This year's Heisman race figures to be a close one. All indications are that Tim Tebow, Darren McFadden, Pat White and Chase Daniel have a shot at the Trophy, and that Colt Brennan and a few others have the potential to impact the final voting.
Throughout its 72-year history, the Heisman has had far more blowouts than it has close wins. But there are several memorable races worth looking back at ...
It was the game to decide Big 12 North supremacy -- Missouri and its red-hot passing offense against a Nebraska program ready to re-join the nation's elite. But the buildup was much more exciting than the contest. By game's end it was Missouri 41, Nebraska 6.
It surprised fans outside of Columbia and propelled the Tigers to the No. 11 spot in this week's rankings. But it's not much of a surprise if you know what Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel is capable of.
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.
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.
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.
