Buckeyes #1 in the Polls - Heisman Watch

Tracking the CandidatesOct. 10, 2010
1 Denard Robinson QB | MichiganNext Game: 10/16 vs. IOWA
One game doesn't ground Robinson's candidacy by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly brings it back from the stratosphere. He had a hand in both of Michigan's touchdowns against Michigan State but three costly interceptions put the game out of reach for the Wolverines and sent them to their first defeat of the season and their third straight against the Spartans.
WEEK 6 VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
111.6 215 1 3 58.6
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
86 1 4.1
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
164.1 1223 8 4 67.2
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
991 9 8.3


2 Kellen Moore QB | Boise StateNext Game: 10/16 at SJSU
It was another breezy performance for Boise State, as Moore passed for 267 yards and three touchdowns in a 57-14 rout of Toledo. It was the Broncos' last nonconference game. Boise and Moore will have to rely on WAC play to further strengthen their cases in both the Heisman and national title race.
WEEK 6 VS. TOLEDO
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
219.7 267 3 0 72.7
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
6 0 6.0
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
183.3 1336 14 1 67.4
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-15 0 -2.1


3 LaMichael James RB | OregonNext Game: 10/21 vs. UCLA
Washington State hung on for as long as it could but the Ducks eventually overwhelmed the Cougars in a 43-23 win. James rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns and added an 84-yard touchdown reception to help Oregon improve to 3-0 in Pac-10 play.
WEEK 6 AT WASHINGTON STATE
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
136 2 5.4
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
2 87 43.5 1
2010 SEASON
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
848 9 7.4
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
3 96 32.0 1


4 Terrelle Pryor QB | Ohio StateNext Game: 10/16 at WIS
Pryor stayed away from rushing the ball and turned in a career-high 334 yards passing and three touchdowns in the Buckeyes' dominating win over Indiana. With a No. 1 ranking likely forthcoming following Alabama's loss, Ohio State will have added pressure on it ahead of its visit to Wisconsin on Saturday.
WEEK 6 VS. INDIANA
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
206.5 334 3 0 80.0
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-19 0 -6.3
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
170.5 1349 15 3 68.0
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
354 3 6.2


5 Mark Ingram RB | AlabamaNext Game: 10/16 vs. MISS
Ingram's pedestrian stat line of 41 yards rushing and no touchdowns tells part of the story as to how South Carolina was able to knock off the top-ranked Tide. The loss puts Alabama in the unfamiliar position of playing catch-up in the SEC West, though with LSU and Auburn still on the schedule, it'd be foolish to count Ingram and the Tide out just yet.
WEEK 6 AT SOUTH CAROLINA
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
41 0 3.7
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
4 16 4.0 0
2010 SEASON
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
396 6 7.1
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
9 62 6.9 0


6 Cameron Newton QB | AuburnNext Game: 10/16 vs. ARK
When the Heisman Watch poll is updated on Tuesday, don't be surprised to see Newton make a substantial leap. He rushed for four touchdowns in the first half against Kentucky and although the Wildcats erased a 17-point deficit to tie the game late, the Tigers held on to remain unbeaten. The SEC's leading rusher turned in a career-high 198 yards on the ground in the 37-34 win.
WEEK 6 AT KENTUCKY
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
136.4 210 0 1 61.9
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
198 4 7.1
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
180.7 1138 12 5 64.8
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
672 9 6.5





Running a parallel race
By Adam Rittenberg
ESPN.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- On a day when Ohio State re-established itself as a national title contender, Michigan State further validated itself as a team that will challenge for the Big Ten crown.
The Buckeyes made quick work of Indiana as quarterback Terrelle Pryor passed for a career-high 334 yards and an opportunistic defense recorded three interceptions. Meanwhile, a disciple of Buckeyes boss Jim Tressel (Mark Dantonio) returned to the coaching booth at Michigan and watched his Spartans team deliver a very Ohio State-like beating to the maize and blue.
Both Ohio State and Michigan State took a big step toward their ultimate goal.
"We are Big Ten contenders," Michigan State running back Edwin Baker said.
It looks like the case, but here's the bad news: There will be no collision course between the Buckeyes and Spartans.
Because of the Big Ten's unbalanced schedule, Ohio State and Michigan State don't meet this season. Consequently, both teams could finish tied atop the league standings on Nov. 27 and share the Little League-ish label of co-champs, which the Big Ten mercifully will eliminate in 2011 when it launches a title game.
Both Ohio State and Michigan State went 4-0 in nonconference play, so the Big Ten's automatic representative to the BCS bowls would be the higher-ranked team in the final BCS standings. Given Ohio State's loftier preseason and current ranking, it would be hard to imagine the Buckeyes not getting the nod. Michigan State entered the season unranked.
There's a long way to go for both teams. Ohio State faces the first of two major road tests this week at Wisconsin. Both the Buckeyes and Michigan State must visit Iowa City, home of a Hawkeyes team that looks every bit like a league title contender.
But if Ohio State and Michigan State are tied atop the Big Ten in late November, it'll be a shame of sorts.
Imagine Dantonio taking a program covered with his fingerprints to face his mentor and the Buckeyes. It's tantalizing. And it won't come to pass.
Big Ten fans might have to take solace in that old sporting maxim: Wait 'til next year.





AP Top 25
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Ohio State (34) 6-0 1453
2 Oregon (15) 6-0 1427
3 Boise State (8) 5-0 1395
4 TCU (1) 6-0 1304
5 Nebraska 5-0 1236
6 Oklahoma (2) 5-0 1225
7 Auburn 6-0 1104
8 Alabama 5-1 1021
9 LSU 6-0 999
10 South Carolina 4-1 978
11 Utah 5-0 926
12 Arkansas 4-1 813
13 Michigan State 6-0 806
14 Stanford 5-1 732
15 Iowa 4-1 648
16 Florida State 5-1 547
17 Arizona 4-1 472
18 Wisconsin 5-1 410
19 Nevada 6-0 376
20 Oklahoma State 5-0 348
21 Missouri 5-0 298
22 Florida 4-2 209
23 Air Force 5-1 187
24 Oregon State 3-2 186
25 West Virginia 4-1 141
Dropped from rankings: Miami (FL) 13, Michigan 18
Others receiving votes: Michigan 137, Miami (FL) 63, North Carolina State 31, Virginia Tech 17, Northwestern 5, Texas 5, Kansas State 1
Complete Rankings »

USA Today Poll
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Ohio State (49) 6-0 1455
2 Oregon (6) 6-0 1388
3 Boise State (1) 5-0 1335
4 Nebraska (2) 5-0 1272
5 TCU (1) 6-0 1213
6 Oklahoma 5-0 1193
7 Auburn 6-0 1060
8 Alabama 5-1 1029
9 LSU 6-0 1021
10 Utah 5-0 940
11 Michigan State 6-0 838
12 South Carolina 4-1 835
13 Arkansas 4-1 780
14 Iowa 4-1 710
15 Stanford 5-1 618
16 Wisconsin 5-1 542
17 Florida State 5-1 496
18 Oklahoma State 5-0 478
19 Missouri 5-0 434
20 Arizona 4-1 367
21 Nevada 6-0 329
22 Florida 4-2 242
23 Air Force 5-1 151
24 Michigan 5-1 137
25 West Virginia 4-1 88
Dropped from rankings: Miami (FL) 14, Northwestern 25
Others receiving votes: Miami (FL) 66, North Carolina State 41, Texas 31, Oregon State 30, Virginia Tech 24, Northwestern 23, MISSISSIPPIST 7, Maryland 2
Complete Rankings »

ESPN.com's Power Rankings
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Ohio State 6-0 492
2 Oregon 6-0 479
3 Boise State 5-0 462
4 TCU 6-0 425
5 Nebraska 5-0 424
6 Oklahoma 5-0 405
7 Auburn 6-0 376
8 Alabama 5-1 348
9 South Carolina 4-1 338
10 Utah 5-0 302
11 LSU 6-0 299
12 Michigan State 6-0 284
13 Arkansas 4-1 242
14 Stanford 5-1 242
15 Florida State 5-1 217
16 Iowa 4-1 208
17 Arizona 4-1 174
18 Wisconsin 5-1 141
19 Nevada 6-0 119
20 Oklahoma State 5-0 113
21 Missouri 5-0 91
22 Air Force 5-1 71
23 Oregon State 3-2 60
24 Florida 4-2 49
25 Michigan 5-1 42
Others receiving votes: West Virginia, Miami (FL), Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, Texas, USC

ESPN Fan Poll
RK TEAM
1 Oregon
2 Ohio State
3 Nebraska
4 Boise State
5 TCU
6 Oklahoma
7 Auburn
8 LSU
9 Alabama
10 South Carolina
11 Michigan State
12 Utah
13 Arkansas
14 Stanford
15 Iowa
16 Florida State
17 Wisconsin
18 Oklahoma State
19 Arizona
20 Nevada
21 Missouri
22 Air Force
23 Florida
24 West Virginia
25 Oregon State
Others receiving votes: Michigan, North Carolina State, Miami (FL), Northwestern, Texas




