffered a loss, but McFadden had a brilliant game (195 yards, two scores) and he plays in the SEC where life is rough at least once each year for every team.

DeSean Jackson was merely human this week; he only gained 34 yards of offense. Of course, in a game in which his Bears were leading 28-6 at the half, he wasn't asked to do much.

He has bounced in and out of the ranking, but we're confident BC's Matt Ryan is there to stay for a while. His 435 yards were impressive, but beating a higher ranked Georgia Tech squad on the road is what matters most.

Shhhh ... it's still somewhat of a secret, but Ohio State back Chris Wells is something special, and a darkhorse candidate if the Buckeyes find their way to the top of the Big Ten somehow.

Another darkhorse -- Clemson's Cullen Harper, who has now thrown 10 touchdowns with no interceptions for the 3-0 Tigers. In the last two weeks Harper has completed 80 percent of his 45 attempts.

Another week, three more touchdowns for Rutgers' Ray Rice. We're waiting for the Big East schedule to begin, but in the meantime Rice is making voters take notice.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 05:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Which candidates are in a favorable spot to make up ground this week? Which candidates face a stiff challenge? Find out in our weekly preview ...

1. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Nothing can help (or hurt) a campaign more than a hotly contested conference rivalry. In an overtime win over the Tide last year McFadden gained 112 yards and scored a third-quarter touchdown.

2. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
No candidate is hotter than Brohm, which is to say no one in our top 10 has as much to lose this week. On the road against Kentucky -- watch out! Oh wait, this isn't basketball season. Never mind.

3. John David Booty, QB, USC
How will Booty respond to playing on the road, in front of an unfriendly crowd of Cornhuskers? Guess we'll see. In last year's meeting, Booty collected 257 yards and three TD passes. A big game like that could spark a campaign that needs a boost.

4. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers
The easiest test of all the top 10 candidates, Rice will face Norfolk State's run defense this week.

5. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
A three-touchdown night is always helpful. Slaton looked better than teammate Pat White against Maryland, although -- for what it's worth -- he wasn't as impressive as West Virginia freshman Noel Devine.

6. Pat White, QB, West Virginia
Thursday wasn't as kind to White as it was to Slaton: 11 carries for 22 yards, eight-of-13 passing. White could be on his way down the charts.

7. DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
Last week, Louisiana Tech allowed three Hawaii receivers to (a) catch nine or more passes; (b) post more than 100 yards; and (c) score at least once. And Jackson is far better than any of those three Warrior receivers.

8. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii
UNLV stalled the Badgers passing attack last week. They won't completely shut down Brennan, but a loss (or subpar performance) could raise questions about the legitimacy of this campaign.

9. P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin
This week's opponent: the Citadel. Any questions?

10. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
In two games so far Bradford has completed 40-of-48 attempts (83.3 completion percentage). Last time we checked, that was pretty good. This week he might actually pad those numbers against Utah State.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 06:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thursday's game pitting West Virginia and Maryland was close through two quarters -- much closer than expected. But then West Virginia took flight (or, a more appropriate cliche, the running game picked up steam). Soon, this contest could be considered the game that separated West Virginia's dynamic pair of Heisman candidates, quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton. It was also the game that a Heisman star of tomorrow got his first taste of the spotlight ...

White found paydirt early, but Maryland's ability to frustrate him was noteworthy; after the initial 22-yard scamper White was held in check on the ground for most of the rest of the evening (he gained zero yards in his final 10 carries). What will push Slaton to the forefront, as far as Heisman voters are concerned, was a 100-yard first half and two second half touchdowns (three total). Those numbers could be helpful tools for torn Heisman voters not sure which WV candidate to go with. Lined up in the slot or behind White, Slaton was difficult for the Terrapins to stop (138 yards), even though everyone in the stadium knew he was getting the football.

White, on the other hand, didn't make plays when his team needed him to. Case in point: with a ticking clock and yardage to gain, the Mountaineers needed White's arm to come through before the end of the first half. He stalled, and fumbled when pressure collapsed his pocket.

However, the most electrifying player of the game wasn't White or Slaton, but freshman teammate Noel Devine. He returned two kicks for 53 yards and gained 125 rushing yards on his first three carries, one a 77-yard sprint that ended on the one-yard line. In fact, both of Slaton's second half scores were the result of a big Devine run that set up Slaton with a short walk for six.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 09:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Louisville has a prominent link on its athletics home page to Brian Brohm's Heisman site. It's become a growing trend. Sites also exist for Ray Rice has a site and Darren McFadden (both unofficial we presume).

Posted by Mike Beacom at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We took a closer look at Pat White's campaign last week, in part because the talented West Virginia QB has been overlooked for so long. He jumped in our rankings yesterday, but not as much as he did in another ranking. The Heisman Pundit moved White into its No. 4 slot, three spots ahead of teammate Steve Slaton. While we're not sure White deserves to be ranked that high yet (he's two spots lower in our ranking), it's good to see other sites are taking notice. We suspect voters are, too. To view the rest of Pundit's rankings, click here.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Even though the top name has remained the same there was some major shuffling in the top 25 this week. Most notably, Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm jumped into the No. 2 slot. Some like Brohm as the favorite; we think there is plenty of cushion between he and McFadden yet, though. This week we said bye-bye to Michigan's RB Mike Hart (No. 13) and WR Mario Manningham (16), Boston College QB Matt Ryan (21), Washington RB Louis Rankin (22), Tennessee QB Erik Ainge (23) and Oregon State RB Yvenson Bernard (24). **Note: Last week's ranking in parentheses.

1. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (1)
2. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville (6)
3. John David Booty, QB, USC (2)
McFadden gets back on the field this week and the Heisman train will get behind him. Booty has a big test in Lincoln.

4. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers (5)
5. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia (3)
6. Pat White, QB, West Virginia (8)
Pat White is now only one spot behind his backfield mate, Steve Slaton, in our ranking. The duo face Maryland in a primetime Thursday contest. Ray Rice is the running the most exciting campaign so far. To be truthful, he might get our vote if all ballots had to be in this week. But taking everything into consideration, fourth place seems about right.

7. DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal (4)
8. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii (7)
9. P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin (12)
We aren't all that impressed with Jackson ... at least not as impressed as the rest of the country. Hill is an up-and-down runner. Last week he was up, and helped his Badgers bounce UNLV late.

10. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (NR)
11. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
12. Marlon Lucky, RB, Nebraska
Bradford is leading a very good Oklahoma squad up the charts. Only naturally should his name be thrown into the Heisman hoopla. We love Harvin, more than Tebow (below). Lucky has work to do this week against USC.

13. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida (17)
14. Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky (14)
15. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas (10)
A string of five QBs starts here. So far so good for Woodson. Not the case for McCoy, whose Longhorns are 2-0 despite his troubles throwing the ball.

16. Dennis Dixon, QB, Oregon (NR)
17. Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech (20)
18. Tashard Choice, RB, Georgia Tech (18)
With everyone so hung up on Colt Brennan, Harrell is getting unfairly ignored. Choice is good, but not quite as good as advertised.

19. Kahlil Bell , RB, UCLA (19)
20. Keiland Williams, RB, LSU (NR)
21. Ian Johnson, RB, Boise St (15)
Bell was boring against BYU but we expect more big games once Pac-10 action begins again. Williams enters the ranking after scoring twice in each of the Tigers' first two contests. Johnson's campaign is all but through after Boise State's first loss.

21. Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri (25)
22. Malcom Kelly, WR, Oklahoma (NR)
23. Anthony Allen, RB, Louisville (NR)
24. Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan St (NR)
25. Terry Grant, RB, Alabama (NR)
Daniel has yet to thrown an interception. Kelly has been brilliant for the Sooners, and Thomas is averaging 29.1 yards per catch for a 2-0 Michigan State squad. Most, but not all of Louisville's success should be credited to Brohm. Allen did have a monster game against Middle Tennessee State (275 yards).

Archive:
Sept. 4 Top 25 Ranking

Posted by Mike Beacom at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Apparently Michigan running back Mike Hart didn't get the memo. His team 0-2 already, Hart has guaranteed a victory over Notre Dame this weekend. Uh, Mike, that's great and everything, but the party is over for 2007. Guaranteeing victories is for teams on the eve of a title game, not programs already in meltdown mode. And, one more thing, guaranteeing a win over this year's Notre Dame squad is on par with Tiger Woods guaranteeing he'll place higher than John Daly at a major. Save it!

