The month of September came to a close this past Saturday and the Ohio State Buckeyes have clearly established themselves as the No. 1 team in the nation. Three of the team’s first five wins have come over ranked opponents and two of those wins have come on the road. OSU beat then-No. 2 Texas (defending champions) in Austin on September 9 (24-7) and last Saturday defeated No. 13 Iowa 38-17. Quarterback Troy Smith has now led OSU to 12 straight wins (12-0 ATS as well) and enters October as the Heisman favorite. My full top-10 Heisman follows.
Heisman Top 10
Monday, October 2
1) TROY SMITH (Ohio State) Last Week: 1. Smith threw two TDPs in the first half of the game as OSU led Iowa 21-10 at the half last Saturday night in Iowa City. The Buckeyes pulled away in the second half when they opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown run (Smith’s third TDP of the game) and followed with an FG on their next drive that not only put them up 31-10 but he took eight minutes off the clock. Later in the fourth quarter, Smith threw his career-high fourth TDP to end OSU’s scoring of the night. In the 38-17 win, Smith ended up completing 16 of 25 passes for 186 yards with four TDPs and no INTs. He even ran for 20 yards, something he’s rarely done this year. The win gives Smith a 10-1 career mark against ranked opponents. Leading Ohio State to 12 straight wins (the longest active winning streak in the nation after TCU lost last Thursday to BYU), he completed 66.2 percent of his shots for an average of 232.9 YPG with 24 TDP and just four INT. How’s that for a Heisman candidate? Ohio State is going bowling next week when the Bowling Green Falcons visit Columbus. Smith’s season stats are: 84 of 128 65.6 percent 1,070 yards 12 TDP 2 INT / 22 carries 24 yards 1.1 YPC 0 TD.
2) ADRIAN PETERSON (Oklahoma). Last week: 2. AP and the Oklahoma Sooners had the week off and I’ll leave the junior in my second place pending his next performance against Texas next Saturday in the annual Red River Shootout. As I mentioned before, Peterson nearly won this award as a freshman in 2004, finishing second to USC’s Matt Leinart (the highest finish ever achieved by a freshman). Peterson has 21 career 100-yard games, including five of 200-yards or more. In his first season he rushed 32 times for 225 yards against the Longhorns as the Sooners won 12-0. However, Peterson’s less than 100 percent had just 10 yards on three carries last year as Texas defeated Oklahoma 45-12. Peterson’s season stats are: 117 carries 643 yards 5.5 YPC 7 TD / 4 receptions 72 yards 18.0 YPC 1 TD.
3) BRADY QUINN (Our Lady). Last Week: 3. Quinn was “licking his chops” anticipating facing the Boilermakers last Saturday, when Purdue entered the game as the fifth-worst pass defense in the nation. He didn’t disappoint, hitting 24 of his first 28 attempts as the Irish took a 28-7 lead before halftime. Quinn threw his second TDP of the game in the third quarter (both to McKnight), as Notre Dame went up 35-14. RB Darius Walker took it from there, finishing with 146 YR (his first 100-yard game in 2006) and adding 73 more yards on nine catches. Quinn finished Notre Dame’s 35-21 victory with 29-of-38 completions for 316 yards with two TDPs and no interceptions. He marked his second straight 300-yard game and the ninth of his career. Notre Dame hosts Stanford this Saturday. Quinn’s season stats are: 121-of-196 61.7 percent 1,402 yards 13 TDP 4 INT/1 TD rushing.
4) CHRIS LEAK (Florida) Last Week: 4. Florida quickly fell behind Alabama last Saturday 10-0, on a 50-yard fumble return for TD and FG. Spurred on by Leak’s 45-yard run, however, the Gators closed the score to 10-7 just before the half, when Tim Tebow capped a 12-play, 95-yard drive with a two-yard TD run. Leak capped a seven-yard, 80-yard drive with his first TDP of the game in the third quarter, giving the Gators a 14-10 lead. In the fourth quarter, with Florida leading just 14-13, he threw for his second TDP game, a 21-yard pass following a Florida interception that had given the Gators an FD at the Alabama 34-yard line. , 28-13. Leak finished the game 14 of 20 for 174 yards with two TDPs and no INTs. He added 31 yards on six attempts. There is no rest for the weary, however, as the Gators host No. 9 LSU this Saturday. Leak’s season stats are: 84 of 130 64.6 percent 1,240 yards 14 TDP 4 INT.
5) MIKE HART (Michigan) Last Week: 6. I love this guy. He runs hard every game and is playing for arguably the second best team in the nation in Michigan. Michigan beat Minnesota for the 11th straight time at the Metrodome last Saturday night, 28-14. Chad Henne threw three TDPs in the first half as the Wolverines opened up to a 21-7 lead. A one-yard touchdown run by Grady gave the Wolverines a 28-7 lead late in the fourth quarter and Michigan held on for a 28-14 victory. Hart carried 31 times for 195 yards, including a 54-yard run on his last carry of the game, as Michigan was able to run out time. It was the fourth time he passed 100 yards this season and gives him 14 100-yard games in his career (Michigan is 13-1 when passing 100!). He also added a catch for 31 yards. The Wolverines will host the Spartans this Saturday. Hart’s season stats are: 135 carries 672 yards 5.0 YPC 5 TD / 5 receptions 56 yards 1.2 YPC 0 TD.
