Who will win the Heisman Trophy?

[Dick Whitman]

I think Manziel, unless Te'o has a Carson Palmer night in the Notre Dame-USC game, with like 10 tackles and at least a turnover in a convincing win.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Two friends I know with votes are both likely voting for Te'o. If ever there was a year to vote for a defensive player, this might be the one...

Only one sophomore has ever won (Tebow). It seems hard to imagine that a freshman would win. That LSU games lingers a bit as well...

 

[Dick Whitman]

That LSU games lingers a bit as well...

That's what I think, too.

I think that if Notre Dame ends the year with a dominating defensive win over USC - let's say (doubtful) they shut them out. That would be two straight shutouts to end the year, essentially making them the '85 Bears of college football. Then T'eo probably wins it. Best player on the best defense on the best team in the country. And a top 5-10 draft pick next spring.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Te'o.

I will be back here to take my ribbing for this observation when it blows up BUT Missouri has handled Texas A&M without much difficulty the last three years. I know it's a new staff and of course Johnny Football is different, but the players and the system are largely similar and Missouri has a pretty good defense that is used to looking at spread offenses. I don't think that game is a lock at all for A&M.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I think if Notre Dame wins out, Te'o wins the Heisman.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I wonder how much it matters that Alabama got back into things.

Seems like part of the Manziel mystique/narrative was spoiling Alabama's national title hopes. But he didn't.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I wonder how much it matters that Alabama got back into things.

Seems like part of the Manziel mystique/narrative was spoiling Alabama's national title hopes. But he didn't.

He's a great player. I just don't see him winning it this year. I'll be a little surprised if he's even in the top 3. I think for a freshman to win the award it would have to be a complete no-brainer.

 

[Versatile]

Johnny Manziel was worse against LSU than Collin Klein has been in any game the past two years.

 

[JackReacher]

Whoever Heisman Pundit says.

Manziel has a pretty good lead thus far. Unless T'eo goes nuts against USC, it's Manziel.

The only thing that could break Heisman Pundit's streak is the group of idiots who won't vote for Manziel because he's a freshman. Then again, the group of idiots who won't vote a defensive player might cancel that out.

I'd be torn between the two. Probably lean toward Manziel. He did take a **** on Alabama. I like that about him.

 

[Versatile]

I hate talking about who will win an award or a game. As JackReacher notes, Heisman Pundit is sure to be right so the best bet is to follow that.

Who should win the Heisman Trophy? That's another story. And Johnny Manziel is not the answer, no matter how great his story line seems to writers who would benefit from it.

 

[JackReacher]

I'm shocked you would say that. SHOCKED!!!

 

[Versatile]

I'm shocked you would say that. SHOCKED!!!

His beating of Alabama has nothing to do with my view. If the dates on Texas A&M's win vs. Alabama and loss vs. Florida were reversed, he wouldn't be in this conversation.

I am pretty heavily pro-SEC at every turn, so why would I want to reward another league?

 

[Mark2010]

As for the guy who has had the best individual season, I'd take Marquis Lee, WR from USC. Probably won't win it, but you'd have to look long and hard to find someone who has had a better season. Maybe Varner from Oregon.

 

[JackReacher]

I'm shocked you would say that. SHOCKED!!!

His beating of Alabama has nothing to do with my view. If the dates on Texas A&M's win vs. Alabama and loss vs. Florida were reversed, he wouldn't be in this conversation.

I am pretty heavily pro-SEC at every turn, so why would I want to reward another league?

Mainly, I was just busting your balls.

So, who should win it if not Manziel? And again, I think T'eo deserves consideration. Love how he plays. Hate how little attention he gets for it. I wouldn't be pissed if he wins.

For Manziel, the dates weren't changed, so we deal with what actually happened. He came up huge against the number one team in the country, which happened to be your school. So yea, color me shocked that you don't think he should win it. And I haven't looked them up, but I'd imagine his stats compare pretty well to a couple recent Heisman winners. Personally, his stats and all around performance this year trump when certain things happened.

Either way, the Heisman is, and probably always will be, a joke. Hard to really get bent out of shape about it. Fun to debate, though.

 

[Versatile]

Neither Johnny Manziel nor Collin Klein favorably compares to recent Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks.

Tim Tebow
Passing: 66.9%, 3,286 yards, 9.4 per attempt, 32 touchdowns, six interceptions, 172.5 rating
Rushing: 895 yards, 4.3 per carry, 23 touchdowns

Sam Bradford
Passing: 67.9%, 4,720 yards, 9.8 per attempt, 50 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 180.8 rating
Rushing: 47 yards, 1.1 per carry, five touchdowns

Cam Newton
Passing: 66.1%, 2,854 yards, 10.2 per attempt, 30 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 182.0 rating
Rushing: 1,473 yards, 5.6 per carry, 20 touchdowns

Robert Griffin III
Passing: 72.4%, 4,293 yards, 10.7 per attempt, 37 touchdowns, six interceptions, 189.5 rating
Rushing: 699 yards, 3.9 per carry, 10 touchdowns

Johnny Manziel (projected for 13 games)
Passing: 67.7%, 3,601 yards, 8.6 per attempt, 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 155.1 rating
Rushing: 1,317 yards, 6.5 per carry, 20 touchdowns

Collin Klein (projected for 13 games)
Passing: 66.7%, 2,725 yards, 8.9 per attempt, 17 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 155.0 rating
Rushing: 930 yards, 4.6 per attempt, 23 touchdowns

If you're keeping track, they project for fewer touchdowns and lower passer ratings than any of the past four quarterbacks to win Heisman. They do compare well with Troy Smith, though, for whatever that's worth. Smith's team was undefeated.

Regarding Manti Teo, well ... I have mixed feelings on defensive players winning the Heisman. On one hand, I am not sure Teo is exceptional enough to buck 77-year-old trend. On the other, I think he and Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones are the best players in the country.

My biggest issue with Manziel's candidacy was his god-awful performance against LSU. He was much worse against LSU (no touchdowns, three interceptions) than Klein was against Baylor (three touchdowns, three interceptions).

 

[LongTimeListener]

Manziel vs. LSU was one of the five or 10 best defenses in the country.

Klein vs. Baylor was one of the five or 10 worst defenses in the country.

 

[Versatile]

Manziel vs. LSU was one of the five or 10 best defenses in the country.

Klein vs. Baylor was one of the five or 10 worst defenses in the country.

I know. But if Kansas State's defense plays better and the Wildcats win, Collin Klein is winning the Heisman in a landslide. Meanwhile, Texas A&M's defense was fine against LSU. Manziel was the problem.

That's what bothers me.

I don't think either deserves it.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Who does, then? All you've said so far is no on Manziel, no on Te'o, no on Klein.

Vinny Testaverde ain't walking through that door.

 

[Mark2010]

If there was ever a year and player when a defensive player could actually win it, this might be the year.

 

[Versatile]

I am not sure. I am interested to see what Collin Klein does against Texas and what Johnny Manziel does against Missouri. A huge game would be enough for me to pick either.

It's not so much that I am opposed to either winning as it bothers me Manziel is being viewed as a superior candidate. He fits the narrative sports writers want, the hot-shot freshman leading Texas A&M into the SEC and knocking off Alabama. But I don't think he has been better.

Now, if you were asking me who the most outstanding college football players have been this season:

1. Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
2. Jarvis Jones, Georgia
3. Chance Warmack, Alabama
4. Marqise Lee, Southern Cal
5. Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M