Ohio State moves up with Alabama loss

NEW YORK -- Hit the reset button on the college football season.
There's a new No. 1 team in Ohio State and uncertainty at the top of the rankings for the first time all season, after Alabama's 19-game winning streak ended at South Carolina.
The Southeastern Conference, which has won the last four national championships, has some catching up to do in the 2010 title chase. The Buckeyes and No. 2 Oregon have a couple of BCS busters in No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 TCU on their tails. And for the first time in about a decade, Nebraska is a legitimate national championship contender.
The Buckeyes moved up one spot in The Associated Press poll after preseason No. 1 Alabama lost for the first time since the 2009 Sugar Bowl. The Crimson Tide fell 35-21 on Saturday.
Ohio State received 34 first-place votes and Oregon (15), Boise State (eight), TCU (one) and No. 6 Oklahoma (two) also got first-place votes from the media panel Sunday.
Auburn is the highest ranked SEC team at No. 7. An SEC team, either Florida or Alabama, had held the top spot in the last 29 AP polls, dating to Nov. 2, 2008. The last time the highest ranked SEC team was this far away from No. 1 was Oct. 22, 2006, when Auburn was ranked seventh.
The Crimson Tide slipped to No. 8, LSU was No. 9 and South Carolina moved up nine spots to 10th after the program's first victory against a top-ranked team.
The last time Ohio State was No. 1 was the final regular-season poll of 2007.
That season ended with LSU beating the Buckeyes in the BCS championship game to become the first national title winner with two losses. That type of mayhem is a long way away, but the potential for BCS controversy is high, unlike last season, when Florida, Alabama and Texas moved into the top three spots in late September and didn't budge until the SEC title game.
"You take a look at the top 10 week to week and the precarious nature of any ranking is obvious -- just review the change in the makeup of the Top 10 between the beginning of the season until now," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Sunday in a statement.
While Tressel's rigid remarks scored low for enthusiasm, the insight was on target.
Four teams that started the season ranked in the top 10 have fallen out, including Texas and Virginia Tech, which are gone all together. Florida is down to No. 22 after losing its second straight game. The Gators fell 33-29 to LSU and have their worst showing in the poll since they were unranked to end the 2004 season, Ron Zook's last as Florida coach.
Seven other teams that started the season ranked are gone from the AP Top 25 this week.
There are eight undefeated teams in the top 10 and five more lurking outside of it,
starting with No. 11 Utah. Arkansas is No. 12 with unbeaten Michigan State at No. 13. Stanford and Iowa round out the top 15.
Florida State jumped seven spots to No. 16 with a 45-17 victory at Miami that knocked the Hurricanes out of the rankings. No. 17 Arizona is followed by Wisconsin, then comes three more unbeaten teams: No. 19 Nevada, No. 20 Oklahoma State and No. 21 Missouri.
Florida, No. 23 Air Force, Oregon State and West Virginia complete the Top 25.
The most undefeated teams there could be at the end of this season is seven.
There are four unbeatens in the Big 12, but that will eventually sort itself out and leave no more than one. Oklahoma and Nebraska don't play in the regular season but could meet in the Big 12 title game.
Boise State and Nevada of the Western Athletic Conference meet Nov. 26 in Reno, Nev. Both will be favored in all their games between now and then. The Broncos aren't just looking to get into the BCS this season, they're a legitimate contender to reach the championship game from a non-automatic qualifying conference, and that would be a first.
Same goes for TCU. Maybe even Utah. But not both. The Mountain West Conference rivals play Nov. 6 in Salt Lake City.
Auburn and LSU are the remaining unbeatens in the SEC. The two Tigers play Oct. 23 in Auburn, Ala., and both still have to play Alabama and Arkansas just to get out of the SEC West.
"You would think they would probably lose at least or more," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Sunday of the West leaders. "You would think, but who knows?"
If Auburn and LSU keep winning, the strength of the SEC could push them past the teams in front of them and into the thick of the national title mix. But it's just as likely the SEC will not produce an undefeated champion and be shut out of the BCS championship game for the first time since the 2005 season, when Texas and USC played for the title.
Of course, if there are no undefeated teams, you can bet an SEC team will be near the top of the pile of one-loss squads. That's what defending national champion Alabama is hoping for now.
Oregon is the only unbeaten Pac-10 team but running through that tough league unbeaten will be a serious challenge. The Ducks still have to play Oregon State, Arizona and USC.
From the Big Ten comes this possible wrinkle: Ohio State and Michigan State don't
play each other this season. The Buckeyes play at Wisconsin next week and at Iowa on Nov. 20. Michigan State's toughest remaining test looks like a game at Iowa on Oct. 30.
The first BCS standing of the season are due out next Sunday. It uses the coaches' poll, Harris poll and computer rankings to order the teams. The latest coaches' poll had the same top five as the AP, except Nebraska was No. 4 and TCU was No. 5. The first Harris poll was the same 1-9 as the AP Top 25.
Somehow the second half of the season needs to whittle this race down to two teams. Don't count on it being a tidy ending.

Heisman Watch - Cavs Update - OSU Football

Good Luck Reds!!! Moss to Vikings, Heck Yes!





Heisman Watch
Tracking the CandidatesOct. 5, 2010
1 Denard RobinsonQB | MichiganNext Game: 10/9 vs. MSU
He's writing his name into the Michigan record books with alarming speed. Robinson recorded his second game with 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing in the Wolverines' win over Indiana, joining exclusive company shared only by Texas' Vince Young. The road only gets tougher for Michigan, with a visit from in-state rival and fellow Big Ten unbeaten Michigan State on Saturday.
WEEK 5 AT INDIANA
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
269.8 277 3 0 62.5
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
217 2 11.4
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
180.0 1008 7 1 69.8
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
905 8 9.2


2 Kellen MooreQB | Boise StateNext Game: 10/9 vs. TOL
You'd be forgiven for thinking Moore wasn't playing this weekend, but the Broncos were indeed in action; it was just on the road at New Mexico State. Moore tossed three touchdown passes in limited action as the Broncos steamrolled to a 59-0 win.
WEEK 5 AT NEW MEXICO STATE
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
218.7 196 3 0 72.2
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
0 0 0.0
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
176.2 1069 11 1 66.4
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-21 0 -3.5


3 LaMichael JamesRB | OregonNext Game: 10/9 at WSU
Stanford tried, without much luck, to capture lightning in a bottle in the form of Oregon's diminutive playmaker. James was never tackled behind the line of scrimmage and rushed for a career-high 257 yards and three TDs in the Ducks' 52-31 win over the Cardinal. The win established the Ducks as the Pac-10's decisive favorites and saw them leapfrog Boise State in the AP Top 25 poll.
WEEK 5 VS. STANFORD
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
257 3 8.3
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
0 0 0.0 0
2010 SEASON
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
712 7 8.0
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
1 9 9.0 0


4 Terrelle PryorQB | Ohio StateNext Game: 10/9 vs. IND
It was a scary -- if brief -- moment for Ohio State fans when Pryor momentarily left the game in a 24-13 win over Illinois. But he returned to complete the Buckeyes' Big Ten-opening win, tossing two touchdown passes and turning in his third 100-yard rushing performance of the season.
WEEK 5 AT ILLINOIS
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
124.9 76 2 1 56.3
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
104 0 9.5
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
161.7 1015 12 3 65.0
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
373 3 6.9


5 Mark IngramRB | AlabamaNext Game: 10/9 at SCAR
Judging Ingram's individual performance in the context of the Heisman race is tricky. He only rushed for 47 yards on 12 carries but scored Alabama's first two TDs. Less difficult, however, is judging the comprehensive nature of the Crimson Tide's dominant win over Florida. It was an impressive team performance for the nation's top-ranked team, and the road doesn't get much easier with a visit to South Carolina pending.
WEEK 5 VS. FLORIDA
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
47 2 3.9
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
3 19 6.3 0
2010 SEASON
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
355 6 7.9
RECEIVING
REC YDS YPR TD
5 46 9.2 0


6 Cameron NewtonQB | AuburnNext Game: 10/9 at UK
He's second in the nation in passing efficiency and was leading the SEC in rushing until this week, when he played sparingly and had only one rushing attempt in Auburn's rout of Louisiana-Monroe. Newton has been a revelation on the Plains, and opportunities abound to strengthen his candidacy. Most important will be keeping the Tigers from falling victim to a late-season swoon similar to last year's.
WEEK 5 VS. LOUISIANA-MONROE
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
223.6 245 3 1 73.7
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-11 0 -11.0
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
191.4 928 12 4 65.5
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
474 5 6.2




Larry Bird rebuffed Cavaliers' interest
Byron Scott will coach the Cleveland Cavaliers formally for the first time Tuesday night when the Cavs launch the post-LeBron era with an exhibition game at home against Charlotte.
Scott, however, was not the only prominent alumnus of the storied Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the 1980s whom the Cavaliers approached. They also reached out to Larry Bird, ESPN.com has learned.
The Cavs' unsuccessful run at Michigan State's Tom Izzo -- at the behest of Cavs owner and Michigan State alumnus Dan Gilbert -- has been well-chronicled. At the same time, though, they also scoured the coaching map in search of players-turned-coaches of the highest stature to impress LeBron James, hoping that kind of hire could boost their chances of keeping him in free agency.
Sources close to the situation have confirmed that, before naming Scott as their new coach July 2, Cleveland officials thus contacted Bird to see if they could convince the Indiana Pacers' team president to consider returning to coaching.
Bird did take the call, sources said, but quickly informed the Cavs that he had no interest in coaching again. Sources said Bird, 53, let Cleveland know that he wants to continue in his front-office work with the Pacers and that he has all but ruled out coaching again because of health and family reasons.
The Cavaliers are known to have drawn up a long list of candidates when they brainstormed for possible replacements for Mike Brown. In an offseason interview with the News-Herald newspaper in northern Ohio, Cavs general manager Chris Grant declined to offer specifics beyond saying that he spoke to "less than 10" prospective coaches.
Bird has earned lukewarm reviews as the Pacers' top decision-maker since the departure of Donnie Walsh to the New York Knicks in April 2008. But he was wildly successful as Indiana's coach from 1997-98 to 1999-2000, posting a record of 147-67 and achieving a level of respect among players that explains Cleveland's interest, given that James had made it known in the wake of Brown's departure that having a successful ex-player in charge was important to him.
Flanked by two well-regarded assistants to offset his lack of experience -- current Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle and defensive guru Dick Harter -- Bird was in charge for Indiana's run to the NBA Finals in 2000. Then he abruptly left the bench, living up to his vow to coach for only three seasons.
Bird remains the only figure in league history to win the league's MVP and coach of the year awards and was routinely lauded by key players such as Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson for his sideline demeanor and influence.
It appears, however, that the Cavs' conversations with Bird never got far enough to describe him as a full-fledged candidate to replace Brown. Scott, by contrast, was one of the first candidates Cleveland targeted and interviewed and commanded support within the Cavaliers' organization throughout the search process and the drawn-out pursuit of Izzo.
Strong recommendations from New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (arguably James' closest friend in the league) and Mavericks guard Jason Kidd (after some friction between Scott and Kidd in New Jersey) all but sealed Scott's selection over Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw.
Scott won three rings as a player, took New Jersey to the NBA Finals as a coach in 2002 and 2003 and won coach of the year honors in New Orleans in 2008. He's already won admirers in Cleveland for his persistent optimism and confidence in the face of James' devastating departure.
"I think I'm the perfect guy for the job," Scott said shortly after his appointment, seemingly unruffled by the knowledge that the Cavs got deep into negotiations with Izzo and clearly spoke to others.


Gene Smith could earn $1.2M annually
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith could earn as much as $1.2 million annually -- making him one of the highest-paid ADs in the country -- after signing a contract addendum this summer.
Now in his 27th year in athletic administration, and after five years at Ohio State, he said he never could have foreseen the day when an AD made a seven-figure paycheck.
"Yeah, if I came back to my time when I started in this profession, I'm shocked at how fast it's grown," he said Thursday. "But at the same time, we have a lot of risk and responsibility. So I understand how it's gotten to be where it is today."
The 54-year-old Smith had his base salary boosted to $800,000 and also will receive $200,000 for media and public relations duties. The changes approved by the university in June also include bonus performance incentives that could bring his annual pay to $1.2 million.
The pay raise was not voted on by the school's board of trustees because it was an addendum and not a contract. It was first reported by The Columbus Dispatch.
The base salary is the same as that of Ohio State President Gordon Gee. Buckeyes football coach Jim Tressel makes around $3.5 million a year.
The $1.2 million would put Smith in the same pay bracket as Florida AD Jeremy Foley.
A meeting between Smith and Gee set the wheels in motion on Smith's salary bump.
"Gordon and I had a great conversation this summer and he values what I'm able to provide to the team," said Smith, a Notre Dame grad who played defensive end on the Fighting Irish's national championship team in 1973. He also has had stints at Eastern Michigan, Iowa State and Arizona State.
He said that his salary seems to be commensurate with any CEO in charge of a corporation with a $120-million budget. Ohio State has 36 intercollegiate sports, the most of any athletic department in the nation.
"You look at the national market," he said. "And you look at the fact that we have the most comprehensive, the largest [athletic department] in the country."
In his tenure at Ohio State, Smith has not had to hire any head coaches in the only money-making sports at the school, football and men's basketball. He inherited new or reconstructed facilities in almost every sport. The university has upped ticket prices in football and basketball in recent years because of shortfalls due to the economy and because of debt service created by the building boom under Smith's predecessor, Andy Geiger.
The length of Smith's contract was not extended. It expires on June 30, 2016.
Smith said he was unsure of whether this would be his final contract with Ohio State.
"The years were a part of my last contract, so I really wasn't interested in adding more years," he said. "I don't know what I'm going to do next. I'm only 54 and I've got a lot in me."




Official Indiana Game Depth Chart
Changes from last week are in Bold
Imagine that, the same RB depth chart! Changes in the DB's and Saine sucks!!!!!
Offense Defense
Pos. Num. Name Ht., Wt., Cl. Pos. Num. Name Ht., Wt., Cl.

QB 2 Terrelle Pryor (6-6, 233, Jr.) DE 43 Nathan Williams (6-3, 260, Jr.)
14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr.) 98 Solomon Thomas (6-5, 255, Jr.)

FB 44 Zach Boren (6-0, 252, So.) DT 72 Dexter Larimore (6-2, 310, Sr.)
49 Adam Homan (6-2, 238, So.) 52 Johnathan Hankins (6-3, 335, Fr.)

TB 3 Brandon Saine OR (6-1, 219, Sr.)
DT 54 John Simon (6-2, 270, So.)
1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr.) 93 Adam Bellamy (6-4, 295, RFr.)

TE 11 Jake Stoneburner (6-5, 245, So.)
DE 97 Cameron Heyward (6-5, 288, Sr.)
88 Reid Fragel (6-8, 260, So.) 53 Garrett Goebel (6-3, 281, So.)

WR 12 Dane Sanzenbacher (5-11, 180, Sr.) WLB 51 Ross Homan (6-0, 227, Sr.)
80 Chris Fields OR (6-0, 185, RFr.) 11 Dorian Bell (6-1, 225, RFr.)
10 Corey Brown (5-11, 170, Fr.)

MLB 36 Brian Rolle (5-11, 218, Sr.)
WR 8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 213, Jr.) 32 Storm Klein (6-2, 230, So.)
5 Taurian Washington OR (6-1, 181, Sr.)
17 Grant Schwartz (6-0, 210, Sr.) SLB 42 Andrew Sweat (6-2, 238, Jr.)
55 Jon Newsome (6-3, 219, So.)
LT 75 Mike Adams (6-8, 300, Jr.)
55 Andrew Miller (6-6, 288, Sr.) CB 5 Chimdi Chekwa (6-0, 190, Sr.)
3 Corey Brown (6-0, 189, RFr.)
LG 65 Justin Boren (6-3, 320, Sr.)
77 Connor Smith (6-4, 313, Sr.) FS 7 Jermale Hines (6-1, 216, Sr.)
21 Jamie Wood (6-1, 198, RFr.)
C 50 Mike Brewster (6-5, 293, Jr.) Jamie Wood now backing up Jermale Hines.
71 Corey Linsley (6-2, 298, RFr.) SS 19 Orhian Johnson (6-2, 203, So.)
8 Aaron Gant (6-0, 206, Sr.)
RG 70 Bryant Browning (6-4, 313, Sr.)
74 Jack Mewhort (6-6, 288, RFr.) CB 10 Devon Torrence (6-1, 200, Sr.)
18 Travis Howard (6-0, 190, So.)
RT 76 J.B. Shugarts (6-7, 297, Jr.)
78 Andrew Norwell (6-5, 308, Fr.) Star 2 Christian Bryant (5-9, 178, Fr.)

20 Nate Oliver (6-0, 215, Jr.)
Christian Bryan replaces the injured Tyler
Moeller at Star. Oliver moves to #2 Star.


Specialists
Pos. Num. Name Ht., Wt., Cl.

K 23 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr.)
24 Drew Basil (6-1, 200, Fr.)

KO 24 Drew Basil (6-1, 200, Fr.)
23 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr.)

P 17 Ben Buchanan (6-0, 195, So.)
39 Derek Erwin (5-10, 203, So.)

LS 96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr.)
56 George Makridis (5-11, 236, RFr.)

H 14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr.)
39 Derek Erwin (5-10, 203, So.)

PR 7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So.)
10 Corey Brown (5-11, 170, Fr.)
8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 213, Jr.)

KR 7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So.)
4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, RFr.)
3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr.)
1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr.)

Early Heisman Watch

Pryor, Ingram among best bets to make it to New York City in 2010
good article from si.com
Welcome to a new era of the Heisman Watch.
I'm taking the reigns from the venerable Gene Menez, which means I'll be charged with sifting through the contenders, the pretenders and the attention-grabbing fliers and trinkets that wind up in my mailbox as we race toward the awarding of the 76th Heisman Trophy.
Think of me as your pilot on this four-month flight to New York, crisscrossing the nation in a 747 as we look for the next name to enshrine alongside the game's immortals. Don't worry: I've logged plenty of practice miles, voting in the last three races. (For the record, Tim Tebow topped my ballot in 2007 and'08 and Mark Ingram earned my vote last year.)
To kick things off, we'll be departing from the typical top 10 list. Instead, we'll begin with a tiered look at my leading candidates heading into the season, starting with the best bets to make it to New York City.
Disclaimers: Contenders are listed in alphabetical order in each tier. You won't find a defensive player listed, because, well, I'm a realist.

Leading Contenders
RB Mark Ingram, Jr., Alabama

2009 stats: 271 carries, 1,658 rushing yards, 17 TDs

Ingram's recently injured knee doesn't change the fact that he's the returning winner, or that he plays for the nation's No. 1 team. As of now Ingram is only supposed to miss the opener against San Jose State, and unless that recovery timetable changes, the junior should remain in the conversation all season. The thing that may hurt Ingram is the same problem that beset the likes of Matt Leinart and Jason White -- competition on his own team. With Trent Richardson taking away some carries and the Crimson Tide expected to throw more to a healthy Julio Jones, the spotlight won't be on Ingram like it was last year. It will probably take a 2,000-yard season for Ingram to mount a serious run at joining Archie Griffin as a two-time winner.

QB, Ryan Mallett, Sr., Arkansas

2009 stats: 225-of-403 passing, 3,624 yards, 30 TDs, 7 INT

There may not be a better quarterback in the country than the Michigan transfer. He made a splash in his first year in Bobby Petrino's system, setting or tying 16 school records and leading the SEC in passing. He's bound to put up even bigger numbers this year, but his Heisman hopes will likely hinge on a four-week stretch that includes Georgia on the road, Alabama, Texas A&M in Cowboys Stadium and a trip to Auburn.

QB, Kellen Moore, Jr., Boise State

2009 stats: 277-of-431 passing, 3,536 yards, 39 TDs, 3 INT

The junior is the poster boy for the lovable little team that could make a run at the national title. Moore is coming off a sophomore season in which he threw 39 touchdown passes and just three interceptions while ranking second nationally in passing efficiency. Whether or not the Broncos can break into the BCS title game has been a major preseason debate, but an even bigger question is whether a player from a non-AQ school can win over voters. No player from outside the current BCS conferences has won the Heisman since Ty Detmer in 1990.

LoGiurato: Non-BCS hopefuls must be perfect to earn invite

QB Terrelle Pryor, Jr., Ohio State

2009 stats: 167-of-295 passing, 2,094 yards, 18 TDs, 11 INT; 16 carries, 779 yards, 7 TDs

Was Pryor's Rose Bowl performance a preview of what's to come? Jim Tressel took the leash off his QB in the win over Oregon, and Pryor threw for a career-high 266 yards and two TDs and ran for 72 yards. But let's not forget that we've been down this road before with Tressel: He opened the playbook in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl, only to return to his button-downed ways the next fall. If Tressel is serious about giving Pryor an offense more suited to his unique gifts, the junior should be a real threat.

In the Race
QB Case Keenum, Sr., Houston

2009 stats: 492-of-700 passing, 5,641 yards, 44 TDs, 15 INT

He'll certainly post mind-boggling numbers. After throwing for a nation's-best 5,671 yards and 44 scores last season, 6,000 yards isn't entirely preposterous. Houston returns three 1,000-yard receivers and the schedule includes six teams that ranked 98th or worse in pass defense last year. But Keenum has two things going against him: 1) There's not a marquee game on the schedule with a nonconference slate of UCLA, Mississippi State and Texas Tech and 2) Voters have been desensitized to mammoth passing numbers since the days of Andre Ware and Detmer -- just ask David Klingler, Timmy Chang, Colt Brennan or any of Texas Tech's QBs.

RB, Dion Lewis, So., Pitt

2009 stats: 325 carries, 1,799 rushing yards, 17 TDs

The nation's returning leading rusher burst onto the scene as a freshman, racking up more yards (1,799 yards) and more 100-yard games (10) than Ingram, and doing so while playing one fewer game. He also proved he can shoulder a load with 325 carries, second-most in the nation. Lewis could become the fourth straight sophomore to win the award, but he needs a Pitt program that has a history of underachieving to remain in the Big East hunt despite starting a new quarterback and three new offensive linemen.

RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Jr., Oregon State

2009 stats: 273 carries, 1,440 yards rushing, 21 TDs; 78 catches, 522 yards receiving, 1 TD

After amassing 2,693 yards and 32 touchdowns in his first two seasons, Quizz has become one of the nation's most exciting players. He could be in for a huge year statistically, with the Beavers likely leaning on him as they break in a first-year starting quarterback. But no one on this list will be tested as much, as early: Quizz faces No. 6 TCU and No. 3 Boise State in the first three weeks of the season. If he gets off to a slow start, his candidacy could end before it really begins, no matter how many yards he ends up recording.

Longshots
QB Ricky Dobbs, Sr., Navy

2009 stats: 56-of-105 passing, 1,031 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INT; 315 carries, 1,203 yards rushing, 27 TDs

The secret is clearly out on the Midshipmen quarterback. There's an unofficial twitter feed (@DobbsForHeisman) supporting Dobbs' candidacy, and the dual-threat QB even drew the attention of President Obama when Navy picked up its latest Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. The senior is coming off a record-setting season in which he broke Tim Tebow's mark for rushing TDs by a quarterback in one season (27) while rushing for 1,203 yards and throwing for 1,031 more. But considering no service academy player has finished higher than sixth in Heisman voting since Navy's Roger Staubach won in 1963, there may not be a bigger long shot on this list.

QB Jake Locker, Sr., Washington

2009 stats: 230-of-394 passing, 2,800 yards, 21 TDs, 11 INT; 112 carries, 388 yards rushing, 7 TDs

Locker's getting plenty of love after a summer media tour that included a stop at Sports illustrated, and NFL draftniks have been fawning over him for years. But no matter how pro-ready Locker may be, the fact remains that he has yet to put together a winning season in Seattle, and only one former Heisman winner (Paul Hornung in 1956) has played for a losing team. Locker has to put the Huskies in Pac-10 contention and take advantage of early dates with BYU and Nebraska to solidify his campaign.

RB Ryan Williams, So., Virginia Tech

2009 stats: 293 carries, 1,655 yards rushing, 21 TDs

He's arguably the best running back in the country and last year became the first freshman in ACC history to lead the conference in rushing (1,655 yards) and scoring (21 TDs). In any other year he'd be one of the favorites, but with the return of 1,000-yard rusher Darren Evans to the Hokies' lineup and the pair expected to split carries, Williams' production could suffer -- along with his case for the Heisman.

Mark Ingram 2009 Heisman Trophy Winner: A Perfect Fit

All the different articles on the heisman
Ingram's Heisman fills big void
www.si.com
NEW YORK -- He was clearly gripped by emotion the moment his name was called, struggling to collect his composure as he climbed on to a stage thronged by some of the biggest legends in the history of the sport.
Upon beginning his Heisman acceptance speech, Mark Ingram finally broke down after uttering the following words: "I'm just so excited to bring Alabama their first Heisman winner."
The good people of that state waited a long, long time for this night. Few place more importance on college football history, and no fan base lionizes its gridiron heroes more than those of the Crimson Tide's. They'll be the first to let you know they take a backseat to nobody -- 12 national championships, 22 SEC titles, 57 bowl berths.
Yet, for 74 years, one trophy had mysteriously eluded Tuscaloosa. Every December since 1935, 'Bama fans have had to watch from a distance as stars from places like USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Miami -- heck, from Stanford, BYU, Houston and, egads! Auburn -- basked in the glory of college football's highest honor.
On Saturday night at the Times Square Nokia Theatre, Ingram -- the pride of Flint, Mich., and now, suddenly, the most decorated player in Alabama's lustrous history -- claimed the 75th Heisman Memorial Trophy.
"The legacy of Alabama football certainly has a void filled," said Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban. "It made this an even greater opportunity [for Ingram] from a bigger picture standpoint."
As Ingram was escorted through the main floor of the Marriott Marquis for his post-ceremony press conference Saturday night, a school staffer informed him, "They're blowing up back in Tuscaloosa. I'm getting texts like crazy." Ingram, whose sober expression rarely seems to change (except, of course, when he's doing Gator chomps on the sideline), looked down at this own phone. "I've got 260 [texts]," he said.
If he doesn't fully appreciate it yet, he soon will. With the opening of an envelope Saturday night, Ingram, whose 1,864 total yards and 18 touchdowns helped lift No. 1 Alabama to a 13-0 regular season, assured himself a lifetime of adulation in a state whose residents adorn their walls with framed prints of famous moments in Crimson Tide history.
Ingram's fellow finalist, Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman winner, knows well how his new friend's life is about to change.
"He'll always be known as the 75th Heisman Trophy winner," Tebow said Saturday. "He'll become more and more popular. More and more of a petting zoo."
Ingram didn't run away from the other contenders quite as strikingly as he did Florida's defense last week. In fact, his victory was the closest in Heisman history. Another tailback, Stanford's Toby Gerhart, finished a mere 28 points behind. (For comparison's sake, Reggie Bush beat Vince Young by 933 points in 2005.) Texas quarterback Colt McCoy finished just 159 points behind Ingram.
It was a fitting ending to an unusual season in which the Heisman pecking order seemed to change by the week. After netting a season-low 30 rushing yards against Auburn on Nov. 27, Ingram was thought to be on the outs. Prior to notching a staggering 4½ sacks against Texas in the Dec. 5 Big 12 title game, Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh -- who wound up finishing a historic fourth (highest of any player at his position since 1994) -- was thought to have almost no shot of coming to New York.
Just as Suh assured his spot with a huge performance the last night of the season, Ingram made his case with a 189-yard, three-touchdown masterpiece in the SEC championship game. (Ironically, he also benefitted greatly from Suh's defensive dominance of presumed front-runner McCoy.)
Over the past decade, Heisman voters have increasingly intertwined the award with the BCS title chase. That might not seem fair to some (like Gerhart's supporters, knowing he may have run away with the thing had his team not lost four games), but for Alabama fans, it probably seems appropriate. During Bear Bryant's heyday, the Heisman drought became something of a source of pride. Other programs produced stars. Alabama produced champions.
But it's been 17 years since the Tide last played for a national title, and there have been many, many lows in the interim. Having endured 3-8 seasons, NCAA sanctions and coaching turmoil, Alabama finally finds itself back in the limelight. Last year, Saban led the Tide to a 12-0 regular season. This year, he's got them playing for a national championship.
Ingram's Heisman, therefore, is the best of both worlds. Tide fans can finally celebrate the sport's highest individual honor knowing full well Ingram's achievement came in the context of an old-fashioned, power-running, championship-caliber team.
"It was an unbelievable team concept this year," said longtime Alabama AD Mal Moore, once a member of Bryant's coaching staff. "The offense [Saban] runs was set for Mark. He handled it very well. [Freshman] Trent Richardson shared time and contributed. [The Heisman] just happened.
"This is as good as it gets."
By the time he reached the Marquis podium about 40 minutes after the presentation ended, Ingram, who stopped and openly wept during a brief but gripping acceptance speech, had collected his composure. He reiterated how honored he was to be his school's first Heisman winner, how excited he was to be able to serve as inspiration to youngsters in his downtrodden hometown and how happy he was to bring pride to his family, noting "it hasn't always been easy for us."
(Ingram's father, Mark Sr., a former star receiver for the New York Giants, was convicted on bank fraud and money laundering charges last year and is currently being detained at the Queens Correctional Center, one borough over from where Saturday night's festivities were held.)
Ingram, the only Northerner on Alabama's entire roster, admittedly knew few details of the program's rich history upon signing there two years ago. He was brought up to speed soon enough. Like many, he was stunned to learn of the Tide's 74-year Heisman shutout. (Saban himself said he wasn't aware of it until Ingram became a candidate.)
But he's spent plenty of time walking past the many trophy cases that litter the walls of Alabama's football facilities.
"I'm not sure where [the Heisman] is going to go," said Ingram. "I'm sure it's going to be in the trophy case with all those national championships and all those other awards people have won."
Ingram's honor doesn't lessen the accomplishment of all the greats that came before him. But this one's going to merit a celebration 75 years in the making.












Mark Ingram 2009 Heisman Trophy Winner: A Perfect Fit
www.espn.com
NEW YORK -- After winning the closest Heisman Trophy race in the 75-year history of the award on Saturday night, Alabama running back Mark Ingram walked to the dais at Nokia Theatre in Times Square and was overcome with emotion.
Maybe it was the relief or sheer joy of becoming Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner. Alabama has long been one of college football's most tradition-rich programs, but never before had one of its players won the sport's most coveted individual honor.
"When he started reading that letter, my heart started beating," said Ingram, who edged Stanford running back Toby Gerhart by 28 points and five first-place votes. "I could just feel it beating real fast. When they called my name out, I was excited and then I saw my mom crying, and it kind of made me break down, too. It was just a real special moment for me that I'll cherish for the rest of my life."
Across the East River, Ingram's father had to be overcome with pride and joy, too. Mark Ingram Sr., a former star wide receiver for Michigan State and the NFL's New York Giants, is being held at the Queens Private Correctional Facility on charges of failure to surrender, which will be added to the 92-month prison sentence he already faced for money laundering and bank fraud.
After regaining his composure Saturday night, Mark Ingram thanked his family for their support, including his troubled father.
"I'd like to thank my family, my mother and grandparents, who are sitting right there," Ingram said. "My father, who has been a great influence on my life, and I love him to death."
Several minutes after Ingram was named the Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram Sr. called his wife from prison.
"He just called me and he's excited and proud, too," Shonda Ingram said. "He was asking, 'Where was Mark?'"
Mark Ingram said he last talked to his father two days ago. Shonda Ingram said she wasn't sure if Ingram would get to see his father before returning to Tuscaloosa, Ala., in a couple of days.
Nearly one year ago, U.S. marshals captured Ingram's father in a hotel room in Flint, Mich. Ingram had been on the run after failing to report to a federal prison in Ashland, Ky., on Dec. 5, 2008. Ingram had asked a judge to delay his sentence so he could watch his son play against Utah in the Sugar Bowl at the end of the 2008 season. Marshals captured Ingram on Jan. 2, just minutes before the Crimson Tide played the Utes in New Orleans.
"I can believe that he did it," Shonda Ingram said of her husband's flight from authorities. "He would do anything for his kids. If that was his last thing, if he could see that game, I understand why he did it."
Mark Ingram Sr. still calls his son two or three times a week. The elder Ingram is able to watch many of the Crimson Tide's games on TV in prison and calls his son to offer advice, according to Ingram's maternal grandfather, Arthur Johnson.
"Mark is a good person and is an outstanding individual," said Johnson, who also played football at Michigan State. "He doesn't belong where he's at. I can tell you that because I know him as a person. He's a beautiful person. He'll give you anything you want and if you ask him, he'll do it. He just made a wrong turn once and wrong turns can get you in trouble."
If nothing else, Mark Ingram Sr. made sure his son steered clear of the pitfalls that sent his life spiraling. Ingram has been reluctant to talk about his father this season. Mark Ingram Sr. has denied requests for interviews, not wanting to distract his son during No. 1 Alabama's run to the Jan. 7 Citi BCS National Championship Game.
"His dad has always been a part of his life since he was a baby," Shonda Ingram said. "He instilled all those things in him and worked on a lot of things. He is an important piece of him and that's a part of him -- his dad."
But as Ingram stood in front of reporters after winning the tightest Heisman Trophy vote in history, he openly talked about what his father means to him.
His dad has always been a part of his life since he was a baby. He instilled all those things in him and worked on a lot of things. He is an important piece of him and that's a part of him -- his dad.
"Ever since I was little boy, I just remember playing basketball," Ingram said. "He'd knock me down or block a shot and wouldn't let me win. We'd go on a race, and I'd catch up to him and he'd take off and win. He'd be tough on me as far as my grades go or not letting me go out all the time and get in trouble. Everything he did for me helped me develop into the man I am today and the competitor I am on and off the field."
Ingram didn't start the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate. He wasn't even Alabama's featured running back last season, when the Crimson Tide rose to No. 1 in the country before losing to Florida in the SEC championship game.
The 2009 season started with the Heisman spotlight on three quarterbacks: Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, the reigning winner; Florida's Tim Tebow, who was the first sophomore to win the award in 2007; and Texas' Colt McCoy, who lost a narrow race to Bradford last year.
But then Bradford injured his shoulder in the Sooners' opening game of the season and was shelved for good after six games. With new receivers and a porous offensive line, Tebow never regained his form from last season, when he led the Gators to their second BCS national title in three seasons.
McCoy seemed to have the best chance at winning the Heisman Trophy, before he was sacked nine times and threw three interceptions in last week's 13-12 win over Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game.
Almost quietly, Ingram put together one of the best seasons by a running back in SEC history, setting an Alabama single-season record with 1,542 yards and 15 touchdowns. He ran for 113 yards with three touchdowns in last week's 32-13 victory over No. 1 Florida in the SEC championship game in Atlanta's Georgia Dome, a performance that undoubtedly helped him overcome a 30-yard effort in a 26-21 win over rival Auburn the week before.
It was enough for Ingram to do what legendary Alabama players like Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler couldn't do -- win the Heisman Trophy.
"The legacy of Alabama football certainly has a void filled," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said.
Now Ingram will try to do what several Heisman Trophy winners before him didn't do: lead their teams to national championships. Alabama plays No. 2 Texas in the BCS National Championship Game in 26 days. Ingram will become the eighth Heisman Trophy winner in the last decade to play for a national title. Of the previous seven, only former Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart, the 2004 winner, led his team to victory.
"It doesn't phase me at all," Ingram said. "Some people, when they have success, they let it get to their heads. But when I get back to practice on Friday, my main focus is going to be the national championship game. I'm going to help my team do whatever we can to get ready for this. My team is looking forward to it and I'm looking forward to it."
Nothing seems to faze Ingram much, not even losing his father to prison.
"It's been hard because he missed him," Shonda Ingram said. "But we just pretty much move forward because we're still here and we have to keep going every day. Even though he's not here, you still keep moving forward. I often hear Mark say, 'It is what it is and we're still here so we have to keep moving forward with our plans and our goals.'"
Ingram achieved college football's greatest individual honor Saturday, but an even bigger goal still awaits the Crimson Tide.


More Articles from www.espn.com
NEW YORK -- Mark Ingram dabbed his eyes, took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. All set, he accepted the Heisman that completes Alabama's trophy case.
The tough-running tailback turned tearful after winning the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night in the closest vote in the award's 75-year history. Next, he'll try to lead the most storied program in the South to a national championship.
Ingram finished 28 points ahead of Stanford running back Toby Gerhart.
The sturdy, 212-pound Ingram took a moment to get composed before starting his speech. Dressed in a dark suit with blue pinstripes, his voice wavered throughout.


Close call
Alabama running back Mark Ingram won the closest Heisman race in history on Saturday. Here's a breakdown of the voting:

Player 1st place Total
Mark Ingram 227 1,304
Toby Gerhart 222 1,276
Colt McCoy 203 1,145
Ndamukong Suh 161 815
Tim Tebow 43 390

"I'm a little overwhelmed right now," he said. "I'm just so excited to bring Alabama their first Heisman winner."

Ingram received 227 first-place votes and 1,304 points. Gerhart got 222 first-place votes and 1,276 points, while Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, last season's runner-up, received 203 and 1,145.

Ingram said later he was feeling relaxed -- right up until the winner was announced.
"When he started reading that letter, my heart started beating and I could feel it beating real fast," he said. "When he called my name I was excited, then I saw my mom crying and it kind of made me break down, too."
His father, a former Super Bowl star, was a few miles away. Incarcerated on bank fraud and money-laundering charges, he watched his son's biggest moment on a prison television.
Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was fourth and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman two years ago, was fifth.
The previous closest vote in Heisman history came in 1985, when Auburn's Bo Jackson beat Iowa quarterback Chuck Long by 45 points.
Ingram won four of the six regions. Gerhart took the far west and Suh won the southwest.
"I appreciate the way he plays," said Gerhart, who ran for 1,736 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. "The passion for the game. I'm a physical guy, he's a physical guy. I feel we're similar in a lot of ways. I'm proud of him and honored to be included with him."
Ingram has been the backbone of Alabama's offense, rushing for a school-record 1,542 yards, gaining 6.2 yards per carry and scoring 18 touchdowns.
And in his final chance to make a case for the Heisman, facing Florida's then-top-ranked defense, Ingram ran for 113 yards and scored three touchdowns to punctuate his season.
The win sent the top-ranked Crimson Tide to the BCS national title game against McCoy and No. 2 Texas on Jan. 7 at the Rose Bowl.
"This is a great, special moment for me but at the same time you've got to move forward," Ingram said. "We still have a national championship game to play in."
Ingram hugged family members and Alabama coach Nick Saban after winning, and went to the podium. As he searched for the proper words, several former Heisman winners standing behind him offered encouragement, saying "take your time" and "it's all right."
Ingram thanked everyone he could think of, including teammates, coaches, trainers, support staff, an intern and his school teachers.
He is the third consecutive sophomore to win the Heisman since Tebow became the first in 2007 and he will be the sixth winner in the last seven years to go on to play in the BCS national championship game.
Few college football teams can match Alabama's history of success. The Crimson Tide dominated the Southeastern Conference for decades. With six AP national championships, only Notre Dame and Oklahoma have won more.
But at Alabama, it's a coach who has towered over the program more than any player.
Bear Bryant led some of college football's greatest players -- from Joe Namath to John Hannah, Ken Stabler to Ozzie Newsome -- but never had a player even finish in the top three of the Heisman voting over his more than three decades at Alabama.
"The legacy of Alabama football certainly had a void filled," Tide coach Nick Saban said.
David Palmer, the shifty receiver and return man, was third in the Heisman voting in 1993, the best finish by a Crimson Tide player.


Join The Club
Alabama sophomore running back Mark Ingram became the 75th recipient of the Heisman Trophy and first Crimson Tide player to ever take home the honor. Here's a look at the past six winners:
Year Winner
2009 Mark Ingram, Alabama
2008 Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
2007 Tim Tebow, Florida
2006 Troy Smith, Ohio St.
2005 Reggie Bush, USC
2004 Matt Leinart, USC

No major college program had won more games without a Heisman winner.
"Everybody that's been in the Alabama family has been supporting me," Ingram said before hoisting the bronze statue. "Walking to class, students flashed me the Heisman pose."
Now he can take his place among Alabama's greats and the Paul W. Bryant Museum has a new piece of a hardware to display.
"I'm sure it'll be in the trophy cases with all those national championships and all the other awards people have won," he said later.
The announcement that Ingram had won came minutes before the Alabama men's basketball team was set to host No. 5 Purdue, prompting an immediate roar from the mostly full Coleman Coliseum.
Even though the presentation wasn't shown on the videoboard, fans instantly found out the news. The public-address announcer congratulated Ingram early in the game, bringing another big ovation. One young fan sat at courtside sporting a 22 jersey -- Ingram's number -- with "Heisman" across the top.
By midway through the first half, Heisman T-shirts were already on sale at the arena.
Ingram came to Tuscaloosa from Flint, Mich., the son of the former Michigan State and NFL receiver of the same name. Saban had been a coach at Michigan State when the elder Ingram was in college.
Mark Ingram Sr. starred for the New York Giants, but last year he was sentenced to almost eight years in prison. Then he did not show up at the federal prison in Kentucky to serve his sentence, which might cost him even more time.
He was found hiding out in a Michigan hotel the same day his son played Utah in the Sugar Bowl last season.
He has been serving his time in a New York City holding facility, where he's been able to watch his son play.
"My father has been a great influence on my life and I love him to death," Ingram said on the podium.
The father has seen his son quickly blossom into a feature back. As a freshman last season, Ingram was Bama's No. 2 back, with a nose for the goal line. He ran for 728 yards and a team-high 12. This season, he's been the best weapon on an offense with a first-year starting quarterback and a rebuilt offensive line.
And he's been at his best against most of Alabama's best competition. He opened the season with 150 yards rushing and two TDs against Virginia Tech, had 172 yards rushing at Mississippi, and set a Bryant-Denny Stadium record with 246 yards versus South Carolina.
In what was billed as the year of the quarterback -- with Tebow, McCoy and last year's Heisman winner Sam Bradford -- all returning to college, Ingram emerged as the Heisman front-runner at midseason.
His only poor game, a 30-yard rushing performance against Auburn on Nov. 27, came at the worst time and in front of a national television audience.
But with the Tide playing in the biggest game of the season, a No. 1 vs. No. 2 SEC championship against Florida, Ingram had one more chance to impress voters -- and he delivered.
Tide fans like to say their team is about winning championships, not Heismans.
Thanks to Ingram, Alabama might get both this season.

2009 Heisman Finalist Announced

How can CJ Spiller not be invited to this? Seriously, Suh? A defensive guy. He is good, but we all know he'll never come close to winning. Gerhart or Ingram should win this, but I have a bad feeling that McCoy will win it. No! He should not win! He is an above average qb period!!!!! Any thoughts?????


Tebow invited to a third
www.espn.com
NEW YORK -- Tim Tebow added another Heisman first to his long list of accomplishments just by being selected a finalist for this year's trophy.
Tebow became the first player to be invited to the Heisman Trophy presentation ceremony three times when the Florida quarterback -- along with Colt McCoy, Mark Ingram, Toby Gerhart and Ndamukong Suh -- was named a finalist Monday for college football's most prestigious player of the year award.
"Having the chance to go back to New York means a lot to me," Tebow said in statement. "It is a special honor but it wouldn't be possible for me to have this opportunity without my teammates and coaches."
The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Saturday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The presentation ceremony has been televised since 1981 and since 1982 at least three players have been invited to attend.
Tebow, who was the first sophomore to win the Heisman in 2007, is trying to become the second two-time Heisman winner, joining Ohio State's Archie Griffin. Tebow finished third in the voting last year, while getting the most first-place votes.
He's also the first player -- and sixth overall -- to finish in the top five of the Heisman balloting three times since Georgia tailback Herschel Walker did it in the early 1980s.
McCoy was the runner-up last season to Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and has led Texas to the BCS national championship game this season.
Ingram has rushed for 1,542 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for Alabama.
Stanford's Gerhart, meanwhile, has run for more yards (1,736) and scored more touchdowns (26) than any player in the nation.
And Nebraska's Suh had 4½ sacks in an attention-grabbing performance against Texas in the Big 12 title game. He is the first defensive player to be a finalist since 1997, when Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson became the first full-time defensive player to win the Heisman.
Tebow and McCoy entered this season as heavy Heisman favorites, but neither has played as well as last year and neither will go into Saturday's presentation as the clear front-runner.
Tebow returned for his senior season to try and lead the Gators to a third national title in four seasons, but he won't reach that goal. After being No. 1 almost all season, Florida lost to Alabama 32-13 in the Southeastern Conference title game on Saturday and was knocked out of the national championship race.
The loss likely damaged Tebow's chances at a second Heisman, too. He has passed for 2,413 yards and rushed for 859 yards this year, but he hasn't been quite as productive as he was the past two seasons.
Like Tebow, McCoy also returned for his senior season to make a championship run. He has Texas a victory away from its first national title since 2005, but his numbers also have fallen off compared to '08.
McCoy has passed for 3,512 yards with 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also nearly threw away the Longhorns' national championship hopes on the second-to-last play of the Nebraska game, coming within a second of letting the clock run out before Texas could attempt the winning field goal in a 13-12 victory.
McCoy could become the first player to win the Heisman the season after finishing second since Walker did it in 1982.
If there is a favorite, it seems to be Ingram.
Hesimanpundit.com, which polls 13 voters throughout the season, had Ingram on top of it's latest results, just ahead of Gerhart.
Ingram could become Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner. He gave his Heisman campaign a late boost by running for 113 yards and scoring three touchdowns in the SEC title game against Florida.
"I'm looking forward to the experience and appreciate the opportunity to represent our team at the Heisman ceremony," Ingram said in a statement.
Gerhart also ended his season with a flourish, running for 205 yards and three touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in a victory against Notre Dame.
"I am most pleased that my efforts along with those of so many others this year have put Stanford Football back on the national map," Gerhart said.
But nobody finished stronger than Suh, who put together one of the most dominant defensive games in recent college football history in Nebraska's near-upset of Texas.
"It is good to see that the Heisman voters have recognized the true impact a dominant defensive lineman like Suh can have on a football game," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said.
Suh finished the season with 12 sacks in 13 games.
Among the top players who didn't make the cut were Clemson's versatile tailback C.J. Spiller and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore.




Five chosen for Heisman ceremony
www.si.com
NEW YORK (AP) -- Tim Tebow added another Heisman first to his long list of accomplishments just by being selected a finalist for this year's trophy.
Tebow became the first player to be invited to the Heisman Trophy presentation ceremony three times when the Florida quarterback -- along with Colt McCoy, Mark Ingram, Toby Gerhart and Ndamukong Suh -- was named a finalist Monday for college football's most prestigious player of the year award.
"Having the chance to go back to New York means a lot to me," Tebow said in a statement. "It is a special honor but it wouldn't be possible for me to have this opportunity without my teammates and coaches."
The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Saturday in Manhattan. The presentation ceremony has been televised since 1981 and since 1982 at least three players have been invited to attend.
The last time as many as five players were invited to New York was 2004, when USC quarterback Matt Leinart won the award.
Tebow, who was the first sophomore to win the Heisman in 2007, is trying to become the second two-time Heisman winner, joining Ohio State's Archie Griffin. Tebow finished third in the voting last year, while getting the most first-place votes.
He's also the first player to finish in the top five of the Heisman voting three times since Georgia tailback Herschel Walker did it in the early 1980s.
McCoy was the runner-up last season to Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and has led No. 2 Texas to the BCS national championship game this season.
Ingram has rushed for 1,542 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for No. 1 Alabama.
Stanford's Gerhart, meanwhile, has run for more yards (1,736) and scored more touchdowns (26) than any player in the nation.
And Nebraska's Suh had 4 1/2 sacks in an attention-grabbing performance against Texas in the Big 12 title game. He is the first defensive player to be a finalist since 1997, when Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson became the first full-time defensive player to win the Heisman.
Tebow and McCoy entered this season as heavy Heisman favorites, but neither has been as productive this season as last and neither will go into Saturday's presentation as the front-runner.
Tebow returned for his senior season to try and lead the Gators to a third national title in four seasons, but he won't reach that goal. After being No. 1 almost all season, Florida lost to Alabama 32-13 in the Southeastern Conference title game on Saturday and was knocked out of the national championship race.
The loss likely damaged Tebow's chances at a second Heisman, too. He has passed for 2,413 yards and rushed for 859 yards this year.
Like Tebow, McCoy also returned for his senior season to make a championship run. He has Texas a victory away from its first national title since 2005, but his numbers also have fallen off compared to '08.
McCoy has passed for 3,512 yards with 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also nearly threw away the Longhorns' national championship hopes on the second-to-last play of the Nebraska game, coming within a second of letting the clock run out before Texas could attempt the winning field goal in a 13-12 victory.
McCoy could become the first player to win the Heisman the season after finishing second since Walker did it in 1982.
If there is a favorite, it seems to be Ingram.
Hesimanpundit.com, which polls 13 voters throughout the season, had Ingram on top of it's latest results, just ahead of Gerhart.
Ingram could become Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner. He gave his Heisman campaign a late boost by running for 113 yards and scoring three touchdowns in the SEC title game against Florida.
"I'm looking forward to the experience and appreciate the opportunity to represent our team at the Heisman ceremony," Ingram said in a statement.
Gerhart also ended his season with a flourish, running for 205 yards and three touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in a victory against Notre Dame.
"I am most pleased that my efforts along with those of so many others this year have put Stanford Football back on the national map," Gerhart said.
Nobody finished stronger than Suh, who put together one of the most dominant defensive games in recent college football history in Nebraska's near-upset of Texas. He finished the season with 12 sacks.
"It is good to see that the Heisman voters have recognized the true impact a dominant defensive lineman like Suh can have on a football game," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said.
Among the top players who didn't make the cut were Clemson's versatile tailback C.J. Spiller and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore.

College Football Wrap-Up and Heisman Watch

It's more than chemistry in Iowa's and Oregon's winning formula
www.espn.com

EUGENE, Ore. -- What coaches and players refer to as chemistry is really not chemistry at all. Chemistry is a science subject to irrefutable law. It is what it is.
That's not football. What coaches and players refer to as chemistry is really alchemy. Alchemy isn't subject to the laws of science. Alchemy takes a substance of lesser value and transforms it into something greater.
That pretty much describes what is going on at Iowa and at Oregon these days. The Hawkeyes commit six turnovers and beat Indiana 42-24. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi throws five interceptions and still averages 26 yards a completion. Iowa had no business beating Indiana -- and Michigan State, Northern Iowa, Michigan and so forth -- yet the Hawkeyes are 9-0.
Submit every position at Oregon and USC to the eyeball test and you'd take a Trojan almost every time. Ask Ducks defensive tackle Brandon Bair.
"They've got amazing athletes," Bair said. "If you had all of their talent they have on their team functioning as one unit, they'd be unstoppable."
That's where the alchemy takes place. USC didn't have that at Autzen Stadium on Saturday night. Oregon did. The Ducks won 47-20.
"We have a unit -- defensively, offensively -- we love to play with each other," Bair said. "We love to be out there on the field with each other. We feed off of each other's energy. We know if we mess up, somebody is going to be right there behind us. We don't have any fear of going out on the field together. We absolutely love being on the field together. The unity we have is absolutely unbelievable. I've never felt anything like it."
It may be unity. It may be love. It may have a little to do with blocking and tackling. Oregon head coach Chip Kelly said Friday he has never had a team listen to its coaches as well as this team does. "Everything we ask them to do, they do," Kelly said.
As coaches will tell you, that trait has a value greater than gold. Alchemy may not be a strong enough word to describe what is happening at Iowa and Oregon.
Instead of a word, try a phrase: "Rose Bowl opponents."



IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The thought crossed Kirk Ferentz's mind. The Iowa head coach started to worry that his team's edge-of-the-cliff dance would finally come to a painful end.
"I thought maybe we had dug too deep a hole today," Ferentz said.
As it turns out, there's no hole too deep for Iowa. There aren't enough interceptions to keep Ricky Stanzi from rallying his team. There aren't enough mistakes to keep these Hawkeyes from believing and, eventually, prevailing.
And after escaping a 14-point canyon Saturday against Indiana, Iowa might end up on top of the mountain after all.
Team Comeback did it again, rallying for the eighth time in nine games -- this time from its largest deficit of the season -- to remain perfect at 9-0. It didn't come down to the final play this time, as Iowa actually could relax in the final three or four minutes of a 42-24 win.
But Ferentz and his players agreed Saturday's rally was the most improbable.
"It's got to be up at the top," Ferentz said. "I know I haven't been in a game like this, and I doubt I've seen one like this because it was just so, so different. You never survive five turnovers, let alone five picks. The odds are, I would almost say, nil."
Almost. Iowa defied the odds once again, and the biggest boost came from the man who put the team in the hole.



STILLWATER, Okla. -- The memories of Texas' only 2008 loss were never far away for Curtis Brown, Blake Gideon and Earl Thomas.
Texas safety Blake Gideon produced a pair of turnovers Saturday.
A nightmarish ending in the Longhorns' loss at Texas Tech last season boiled down to two plays that group didn't make. Gideon dropped a chance at a game-sealing interception with a celebrated drop on the next-to-last Tech offensive snap on a throw by Graham Harrell. And Michael Crabtree split Brown and Thomas on his game-winning touchdown grab on the next play.
The similarities with that game were striking this season as a tough trip to Oklahoma State materialized in exactly the same place on the Longhorns' schedule. Texas was playing its most difficult road opponent in front of a stadium packed with the largest crowd in school history.
Except this time around, the trio of Texas defensive backs slayed those memories with a masterful defensive game. All of them produced interceptions in a convincing 41-14 victory over Oklahoma State.
"I'm so proud of Blake Gideon and Earl Thomas and Curtis Brown," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "It was very fitting for all three of them to intercept balls -- two for touchdowns -- and put that thought to rest."


One thing we do know: Florida, Texas and Alabama are the teams in the driver's seat in the race for the BCS National Championship Game. Florida and Alabama, first and second in the BCS standings, will have to face each other for the SEC title if they win out. Texas, at No. 3, waits in the wings to move up. Lurking in the shadows are a couple of undefeated teams that don't look like they want to yield to the powerhouses.

Iowa Falling Behind (2009) Trailed Result
Indiana 21-7 W, 42-24
Michigan State 13-9 W, 15-13
Wisconsin 10-0 W, 20-10
Michigan 7-0 W, 30-28
Penn State 10-0 W, 21-10
Arizona 10-7 W, 27-17
Iowa State 3-0 W, 35-3
Northern Iowa 13-3 W, 17-16
Only game did not trail: Arkansas State

The fourth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes continue to be the cardiac kids. For the eighth time in nine games this season, Iowa fell behind its opponent. Once again it did not matter, as the Hawkeyes scored 28 points to improve to 9-0. Iowa had six turnovers, including five picks by quarterback Ricky Stanzi, yet managed to pull out the win.
Iowa has home games with Northwestern and Minnesota, sandwiched in between a trip to Columbus and a battle with the 17th-ranked Buckeyes, a game that will most likely decide the Big Ten title. Iowa's regular season ends Nov. 21, so the Hawkeyes will have to wait and see where the chips fall. At the very least, a trip to the Rose Bowl would await a 12-0 Iowa team.
The Cincinnati Bearcats aren't going anywhere either. However, unlike Iowa, the Bearcats are rolling opponents. Saturday's 21-point win over Syracuse was the fourth consecutive double-digit win, and the seventh in eight games this season. And lately, Cincinnati has been without starting quarterback Tony Pike. Cincinnati dropped from fifth to eighth in the BCS last week, but still has conference games left with Connecticut, 21st-ranked West Virginia and 15th-ranked Pittsburgh, and a nonconference game with Illinois remaining. The Pittsburgh game is Dec. 5 during all the conference title games, giving the Bearcats one last chance to impress the voters.
The Hawkeyes and Bearcats will need to win out impressively and hope for help to reach the BCS title game, but the two teams look like they plan on being in the discussion come early December.

Three Weekend Observations

1. Colleges have been operating under the 85-scholarship limit for nearly two decades, and the belief that it has established parity is accepted on faith. But there's a difference between parity and depth. Indiana, Northwestern and Wake Forest all coughed up fourth-quarter leads Saturday to teams with more talent than they have. I can't think of anything more frustrating to a coach.

2. Meet tight end Anthony McCoy, the MVP of the USC offense. Quarterback Matt Barkley leaned on McCoy against Notre Dame. McCoy didn't make the trip to Oregon because of injury. Barkley found backups Rhett Ellison and Blake Ayles open early. Both dropped passes, and Barkley not only rarely looked at them again; he also rarely threw downfield again. Without that, the Ducks' defense closed in against Barkley in the second half and finished with two sacks.

3. So Tim Tebow has a breakout game against Georgia and all in the Heisman race is forgiven? Boy, I don't know. The way Tebow performed against the Dawgs makes you wonder where that has been all season. Yes, the concussion against Kentucky had a lot to do with Tebow's tentative play in the past couple of weeks. Perhaps in another month, Tebow's early play will be forgotten. The polls sure seem to work that way.


Heisman Watch
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama, RB, Soph.
Last week: Idle

Season: 153 rushes, 1,004 yards, 8 TDs; 19 receptions, 186 yards, 3 TDs

Heisman-o-meter: Someone has to be No. 1 in this Heisman traffic jam, and Ingram makes a case better than anyone right now. He is the nation's fifth-leading rusher and would be higher had he not sat most of the Florida International game due to illness. He has been great against the Tide's toughest opponents. And he had a signature moment in the game-sealing drive against South Carolina. On Saturday, he has another chance to win the favor of voters in the weekend's marquee matchup.