6) STEVE SLATON (West Virginia) Last Week: 5. I outplayed Hart over Slaton last week, as Slaton and the Mountaineers had the week off. Slaton is coming off his worst game of the year, as the Mountaineers battled past East Carolina two Saturdays ago, 27-10. The Mountaineers found the going a bit more difficult, as after three straight home wins with combined scores of 139-37, West Va struggled in Greenville, North Carolina against East Carolina. Slaton, who entered the game averaging 168 YPG rushing (West Va entered averaging 350 YPG rushing as a team), was limited to just 80 rushing yards on 24 attempts and scoreless. As a team, the Mountaineers rushed for just 153 yards, almost 200 yards below their average! Slaton also caught three passes for 35 yards, but overall, it was a very average game. West Va is on the road again this Saturday, in the state of Mississippi. Slaton’s season stats are: 86 carries 583 yards 6.8 YPC 6 TD / 4 receptions 47 yards 11.8 YPC 0 TD.
7) GARRETT WOLFE (Northern Illinois) Last week: 7. This guy just won’t go away. Wolfe rushed for a career-high 353 yards (31 carries) last Saturday as Northern Illinois won its third straight game after opening the season 0-2. Wolfe’s previous career high was a 325-yard effort against Eastern Michigan last year. He scored the first TD of the game on a 51-yard run and added TD runs of 48 and 53 (no cheap stuff for this guy!), as the Huskies pulled away from a 14-yard tie at the half with Ball State to win, 40 -28. He marked the 19th 100-yard game of his career and the ninth 200-plus game. He’s now surpassed the 100-yard mark in all five games this year (don’t forget his 171 against Ohio State, as well as 114 more receiving yards on five receptions) and 10 in a row since last year. He has averaged 226.3 YPG in that 10-game stretch and with 4,417 yards, he is the career leader among active players. Of course, his YPG average of 236.2 this year is also the best, as is his 12 TDs (11 rushing). Northern Illinois plays winless Miami-Ohio this Saturday. Wolfe’s season stats are: 127 carries 1,181 yards 9.3 YPC 11 TD / 12 receptions 159 yards 13.3 YPC 1 TD.
8) MARIO MANNINGHAM (Michigan). Last week: 8. Manningham entered the 2006 season after a rather unimpressive 2005 season in which he caught just 27 balls for 433 yards (16.0 YPC) with six TDs. He was quiet in Michigan’s first two games while QB Henne struggled (he had just five receptions for 71 yards and a TD) but exploded onto the national scene with three TD catches in Michigan’s 47-21 win over Notre Dame ago. three saturdays He continued to shine last weekend, catching five passes for 131 yards with another TD in Michigan’s win over Minnesota. That makes 16 receptions in the last three weeks for 381 yards (23.8 YPC) with six TDs. His TD average has covered 36.2 yards, none of which is less than 20. Michigan hosts Michigan State this Saturday. Manningham’s season stats are: 21 receptions 452 yards 21.5 YPC 7 TDs.
9) MARSHAWN LYNCH (Calif.) Last Week: 9. Cal opened the season ranked No. 9 on the AP, but found itself down 35-0 late in the third quarter at Tennessee in its season opener. Since that 35-18 loss, the Bears have won four straight games, averaging 43.5 points per game, never failing to top 40 points in any contest. Last Saturday, the Bears won at Corvallis, 41-13. QB Nate Longshore passed for 341 yards and four TDPs and completed 69.4 percent of his passes, averaging 284 YPG and passing for 14 TDPs against just three INTs, on the team’s winning streak. However, it is Cal RB Marshawn Lynch who is my pick for the number nine spot this week. Lynch surpassed the 100-yard mark for the fourth straight game (he has 13 in his career) with 106 yards on just 17 carries (one TD). He also caught three passes for 59 yards with two for TDs. In 346 career attempts, Lynch has averaged a 7.0 YPC! Cal, now ranked 16th, will host No. 11 Oregon on Saturday in a HUGE game! Lynch’s season stats are: 79 carries 555 yards 7.0 YPC 4 TD / 11 catches 123 yards 11.2 YPC 3 TD.
10) RAY RICE (Rutgers) Last week: NR. I like to use the 10th hole for someone new and why not honor Rutgers sophomore RB Ray Rice? As a freshman, Rice rushed for 1,120 yards (5.7 YPC and 5 TDs), while leading Rutgers to the school’s second bowl appearance and a 7-5 mark. Rutgers began last week ranked 23rd in the AP poll, the school’s first ranking since the 1976 team finished 11-0. Last Friday night, the Scarlet Knights survived in Tampa 22-20 against South Florida, when the Bulls missed a late two-point conversion attempt. As for Rice, he rushed 35 times for 202 yards with two touchdowns, surpassing the 200-yard mark for the second time this year (he had 201 at North Carolina in the team’s season opener). He marks his seventh straight 100-yard game (a school record) and the 10th of his career. His career high came at U Conn last season, when he rushed for 217 yards. It should be noted that all three of his career 200-yard games have been on the road! The nation’s second-leading running back this year (161.2 YPG) has a week off when Rutgers plays this coming Oct. 14 at Navy. His season stats are: 141 carries 806 yards 5.7 YPC 11 TDs / 3 catches 26 yards 8.7 YPC 0 TDs.
Abandoned:
#10Kevin Kolb (Houston)