Posted by Mike Beacom at 01:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The folks at College Football News do an excellent job with their coverage. Their weekly player poll (not Heisman specific) lists someone who has received little buzz in Heisman circles thus far -- Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. Seems CFN likes him so much, he's already climbed to No. 2 in the overall ranking after earning player-of-the-week honors for this past weekend. Fans of this column can expect to see Bradford enter our weekly top 25 ranking on Tuesday, though not nearly as high as CFN has him.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At this point in the season, it's difficult to set odds for Heisman hopefuls, but Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises gives it a shot this week in his Heisman watch. Atop the list is quarterback Brian Brohm of Louisville at 9:2. Other candidates odds of interest ... in fourth, Rutgers running back Ray Rice (10:1) and Dennis Dixon of Oregon in seventh (50:1) To read the complete list of odds, click here

Posted by Mike Beacom at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

During a week when a few games were much closer than they should have been, several candidates turned up the juice. Case in point: Rutgers running back Ray Rice, who, despite facing a defense that had kept him out of the end zone last year, rolled up some huge numbers.

Rice was brilliant against Navy. His 175 yards were good, and his three touchdowns were grand. But the feel-good story was Rice becoming his school's all-time leading rusher. Sidenotes like that are important to Heisman campaigns, and not every candidate will approach as many of them as Rice will in 2007. As for Friday's game, here are a few other notes about his performance we like: he carried 37 times. Rice is a workhorse, and the ability to handle a heavy workload earns him points with voters; he was deadly as a receiver. One of his scores came in the passing game where he hauled in three balls for 40 yards. Not bad; Rice's team keeps winning. Hey, don't knock Navy. Higher ranked teams have fallen or played closer games against far worse opponents this year. If Rutgers continues to roll, Rice is guaranteed to be seated at the Downtown Athletic Club.

Another running back to keep an eye on is Wisconsin's P.J. Hill. The Badgers needed a late score to beat UNLV on Saturday evening (sad) but Hill was not to blame for the close game. His 147 yards were the only thing keeping Badger BCS dreams alive. Hill faded last fall and he got off to a slow start against Washington State. If he can string together a few more performances like this one, however, we like his chances.

After trailing 10-0, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy helped his club regroup with 27 unanswered points. Still, McCoy's statline -- one touchdown, two interceptions -- has us concerned, even against TCU's superb defense.

The Colt Brennan show barely beat Louisiana Tech. As usual, Brennan's arm worked overtime: 61 attempts, 548 yards, four touchdowns. These numbers are great, but when Hawaii loses (and it will happen soon) Brennan will become forgettable. For now he'll remain in the top 10.

A quick glance, it appears Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice was unstoppable against lowly Samford: 11 carries, 110 yards, two scores. But fans should know that wasn't the case. His two scoring runs came from 73 and nine yards out. He added another run of 10 yards. This means that of Choice's 11 runs, eight went for a total of 18 yards. Analyzing too much? We don't think so, not for a candidate like Choice.

With its loss to Washington, the Boise State dream ride is now officially over. So is Ian Johnson's Heisman campaign.

After a miserable night for he and Nebraska, Marlon Lucky saved the day with a 22-yard score to help his Huskers outlast Wake Forest. Lucky will be, er, fortunate to save his Heisman campaign. Of course, a better showing against USC next week would do wonders.

OK Gator fans, yeah, yeah, Tim Tebow, we know. The quarterback had a superb game against Troy (three touchdown passes, 97 rushing yards, two rushing scores). However, before you pat him on the back too hard, keep in mind that Percy Harvin hardly played, but when he did, he was outstanding: four carries for 56 yards, three catches for 42 yards. Wait until SEC life starts, then tell me that Tebow is the better candidate of the two. Until then, I'm standing by Harvin.

I can't say I'm all that impressed with what DeSean Jackson did against Colorado State. Ok, so his thumb is bothering him. Call the nurse. His 73-yard run was thrilling, but beyond that he carried one other time for five yards and caught five passes for 39 yards. In the return game, he fielded two punts for 24 yards. Yawn.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This week should help to answer important questions for our top 10 Heisman candidates (well, all except our top two guys).

1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas
The Razorbacks have the week to rest, then will come back to face Alabama.

2. John David Booty, USC
Booty gets a week to rest, too. His Trojans hit the road next week to face Big 12 hopeful Nebraska.

3. Steve Slaton, West Virginia
Last week Marshall allowed the Miami Hurricanes to ring up 260 rushing yards on 40 carries. Just a hunch but Slaton could be in for a big day.

