With one week remaining before the bowl season begins, the Heisman picture is murky as ever. A slew of signal-callers with similar statistics headline the top of the list, as no one player has been able to create distinguishable separation. Behind a six touchdown performance in a blowout victory over Pac 12 rival UCLA, Southern Cal’s Matt Barkley has taken over this week’s top spot, though Houston’s Case Keenum and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III are certainly not far behind. Stanford’s Andrew Luck drops off the list for the first time, despite being favored to win the award since last season concluded. While he is enjoying another great year, the Cardinal have not played an overly-difficult schedule and Luck’s statistics are simply inferior to those of Barkley, Griffin, and especially Keenum. With that, the week fourteen Heisman update.
Matt Barkley, QB, USC
The Trojans’ star signal-caller tied a season-high with six passing touchdowns in a 50-0 drubbing of UCLA. Barkley completed 35 of 42 passes for 423 yards and is certainly making a case as the Pac 12’s top quarterback. The junior boasts five games with at least four passing touchdowns and his 39 total are good for second in the nation. He ranks in the top ten in passing yards (3,528) and has thrown only seven interceptions in leading the Trojans to a 10-2 record.
Case Keenum, QB, Houston
Keenum once again led the nation’s top scoring offense to a blowout victory over Tulsa Saturday, throwing for 457 and five scores. Despite sitting the final period in several games this season, the senior has recorded at least 300 passing yards in every contest. His 4,726 yards and 43 touchdowns are both tops in the country, while he ranks second in completion percentage and has thrown a ridiculous three interceptions. Keenum leads #6 Houston against #24 Southern Mississippi in this weekend’s Conference USA championship game. A victory for the Cougars will likely yield an at-large BCS bid and a chance for their star quarterback to finally face a nationally-respected defense.
Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
While many seem to be pouring over Trent Richardson’s excellent season down in Tuscaloosa, the statistics suggest Wisconsin’s Montee Ball is having the superior season. With fewer carries than the Alabama star, he ranks second in the nation in yards (1,622) and first in touchdowns (29 – Big Ten record). Ball’s 34 total touchdowns are already the second-most in NCAA history, and with two games likely remaining, he has a shot at breaking Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders’ record of 39 (set in 11 games). Ball and quarterback Russell Wilson will lead the high-scoring Badgers into Indianapolis Saturday night for a rematch with Michigan State, by whom they were defeated on a last-second hail mary back in October.
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Richardson has been a fixture in the Heisman debate all season, but perhaps his best performance came this past weekend in the Iron Bowl. The junior rushed for a career-high 203 yards on 27 carries in the 42-14 victory. He ranks in the top five in the country in both rushing yards and touchdowns and is highly regarded as the nation’s top NFL running back prospect, should he opt to declare. Richardson will not have another chance to boost his resume before the trophy presentation, as Alabama is idle this weekend while they await their bowl fate, with a bid to the BCS National Championship likely.
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
RGIII has led seventeenth-ranked Baylor to one of its best seasons in school history as its lightning-quick dual threat quarterback. The junior has racked up over 3,600 passing yards to go with over 600 on the ground. His remarkable efficiency (34 TDs, just five picks) has vaulted Baylor onto the national radar and established Griffin III as a legitimate NFL prospect. Despite leaving this past weekend’s game versus Texas Tech in the second quarter with an apparent concussion, Griffin III managed to record three scores for the eventually-victorious Bears. He is expected to be ready for Saturday’s showdown with 22nd-ranked Texas, a game with huge bowl ramifications for both squads.
On the Outside Looking In
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon