With two of the nation’s leading Heisman Trophy candidates, Boise State’s Kellen Moore and Alabama’s Trent Richardson, having the weekend off, Saturday was a time for others to shine. Despite a near-loss to conference rival USC, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck maintains the top spot with yet another rock-solid performance. Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, on the other hand, disappointed in a bad loss to Georgia Tech, his Tigers’ first of the season. The story was much the same for Wisconsin signal-caller Russell Wilson who has all but removed himself from the race with Saturday’s loss at Ohio State, the Badgers’ second consecutive disappointing defeat. One quarterback who certainly disappointed no one this weekend was Houston’s Case Keenum. The senior had a coming-out party of sorts, passing for well over 500 yards and a jaw-dropping nine touchdowns, helping to reaffirm that his Heisman contention. With that, we take a look at this week’s Heisman Update:
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
In a thrilling 56-48 triple-overtime victory over USC, the Cardinal’s leader passed for 330 yards and three scores. After throwing a costly pick-six late in the fourth quarter, Luck redeemed himself, engineering a game-tying drive to force overtime. The senior certainly does not boast the best statistics of any quarterback, but his leadership, poise, and excellent decision-making set him apart. Luck and the Cardinal should have no trouble handling Oregon State this weekend as they prepare for the showdown with eighth-ranked Oregon (the Cardinal’s lone defeat last season) November 12th.
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
Moore and the fifth-ranked Broncos enjoyed a much-needed bye week following a tough win versus Air Force last weekend. The week off should give Moore, who ranks fourth in the country in efficiency, additional time to prepare for the season’s final five games, all versus unranked opponents. If the Broncos win out as expected, and receive some big-time help from Oregon and Oklahoma, this could finally be the year a non-AQ conference team receives a bid to the National Championship game.
Case Keenum, QB, Houston
Keenum went off on Rice Thursday night, in one of the most impressive statistical games for a quarterback in college football history. In a 73-34 beatdown, Keenum tossed nine touchdowns to go along with 534 yards, despite sitting the vast majority of the fourth quarter. The sixth-year senior boasts the nation’s second-highest passer rating and ranks first in yards. Keenum’s 32 scores are also tops in the country, six ahead of Oklahoma’s Landry Jones. If he were putting up these videogame numbers for a major-conference team, Keenum would have the Heisman all but locked up. However, Houston’s soft schedule and lack of formidable defenses hinder his cause.
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Despite having a bye this past week, Richardson remained third in the country in touchdowns with 17. With the most-anticipated game of the college football season thus far looming Saturday, with LSU invading Bryant-Denny Stadium for a clash with Richardson and ‘Bama, Richardson has a chance to make a big-time statement against arguably the nation’s top defense.
Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
Broyles leaps into the top five with a huge game against then eighth-ranked Kansas State, in which the Sooners exposed the Wildcat defense in Manhattan en route to a 58-17 drubbing. The 5’10” senior wideout had another huge game, catching 14 balls for 171 yards and a score. Broyles, who holds the FBS record for career receptions (347 and counting), ranks second in the nation in catches (81) and first in receiving yards (1,070). With star quarterback Landry Jones seemingly back on track after an ugly loss to a substandard Texas Tech squad last week, the Sooners appear to have their mojo back and are certainly a BCS contender.
On the Outside Looking In:
Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Closer Look: Justin Blackmon
The Cowboy’s star wide receiver is quietly having another strong season, recording 74 catches (5th in the nation), 834 yards, and ten touchdowns (2nd) thus far. Though he is not quite on pace to eclipse last season’s jaw-dropping numbers (111 catches, nearly 1800 yards, 20 TD), Blackmon is certainly a dark-horse Heisman candidate and a serious contender for the Biletnikoff award. The 6’1″ 215lb junior is considered a surefire first-round NFL Draft pick and it remains to be seen whether he will return for his senior season, though just this week Head Coach Mike Gundy said he does not expect Blackmon to be back in Stillwater in 2012.