4. DeSean Jackson, Cal
A week ago, Colorado receiver Scotty McKnight scored on a 24-yard pass in the first quarter and finished with eight catches for 106 yards against Colorado State, Cal's opponent this week. That was Scotty McKnight. This is DeSean Jackson.

5. Ray Rice, Rutgers
Rice could be limited this week. His opponent, Navy, has a solid run defense that held Temple to fewer than three yards per carry last week (25-for-74 yards). And in 2006, Navy was the only team against which Rice did not find the end zone (21 carries for 93 yards).

6. Brian Brohm, Louisville
If you read our post last night you know why Brohm is already a favorite to be the biggest ranking climber of Week 2.

7. Colt Brennan, Hawaii
Regardless of who Brennan plays on Hawaii's schedule, we can predict the outcome: lots of throws, lots of yards, lots of touchdowns.

8. Pat White, West Virginia
The Mountaineers will find rushing yards easy to come by this week. While that will limit White in the passing game, the quick-footed QB will dance all day on the ground.

9. Marlon Lucky, Nebraska
None of the Boston College backs had much luck running on Wake Forest last weekend. Now Lucky will give it a try. To stay in the top 10 he'll need to do much better than the two yards per attempt BC managed.

10. Colt McCoy, Texas
Of the top 10 candidates McCoy is the most desperate for big numbers (two INTs last week). The remedy? A very good TCU squad thinking upset.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In case you missed it, CSTV's Adam Caparell recently interviewed former Pitt great, and Heisman winner, Tony Dorsett.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When Friday morning arrives some will argue that the Louisville Cardinals had no business being in a tight ball game against an under-matched Middle Tennessee State squad. And, they're right. But with regard to Louisville's outstanding quarterback Brian Brohm ... well, let's just say that without him, the Cardinals' head coach, Steve Kragthorpe, would be calling Lloyd Carr this weekend asking for damage control advice.

Unlike Carr's quarterback, Chad Henne, Brohm knows how to answer a challenge. And for this, he should earn respect this week with Heisman voters (you can bet he will in our Tuesday, Sept. 11 ranking).

In case you missed it, Middle Tennessee State trailed the Cardinals by just three points at the half, 38-35. By then Brohm had tossed three touchdowns. Not enough. In the third quarter Brohm hit Mario Urrutia for a 22-yard score. When Middle Tennessee State closed the gap to 51-42 early in the fourth, Brohm found Harry Douglas on a 10-yard scoring strike three minutes later. Whenever his Cardinals needed a big completion, Brohm delivered -- every time. His final statline: 401 yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions.

Last Thursday, Brohm collected 375 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Murray State. By the end of the weekend we're betting he'll rank among the top three in the NCAA in every significant passing category. And it's not far fetched to predict the 6-foot-4, 228-pound senior will throw as many scores this season as he has in his last two seasons combined (35).

Yeah, we know .. he hasn't faced a respectable opponent yet. Still, yards and touchdowns help in the race for the Heisman, and come December, no voter really remembers how many of each came against which opponent.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Each week during the reguklar season we'll put one Heisman candidate under the microscope and discuss why he deserves the award (and why he doesn't). This week it's West Virginia quarterback Pat White, who threw two touchdowns and rushed for two more in the Mountaineers' win over Western Michigan last Saturday.

White is a dangeorus player who possesses all of the qualities voters look for in a top-shelf candidate. Specifically, he plays for a winning program, he is a leader, his statistics are as good or better than his peers, and he has rare athletic ability.

This week West Virginia has Marshall followed by a trip to Maryland. White's first real big test will come on Oct. 27 when his team travels to face Rutgers,

Why he can win the award: Just look at last year's numbers. He tossed 13 touchdowns and ran for another 18. What's more, he completed a very respectable 65.9 percent of his throws and gained 7.4 yards per carry (1,219 rushing yards total). Is there a more productive QB who returned this year? White can do it all, but it is in how he guides the Mountaineers through the demanding Big East schedule that makes us think he can be a viable Heisman candidate. Should West Virginia make it through back-to-back games against Rutgers and Louisville, White will be near the front of the pack.

Why he won't win: His enemy in the Heisman race is his biggest ally on the field. Steve Slaton also scored four touchdowns last Saturday, and he scored 18 (16 rushing, two receiving last fall). He is White's equal in terms of statistics, and he has more noteworthy performances. That hurts White because when Slaton has a 215-yard effort, as he did last fall against Pitt, it pushes White to the background. Simply put, this is a case of subtraction by addition. Two great players on one team is usually not good for either player, and White and Slaton are not in the same league (or fortunate to receive the same coverage) as Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush when they competed against one another for the Heisman a few years ago.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The latest ESPN.com Heisman poll has few surprises. Arkansas running back Darren McFadden has a commanding lead. His 67 points are more than double the total of No. 2 ranked Brian Brohm. And of the 15 votes cast, only two first place votes went to someone other than McFadden (one to John David Booty, the other to Pat White). The newest addition to ESPN.com's Heisman Watch? Try Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, who completed 73.9 percent of his passes and tossed three touchdowns in the upset win over Michigan. We appreciate the kind gesture on the part of the voter who listed Edwards fifth on his ballot, but the Joe Dudek's of the world just don't get respect come voting time.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If the season ended today, SportsIllustrated.com's Gene Menez likes Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm to win the Heisman. Think he's crazy!? We don't.

Brohm entered this season as a high-profile prospect -- as much as Darren McFadden and more than most of the other top 10 favorites. The Big East now has credibility, which will help Brohm down the road, but right now after one game his campaign is already as believable as any other candidate. He helped his team accumulate 73 points in the first week. And even though Louisville did not face a quality opponent (other than DeSean Jackson, which Heisman candidate did?) Brohm scores points for his efficiency (16-of-21).

Menez's other top 5 if the voting ended right now:
Hawaii QB Colt Brennan
West Virginia QB Pat White
Arkansas RB Darren McFadden
LSU DT Glenn Dorsey

We like the White pick, but somebody should tell Menez that a defensive lineman hasn't won the award since ... well, never.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 09:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In its latest ranking, the Heisman Pundit has Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky and quarterback Sam Keller listed in the top 10 -- Nos. 9 and 10, respectively. Not sure about you, but we're not buying.

Lucky is a good choice. He also entered out ranking this week at the No. 9 spot. Lucky leads the country in rushing yards and could pad that number this week at Wake Forest. And the game against USC on the 15th gives Lucky the rare opportunity to reach out to Heisman voters should he have a big game.

But Keller ... umm, well, we're not so sure.

To be fair, the Heisman Pundit writes, "Keller's 193 yards against Nevada weren't spectacular, but he has the potential to put up huge yardage in the Big 12 down the road." We agree that Keller can enter the Heisman picture if Nebraska continues to roll, but only one Cornhusker can have top 10 potential. There are simply too many gifted candidates at other prominent schools to give Nebraska that much praise. Instead, we like the choice of Lucky but argue Keller's name should stay in the bag for now.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week's ranking includes a few new names after some surprising performances in Week 1. A few names to fall off this list: Michigan QB Chad Henne (No. 14) and Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart (No. 18).

1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas
2. John David Booty, USC
3. Steve Slaton, West Virginia
4. DeSean Jackson, Cal
5. Ray Rice, Rutgers
6. Brian Brohm, Louisville
7. Colt Brennan, Hawaii
8. Pat White, West Virginia
9. Marlon Lucky, Nebraska
10. Colt McCoy, Texas
11. Percy Harvin, Florida
12. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
13. Mike Hart, Michigan
14. Andre' Woodson, Kentucky
15. Ian Johnson, Boise St
16. Mario Manningham, Michigan
17. Tim Tebow, Florida
18. Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech
19. Kahlil Bell , UCLA
20. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
21. Matt Ryan, BC
22. Louis Rankin, Washington
23. Erik Ainge, Tennessee
24. Yvenson Bernard, Oregon St
25. Chase Daniel, Missouri

Posted by Mike Beacom at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now that Colt Brennan has legitimized his Heisman camapign with an opening weekend jaw-dropping statline, his Heisman site is buzzing with hits. We'll see how many visitors he registers after the Warriors face tougher secondaries in the coming weeks.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 09:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Over Labor Day weekend, 2006 Heisman winner Troy Smith made the final cut in Baltimore. Here is a short story on FOX Sports and another piece from the Baltimore Sun.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 08:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Guess we're not the only ones who believe 188 yards and three scores is not enough to save a Heisman campaign from an embarrassing loss. Michigan running back Mike Hart has fallen a few spots in Mike Woods' MSNBC Heisman column. An updated CSTV top 25 ranking will be released tomorrow.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 08:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Everyone knew Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was a special player. And, of course, Hawaii has had some superb passing offenses under the guidance of June Jones. But six touchdowns and 416 yards in the first half!? This week Brennan will be the biggest mover when our updated top 25 ranking is released on Tuesday. The biggest faller? Read on.