Up next: Saturday vs. No. 9 LSU

2. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, DT, Sr.
Last week: 5 tackles, 3 solo; 3 tackles for loss; 1 sack; 1 quarterback hurry in a 20-10 victory at Baylor

Season: 49 tackles, 28, solo; 13 tackles for loss; 5 sacks; 1 interception; 7 passes broken up; 14 quarterback hurries; 1 forced fumble; 2 blocked kicks

Heisman-o-meter: Suh backers may not want to hear this, but on Saturday against Baylor, Nebraska's defensive tackle didn't cause the kind of havoc up front that he usually does. The Huskers' other tackle, Jared Crick, who had five sacks, looked like the real All-America. But give Suh credit: Twice he showed his amazing sideline-to-sideline speed (amazing when you consider he's 300 pounds), once chasing the quick Kendall Wright and once tracking down quarterback Nick Florence. Perhaps Suh's most impressive play was when he avoided a cut block, found Florence and sacked him. (The tackle, however, incurred a questionable 15-yard penalty for "slamming the quarterback to the ground.") And it was not as if he was getting double-teamed a lot either. On the five plays Crick recorded his sacks, Suh battled two blockers only once.

Once Suh returned to Lincoln, Neb., after the game, he was having other issues.

Up next: Saturday vs. No. 20 Oklahoma

3. Golden Tate, Notre Dame, WR, Jr.
Last week: 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD; 4 rushes, 61 yards, 1 TD; 1 punt return, 0 yards in a 40-14 victory over Washington State in San Antonio

Season: 56 receptions, 927 yards, 9 TDs; 19 rushes, 155 yards, 2 TDs; 7 punt returns, 47 yards; 3 kickoff returns, 62 yards

Heisman-o-meter: Many readers have written in wondering why Tate is ahead of teammate Jimmy Clausen on The Watch. Here's one reason: At the end of the first half against the Cougars, Tate hauled in a 50-yard Hail Mary pass by going up against three Washington State defenders for a catch that coach Charlie Weis called "one of the most phenomenal catches I've seen anyone make, ever." Tate, not Clausen, was the reason for that touchdown, and that wasn't the first time this season either. And how about that touchdown run, in which he spun out of a tackle? (Granted, all of this came against Wazzu.) I realize Clausen is getting a lot more Heisman love than Tate, but it's well past the time that voters reconsider.

Up next: Saturday vs. Navy

4. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, RB, Sr.
Last week: 5 rushes, 27 yards, 1 TD in a 49-3 victory over Coastal Carolina

Season: 113 rushes, 574 yards, 4 TDs; 18 receptions, 267 yards, 2 TDs; 5 punt returns, 182 yards, 1 TD; 12 kickoff returns, 459 yards, 3 TDs; 0-of-1 passing

Heisman-o-meter: Reason No. 9,831 why it's shortsighted to only rely on stats to measure Heisman candidates: Stats don't reveal how much a player played. Spiller, for example, wasn't needed against FCS member Coastal Carolina, so Clemson coach Dabo Swinney pulled the do-it-all running back after his 6-yard touchdown run with 10:56 remaining in the second quarter so as to not risk injury. Unfortunately for Spiller, Heisman voters love their stats, so this game may end up catching up to him in December if voters don't do their homework.

Up next: Saturday vs. Florida State

5. Case Keenum, Houston, QB, Jr.
Last week: 44-of-54 passing, 559 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT; 5 rushes, 10 yards in a 50-43 victory over Southern Miss

Season: 285-of-398 passing, 3,293 yards, 25 TDs, 5 INTs; 35 rushes, 74 yards, 3 TDs

Heisman-o-meter: Forget the numbers. What was most impressive about Keenum's career passing day against Southern Miss was that he was clutch. With 57 seconds remaining and the score tied at 43, he drove the Cougars 77 yards and hit Patrick Edwards for the game-winning, 28-yard touchdown with 21 seconds remaining. And remember that Keenum pulled all this off against what was Conference USA's top defense.

Up next: Saturday at Tulsa

College Football Week 7 Recap, Power Rankings, and Heisman Watch

Gameday Final
from www.espn.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- If we learned anything during the first half of the 2009 college football season, it's that even the best teams in the country have visible flaws.
Even Florida, the defending BCS national champion, doesn't yet look like a finished product.
Florida is ranked 67th in the nation in passing offense this season.
The Gators, who have won 16 games in a row, are having problems throwing the football down the field without departed receivers Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy. Truth be told, they don't run it particularly well, either -- unless quarterback Tim Tebow has the ball in his hands.
"We are what we need to be," Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said Saturday night, after the Gators lost four fumbles and allowed six sacks in a 23-20 victory over Arkansas at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The Gators will probably have to become more by season's end. Alabama, a 20-6 winner over South Carolina on Saturday night, looks like the most complete team in the country right now. Alabama and Florida played for the 2008 SEC championship and they seem to be on a collision course for Atlanta's Georgia Dome again.
"We're going to try to get better as an offense and try to capitalize in the red zone and not turn the ball over," Tebow said.
The Gators aren't alone in their apparent shortcomings. Texas is having problems running the ball, and Colt McCoy doesn't look comfortable standing in the pocket. Cincinnati might not have star quarterback Tony Pike for a while, and Iowa and USC seem to play to the level of their competition.
At least those teams remain in the BCS championship hunt. Virginia Tech's defense was exposed in its 28-23 loss at Georgia Tech, as the Yellow Jackets ran for 309 yards. And Ohio State was simply exposed in its 26-18 loss at Purdue, turning the ball over five times and running for only 66 yards.
While we might not yet know which team is college football's best in 2009, the second half of the season figures to be as exciting as the first seven weeks.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- He wasn't even the most ballyhooed member of Alabama's celebrated freshman class a year ago.
But early on, Alabama's Nick Saban knew what he had in Mark Ingram.
I remember asking Saban last August about freshmen who had caught his attention during the first part of preseason camp.
One of the first names out of his mouth was Ingram. I was surprised at the time. The only surprise now is how Ingram hasn't been a hotter commodity in the Heisman Trophy race.
That's about to change.
The 5-foot-10, 212-pound sophomore did everything but strike the pose Saturday night in No. 2-ranked Alabama's 20-6 win over No. 22-ranked South Carolina.
And really, Ingram didn't need to strike the pose. He was too busy running over, through and around South Carolina defenders on his way to a Bryant-Denny Stadium record 246 yards rushing on 24 carries.
If there's a better runner after contact in the country, I want to see him. So do his teammates after watching him grind out more than 100 of his yards after the initial hit.
For that matter, they're not sure there's a better runner -- period.
"I wouldn't trade him for anybody," Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy said. "I think he's the best running back in the country for what we ask him to do."

DALLAS -- Sam Bradford had wanted to play again in the favorite stadium of his youth, a place where he spent many idyllic fall afternoons with his father watching many previous Red River Rivalries.
But Bradford's return to the Cotton Bowl turned into a nightmare Saturday when he reinjured his right shoulder early in Texas' 16-13 victory over Oklahoma.
Sam Bradford's day was over early after reinjuring his shoulder.
It was an injury on the same shoulder that caused him to miss three games earlier this season with a sprained joint.
"It was the same shoulder as the one against BYU," Bradford said. "And it felt pretty much like it did against BYU."
Saturday's game turned for the Sooners on the first play of their second possession, when blitzing Texas cornerback Aaron Williams smashed into Bradford with a clean hit.
Bradford had not looked particularly sharp on his first drive, completing only 2 of 6 passes. But his confidence influenced how the Sooners played on the drive. And his 64-yard swing pass to DeMarco Murray -- the longest play of the game for either team -- was a result of the swagger the Oklahoma offense had when he was playing.
With leading receiver Ryan Broyles back and Bradford in control, it was the best offensive team the Sooners could play since before Bradford's injury.
But an unexpected blitz from Bradford's blind side changed all that.
It was a defense that Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said he hasn't called all season. With the idea that most teams would roll their protection packages for Sergio Kindle, he sent Williams from the left side, where he had a clear shot at Bradford.
"Nobody had seen that before," Texas safety Earl Thomas said. "I don't know if they were ready for it."
The result was a clean hit on Bradford that left him writhing in pain for nearly a minute on the field.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame has made a habit of walking tightropes at the end of games. After Saturday's literal last-second loss to No. 6 USC, the Irish performed a balancing act with their emotions.
Jimmy Clausen and Notre Dame have an uphill climb to reach a BCS bowl game.
In one heartbeat, the players could say they finally moved into the same zip code as USC, which had beaten Notre Dame by a combined score of 76-3 the past two years. No Irish team had come this close to the Trojans since 2005.
One pulse later, they would realize that there are no moral victories in South Bend. It's still a disheartening loss for a program seeking a validating victory under Charlie Weis, one that had put so much emphasis the past two weeks on ending the seven-game losing streak in this now-one-sided rivalry.
"It's tough," center Eric Olsen said, describing that inner balancing act. "At least it wasn't 38-0 again or a blowout. But at the same time, we're not in a conference, so we can't look forward to a conference championship. It's BCS or bust for us."
Olsen then acknowledged the grim reality for the 4-2 Fighting Irish: They almost certainly will have to win their last six games to get into consideration for a BCS berth. And even then, they would need some help.
"Anything is possible," he said. "I saw some of the scores around college football today. We'll have to run the table, and then it will be up to the polls."
There's not a ranked team left on the schedule, though Pittsburgh could well move into the Top 25 this week. An optimist would say this team can play with anyone in the country if it can battle the No. 6 Trojans to the final tick of the clock.

MADISON, Wis. -- At some point down the line, Iowa will need to showcase some style points.
Kirk Ferentz has his Hawkeyes in the driver's seat for a BCS bowl.
It's an unfortunate reality in a sport without a playoff. Winning simply isn't good enough. Teams are required to be flashy and dominant in victory, and as the Hawkeyes continue their path toward a possible undefeated season, they'll need to win pretty.
But Kirk Ferentz and his players don't care about that right now. They've developed a formula for both achieving success and handling it, and they're showing no signs of slowing down.
Iowa's latest example came in Saturday's 20-10 victory over Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium. For the sixth time in seven games, the Hawkeyes came from behind to win. For the second time in as many Big Ten road games, Iowa rallied from a 10-0 deficit in a hostile stadium.
They won Saturday with clutch third-and-long conversions and critical defensive stops.
They didn't show much leg, but they showed plenty of heart.
"We're certainly not the prettiest car in the lot," said Ferentz, whose team is off to its best start since 1985. "But that's OK. We're not going to be a big style-points team."

1. Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker came into the game against Penn State averaging nearly eight catches for 115 yards per game. The Nittany Lions held him to one reception for 42 yards. Blame the snow and the rain in State College. And the defense really did a number on Decker -- his own defense, that is, which couldn't get Penn State off the field. The Nittany Lions held the ball for 41:59 and, because of penalties, actually gained 101 yards on one of their two touchdown drives.

2. Three views of the friendship between quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame and Matt Barkley of USC: 1. Barkley ran to Clausen to console him -- before the officials put :01 back on the clock. 2. Clausen's dad Jim told Trojans coach Pete Carroll after the game, "Tell Matt we're proud of him." 3. Barkley's vision of 2005 late in the game. "I actually thought, 'Is Jimmy going to be the next [Matt] Leinart with that fourth-quarter drive?'" Barkley said.

3. It's been five years since Ohio State lost to a team with a losing record (Northwestern). It's been 22 years since Ohio State lost to a team four games under .500 (2-6 Wisconsin). Yes, Purdue had played better than 1-5. Still, the Buckeyes' loss, coupled with Iowa's dominance at Wisconsin, is one more indicator of a power shift in the Big Ten. And the need for a power boost to the Ohio State offense.

