Heisman Ballot: Week 14

This Week’s Heisman Ballot is our determination of the five best players in college football. Here is the Heisman Trophy ballot we would submit if the season ended today.

1. Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Stanford Cardinal

Last Game: 29 rushes for 205 yards and three touchdowns; one reception for 33 yards; 1-of-1 passing for 18 yards and one touchdown in a 45-38 victory over Notre Dame.

Analysis: Gerhart was dominant once again in Stanford’s victory over the Fighting Irish. Gerhart's final touchdown run came when Notre Dame allowed Stanford to score in order to save time. Of course, this play resembled Gerhart’s 28 other rushes when Notre Dame had no answer for his physicality and toughness. Gerhart is now the nation’s rushing leader by more than 100 yards.

2. Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Texas Longhorns

Last Game: 24-of-40 passing for 304 yards and four touchdowns; 18 rushes for 175 yards and one touchdown in a 49-39 victory over Texas A&M.

Analysis: McCoy had his best all-around game of the year as Texas completed an undefeated (12-0) regular season. His 175 rushing yards were a career high. McCoy is peaking at the right time and has put himself square in the middle of the Heisman discussion while others (Mark Ingram, C.J. Spiller) have fallen off. He has a great opportunity to claim votes from Gerhart this weekend as Texas plays Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game, while Stanford is idle.

3. Mark Ingram, Running Back, Alabama Crimson Tide

Last Game: 16 rushes for 30 yards; three receptions for 21 yards in a 26-21 victory over Auburn.

Analysis: Ingram struggled to establish himself as Alabama evaded disaster in an exciting Iron Bowl victory over Auburn. True freshman Trent Richardson was actually more effective than Ingram, rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. To add injury to insult, Ingram suffered a hip pointer in the second half.

It was not the first time this season that Ingram has been neutralized by an opponent. He was limited to just 50 and 99 yards against Tennessee and Arkansas respectively. Nonetheless, Ingram has a shot to claim the Heisman Trophy this weekend in the year’s most anticipated match-up, the SEC Championship game against Florida.

4. C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Clemson Tigers

Last Game: Nine rushes for 18 yards; three receptions for 19 yards; 2 kick returns for 102 yards and one kick return for touchdown in a 34-17 loss to South Carolina.

Analysis: Spiller exploded out of the gates against the in-state rival Gamecocks, returning the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. With the score, he set a NCAA record with seven career kickoff returns for touchdowns. However, his star faded the rest of the game as Clemson could not keep up with the Gamecocks. Spiller needs a huge performance against Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game to catapult himself into the top spot.

5. Case Keenum, Quarterback, Houston Cougars

Last Game: 25-of-31 passing for 323 yards and two touchdowns in Houston’s 73-14 victory over Rice.

Analysis: Keenum continued his ridiculous statistical season leading Houston, as the Cougars scored a whopping 73 points over Rice. His stats for the game may look pedestrian compared to the rest of his body of work this year, but one has to remember--Keenum did not play in the second half.

Outside Looking In: DT Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska), WR Golden Tate (Notre Dame), QB Tim Tebow (Florida)

Photo Courtesy of College Press Box