-- Week 1 Analysis --

There were upsets and some great games -- typical for an opening weekend -- but I can't honestly remember another opening weekend with this much change in the Heisman race.

Biggest 'WOW' performance: Brennan
Ranked No. 11 heading into the weekend, the knock on Brennan was that he played in the WAC and for a team that seems to make any arm golden. But Brennan is no Timmy Chang -- he's much better -- and Saturday proved that.

Biggest disappointment: Chad Henne
Sure, Mario Manningham will likely fall out of this week's top 10, and Mike Hart (despite a good performance) will fall from his No. 12 spot, but nobody will fall farther than Henne. At No. 14, he was still an outside contender. Being the leader of a team that became the first ranked school to lose to a I-AA, however, will stay on Henne's resume forever.

Biggest 'I told you so': DeSean Jackson
Well, maybe 'I told you so' is pushing it, but in our Week 1 preview of the top 10 we argued that Jackson had plenty to gain by facing a quality opponent (Tennessee). I was right. Jackson will gain ground in our next ranking, but not because he was the key player in the win over the Vols. What Jackson did do was show his versatility to Heisman voters. He had one carry for 21 yards, caught four passes (for minimal yardage) and returned a punt 77 yards for a score. The performance was a big boost for his campaign.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Michigan's embarrassing loss to Appalachian State this afternoon could end the Heisman dreams of Wolverine stars Mike Hart, Mario Manningham and Chad Henne. Hart gained 188 yards and scored three times, but with Michigan's national title hopes now dimmed, even those numbers won't be enough to keep Hart in the minds of Heisman voters. Guess we'll see when the first straw poll is released next week.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ahh yes, football is back in the air. The Heisman candidates are ready to get out of the gate and the frontrunners are ready to emerge. Here is a list of what each top 10 candidate has in store on opening weekend ...

1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas
A home date against Troy should help McFadden hold the top spot, if not extend his lead. I mean, really, if McFadden doesn't have 200 yards before leaving the breakfast table this morning, something is wrong.

2. John David Booty, USC
Booty is not going to become the frontrunner by whipping up on Idaho, but he needs street cred and this game will serve as a tune-up for next week's Heisman-worthy test against Nebraska.

3. Steve Slaton, West Virginia
Hmmm, a home date against the Western Michigan run defense. Slaton's biggest competition today: see entry No. 9.

4. Ray Rice, Rutgers
A year ago nobody would have believed the Big East was deserving of owning two top 5 candidates, but it is so. Rice will only stay in this race for as long as Rutgers stays unbeaten -- and that could be for a while.

5. Mario Manningham, Michigan
Better than Cal's DeSean Jackson? I think so, and the Appalachian State cornerbacks are not going to prove me wrong. One thing I do know -- Manningham is more important to Michigan's success (and will receive more style points from voters) than his teammates, Chad Henne and Mike Hart.

6. DeSean Jackson, Cal
No player has the potential to move up more this week than Jackson. Why? Well, he is the only top 10 candidate who is facing a respectable opponent: Tennessee. This game is going to be a hot one and if Jackson is a difference maker, watch out.

7. Brian Brohm, Louisville
The only top 10 candidate to play early, Brohm lit up Murray State with 375 yards and four touchdowns. Yep, he'll be moving up the list.

8. Colt McCoy, Texas
The sophomore season begins with Arkansas State. Christmas is only slightly more fun and rewarding than this matchup will be for McCoy.

9. Pat White, West Virginia
Slaton gets all of the press but White makes this offense go. The quarterback could upstage his teammate this week against Western Michigan should Slaton get the early hook.

10. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
Washington State is just about the best non-conference opponent the Badgers have scheduled in a decade. A good game today would keep Hill on the radar screen, but it will be interesting to see how Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema rotates his deep backfield.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 09:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

CSTV.com Heisman expert Mike Beacom will cover this year's Heisman race. Included in our 2007 coverage are: updated Heisman rankings every Tuesday; occasional straw polls with Heisman voters; chats with winners from past years; and links to Heisman-related articles on the Web. Readers can check back regularly for updates to this blog.

Posted by Mike Beacom at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)