Gene Menez of SI.com breaks down the Heisman race as college football enters Week 4 of the season.
1. Chase Daniel, Missouri, QB, Sr.
Last week: 23-of-28 passing, 405 yards, 4 TDs; 1 rush, 12 yards in a 69-17 victory over Nevada.
Season: 65-of-90 passing, 973 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT; 10 rushes, 58 yards.
Heisman-o-meter: Daniel has been a regular on this list for three years, but he has never been No. 1 — until now. The Tigers’ triggerman has been mind-boggingly productive in his first three games as the Missouri offense has rolled. (In the last two he has played just four quarters total and has seven touchdowns against six incompletions.) How he plays in the Tigers’ tough October stretch (at Nebraska, Oklahoma State, at Texas, Colorado) will go a long way in determining if he stays at No. 1.
Up next: Saturday vs. Buffalo.
2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, QB, Soph.
Last week: 18-of-21 passing, 304 yards, 5 TDs; 1 rush, 1 yard, 1 TD in a 55-14 victory at Washington.
Season: 64-of-81 passing, 882 yards, 12 TDs, 2 INTs; 4 rushes, 4 yards, 1 TD.
Heisman-o-meter: In other Big 12 news, the Sooners have the conference’s — and country’s — No. 2 candidate for the stiff-armed statuette. Bradford plays so smoothly when he’s rolling out of the pocket and hitting receivers on the run, and he has Oklahoma’s offense humming. The task of separating Daniel and Bradford (Does Daniel benefit from having better receivers? Does Bradford have a better offensive line, running game and defense to get him the ball?) could go into early December when the Big 12 title game is played.
Up next: Sept. 27 vs. TCU.
3. Tim Tebow, Florida, QB, Jr.
Last week: Idle.
Season: 30-of-49 passing, 393 yards, 3 TDs; 22 rushes, 92 yards.
Heisman-o-meter: As Daniel, Bradford and others have made early-season cases for the Heisman, the incumbent has yet to be the Tebow we know. For Saturday’s game at Tennessee, it will be interesting to see if the Gators’ rushing attack has improved since the Miami contest and who’s doing the heavy lifting. None of Florida’s tailbacks were effective against the Hurricanes, forcing the running load onto Tebow’s legs, which could prove great for a Heisman repeat but not so good for the Gators’ long term goals.
Up next: Saturday at Tennessee.
Daniel has been the best quarterback of this young season and his play at the end of the opener against Illinois was fantastic. But even though the Illini proved to be a tougher opponent than many thought, Daniel’s first true test comes next week when the Tigers travel to Nebraska and take on an improved Huskers program.
Unfortunately college football fans have to wait two more weeks before Bradford faces his first real test. After TCU this week and at Baylor next Saturday, Oklahoma hosts Texas and Kansas in back-to-back weeks. Bradford might have the chance to win or lose the Heisman in those weeks.