Power Rankings
RK (LW) TEAM REC PTS COMMENT
1 (2) Alabama (13) 7-0 373 Alabama keeps asking more and more of Mark Ingram and he hasn't failed to deliver. The sophomore had a career-high 246 yards rushing and a TD to push the Tide over South Carolina 20-6.
2 (1) Florida (2) 6-0 362 It's not often Florida needs its kicker to save the day, but that was the case against Arkansas. Caleb Sturgis hit three FGs, including the game-winner with nine seconds remaining to push the Gators past the Hogs 23-20.
3 (3) Texas 6-0 344 It wasn't pretty, but it didn't have to be. Texas' defense terrorized a Sam Bradford-less Oklahoma offense to send the Longhorns to another win in the Red River Rivalry.
4 (5) USC 5-1 323 There was more drama than there needed to be, but USC slammed the door on Notre Dame when it mattered most. Matt Barkley turned in his best performance yet as a Trojan with 380 yards passing and two TDs.
5 (8) Cincinnati 6-0 296 The good news: Cincinnati met its biggest challenge yet with a 34-17 win on the road against South Florida. The bad news: Tony Pike was forced to the sidelines with an arm injury and is questionable for Saturday's game against Louisville.
6 (10) Iowa 7-0 291 Every week it looks more likely that this is going to be a special season for Iowa. The Hawkeyes erased a 10-point deficit on the road to beat Wisconsin 20-10. They stay on the road Saturday with a visit to Michigan State.
7 (6) Boise State 6-0 285 Tulsa put quite a fright into Boise State in the Wednesday night midweek matchup, but the Broncos remained unbeaten with a 28-21 win. A trip to Hawaii is next.
8 (9) Miami (FL) 5-1 273 A 27-7 win over Central Florida moved Miami to 5-1 for the first time since 2005. The Hurricanes return to their ACC slate on Saturday with a visit from Clemson.
9 (11) TCU 6-0 251 It's hard to believe after looking at the final score, but Colorado State actually led TCU 6-0 after the first quarter. But the Horned Frogs responded with 44 unanswered points the rest of the way for the blowout win.
10 (12) LSU 5-1 237 LSU had a week off to digest its Week 6 loss to Florida. The Tigers get back in action with a two-game homestand against Auburn and Tulane.
11 (13) Oregon 5-1 227 Oregon was off over the weekend, but rose from last week's standings after a couple of top-10 teams fell. The Ducks will try to avoid the same fate as USC when they travel to Washington on Saturday.
12 (20) Georgia Tech 6-1 225 Few teams impressed more over the weekend than Georgia Tech. Josh Nesbitt rushed for 122 yards and three TDs in the Yellow Jackets' win over Virginia Tech. Up next: a visit to Virginia, the only unbeaten team in ACC play. And no, that's not a typo.
13 (4) Virginia Tech 5-2 194 Virginia Tech tried mounting a late comeback but came up short in a 28-23 loss to Georgia Tech. The Hokies will be happy to see the last of Atlanta after losses to Alabama and the Yellow Jackets dashed their title hopes.
14 (15) Penn State 6-1 180 The Big Ten's stingiest defense held Minnesota to just 138 yards and no points in a 20-0 win. The Nittany Lions now gear up for a two-game road trip against Michigan and Northwestern.
15 (18) Oklahoma State 5-1 160 Oklahoma State scored 19 unanswered points to earn a comeback victory at Missouri, 33-17. Keith Toston and Hubert Anyiam picked up the offensive slack for the Cowboys with Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter out.
16 (19) Brigham Young 6-1 153 Max Hall's 346 passing yards and three TDs helped earn BYU a 38-28 win over San Diego State -- its 500th win in school history. The Cougars host TCU on Saturday in a battle of MWC unbeatens.
17 (23) Houston 5-1 120 Houston opened Conference USA play with a 44-16 win over Tulane behind Case Keenum's 334 passing yards and two TDs. The Cougars host SMU on Saturday.
18 (25) Pittsburgh 6-1 113 Pitt got an early start to Week 7 with a Friday night win over Rutgers. The Panthers' freshman sensation Dion Lewis rushed for 180 yards and two TDs in the win -- the third time in seven games he's rushed for more than 150 yards.
19 (27) Utah 5-1 97 Utah won its third straight game -- 35-15 over UNLV -- since losing to Oregon on Sept. 19. The Utes are still unbeaten in MWC play and face a three-game homestand starting with Air Force on Saturday.
20 (7) Ohio State 5-2 87 Five turnovers (four by Terrelle Pryor) doomed Ohio State in a crushing, 26-18 loss to Purdue. The Buckeyes can forget about a national title and instead focus on the Big Ten crown, starting Saturday with a visit from Minnesota.
21 (29) West Virginia 5-1 52 West Virginia dropped Marshall over the weekend behind Noel Devine's 103 rushing yards and two TDs. QB Jarrett Brown is listed as day to day after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit.
22 (NR) Texas Tech 5-2 51 Texas Tech raced to a 21-0 lead over Nebraska and never looked back in a 31-10 win. QB Steven Sheffield led the Red Raiders to their third straight win since a loss at Houston on Sept. 26.
23 (22) South Carolina 5-2 36 South Carolina's four-game winning streak came to an end in Tuscaloosa, as the Gamecocks couldn't muster enough offensively to overcome Alabama. They'll look to get back above .500 in the SEC with a visit from Vanderbilt on Saturday.
24 (16) Oklahoma 3-3 35 It's rare that a three-loss team appears in these rankings in October, but not too many teams have lost to the caliber of teams OU has. But the bad luck continues to pile on for the Sooners, as Sam Bradford reinjured his shoulder in the loss to Texas.
25 (21) South Florida 5-1 23 Despite Tony Pike's absence for most of the second half, South Florida couldn't slow down Cincinnati's offense enough as the Bulls suffered their first loss 34-17. They'll face another unbeaten Big East team Saturday with a visit to Pitt.
25 (17) Kansas 5-1 23 Kansas almost saved its perfect record after mounting a furious comeback in Colorado. But the Jayhawks fell short, 34-30 in a loss they may live to regret as their schedule only gets tougher from here on out.

Heisman Rankings After Week 7
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1. Mark Ingram, Alabama, RB, Soph.
Last week: 24 rushes, 246 yards, 1 TD; 2 receptions, 23 yards in a 20-6 victory over No. 22 South Carolina

Season: 135 rushes, 905 yards, 8 TDs; 19 receptions, 186 yards, 3 TDs

Heisman-o-meter: As Saturday afternoon rolled into Saturday night, and each of the top Heisman candidates did little to help their cases, I began to worry that maybe we'd not award the Halfway Heisman Trophy this year. Then along came Ingram, who turned in a special rushing performance and vaulted into the top spot. He dazzled against a Gamecocks defense that really didn't have to worry about getting beat by quarterback Greg McElroy. Ingram (who went out early in the game with what looked like a serious leg or knee injury) ran with power, shiftiness and explosiveness, but, most importantly, timeliness. With 7:55 left in the game and Alabama up 13-6, Ingram took the ball on all six of the Tide's plays (the first five out of the Wildcat) and ran the ball right at South Carolina for 68 yards and the game-sealing touchdown. The performance capped a brilliant first half of the season for Ingram.

Up next: Saturday vs. Tennessee

2. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, DT, Sr.
Last week: 4 tackles, 4 solo; 2 tackles for loss; 4 quarterback hurries in a 31-10 loss to Texas Tech

Season: 36 tackles, 19 solo; 9 tackles for loss; 3 sacks; 1 interception; 7 passes broken up; 9 quarterback hurries; 1 forced fumble

Heisman-o-meter: How, you ask, can The Watch still have Suh at No. 2 after his defense allowed 31 points in a loss to Texas Tech? Just watch the first half on Saturday. He was his disruptive self, applying pressure, occupying double teams and generally wreaking havoc up front. Early in the game, he forced quarterback Steven Sheffield into an intentional grounding penalty and later had a crushing tackle on the quarterback. Then, on three straight plays, at the end of the half, Suh was able to apply pressure on each one, helping hold Tech to a field goal. In the second half the Red Raiders did a better job controlling him, and their quick passing game nullified much of his strengths. Overall, the Nebraska defense didn't play all that poorly in allowing 24 points to the country's No. 2 scoring offense (seven of Tech's points came from a defensive score), but the Huskers' offense couldn't hold up their end, which is why The Watch will not penalize Suh for the loss.

Up next: Saturday vs. Iowa State

3. Tim Tebow, Florida, QB, Sr.
Last week: 17-of-26 passing, 255 yards, 1 TD; 27 rushes, 69 yards in a 23-20 victory over Arkansas

Season: 72-of-110 passing, 1,032 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs; 99 rushes, 378 yards, 5 TDs

Heisman-o-meter: There are many anti-Tebow readers who claim the Florida quarterback should be nowhere near the top of this list, citing his pedestrian stat line in comparison to others. But Tebow's value cannot be measured in numbers alone. Take Saturday's game, for instance: With Florida's undefeated season and 15-game winning streak at stake, and his team trailing 20-13, Tebow drove the Gators 67 and 69 yards for two scores to pull out the win. On the team's final drive, he converted a clutch third-and-10 to Riley Cooper and added 22 important yards on the ground. It's not just what Tebow does but when he does it that makes him unique. (But if you ask me, yes, the two fumbles and six sacks were ugly.)

Up next: Saturday at Mississippi State

4. Golden Tate, Notre Dame, WR, Jr.
Last week: 8 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TDs; 1 rush, 3 yards; 1 punt return, 2 yards; 3 kickoff returns, 62 yards in a 34-27 loss to No. 6 USC

Season: 41 receptions, 719 yards, 6 TDs; 14 rushes, 96 yards, 1 TD; 5 punt returns, 39 yards; 3 kickoff returns, 62 yards

Heisman-o-meter: Every week there seems to be a different receiver on this list. Remember Dez Bryant, A.J. Green and Jordan Shipley? This week it's Tate, who has been on the verge of cracking The Watch for a while. He has been an all-purpose threat all season, and on Saturday he was terrific, coming down with a jump-ball touchdown catch in double coverage, among his many highlights. He was such a threat that, on Notre Dame's final play, USC brought a safety to help out on the coverage, forcing quarterback Jimmy Clausen to go elsewhere. His team may have lost, but it wasn't because of Tate.

Up next: Saturday vs. Boston College

5. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame, QB, Jr.
Last week: 24-of-43 passing, 260 yards, 2 TDs; 9 rushes, minus-4 yards, 1 TD in a 34-27 loss to No. 6 USC

Season: 124-of-191 passing, 1,804 yards, 14 TDs, 2 INTs; 32 rushes, minus-49 yards, 1 TD

Heisman-o-meter: Clausen had a tough first half against USC, throwing for just 47 passing yards. And he didn't pull off the signature victory that his Heisman candidacy badly needed, though he sure did make it exciting. The bottom line is this: He has been very good this season (and gutty too, playing on that turf toe), but it is hard to justify voting for a quarterback whose best win came over Michigan State. And a remaining schedule that may have one ranked opponent on it (Pittsburgh) is unlikely to change that.

Up next: Saturday vs. Boston College