A blind test: Can you find the leading Heisman contenders?
In the spirit of election season, let's get better informed about the candidates. The Heisman Trophy candidates.
Depending on who you ask, depending on where you look, there are anywhere between five and eight legitimate Heisman contenders with three or four weeks left in the regular season.
There are quarterbacks (mostly quarterbacks), along with running backs, receivers and even a linebacker, believe it or not. It all adds up to a fairly concrete picture of who can, and who cannot, win the Heisman Trophy in December.
But it's time to judge the candidates on their records – as well as their statistics. Can you tell one Heisman contender from another? If you remove the names from the equation, would that alter how you look at one player's candidacy?
So here's how it'll work. I'll label several players with an alias and give you their team's record, number of wins over teams ranked in the top 50 of this week's Sagarin ratings and their own statistical output. A key can be found at the end of the post. Ready? Here goes:
Player A, QB
Record: 9-0
Marquee wins: 5
Numbers: 133-of-187 for 1,880 yards, 12 TD, 2 INT; 139 carries for 703 yards, 17 TD
Player B, QB
Record: 9-1
Marquee wins: 0
Numbers: 162-of-258 for 2,175 yards, 19 TD, 3 INT; 185 carries for 1,342 yards, 16 TD
Player C, QB
Record: 7-2
Marquee wins: 3
Numbers: 203-of-305 for 2,527 yards, 16 TD, 6 INT; 138 carries for 922 yards, 15 TD
Player D, QB
Record: 9-0
Marquee wins: 5
Numbers: 136-of-204 for 1,849 yards, 19 TD, 0 INT
Player E, QB
Record: 8-1
Marquee wins: 0
Numbers: 255-of-358 for 2,946 yards, 24 TD, 0 INT; 48 carries for 142 yards, 2 TD
Player F, RB
Record: 7-2
Marquee wins: 4
Numbers: 180 carries for 1,204 yards, 8 TD; 20 receptions for 231 yards, 1 TD
Player G, RB
Record: 7-2
Marquee wins: 1
Numbers: 166 carries for 1,072 yards, 9 TD; 17 receptions for 100 yards, 1 TD; 10 punt returns for 251 yards, 2 TD
Player H, RB
Record: 9-0
Marquee wins: 5
Numbers: 179 carries for 1,295 yards, 19 TD; 15 receptions for 184 yards, 1 TD
Player I, RB
Record: 9-0
Marquee wins: 5
Numbers: 137 carries for 765 yards, 12 TD; 12 receptions for 61 yards
Player J, WR
Record: 6-3
Marquee wins: 2
Numbers: 88 receptions for 1,286 yards, 12 TD; 23 kick returns for 677 yards, 1 TD
Player K, WR
Record: 8-1
Marquee wins: 0
Numbers: 62 receptions for 1,037 yards, 13 TD
Player L, WR
Record: 5-3
Marquee wins: 2
Numbers: 84 receptions for 896 yards, 10 TD; 12 punt returns for 111 yards, 1 TD; 16 kickoff returns for 526 yards, 1 TD
Player M, LB
Record: 10-0
Marquee wins: 4
Numbers: 98 tackles (11.5 for loss), 4.0 sacks, 1 INT, 10 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles
Player N, LB
Record: 9-0
Marquee wins: 5
Numbers: 87 tackles (5.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks, 5 INT, 2 fumble recoveries
Player O, LB
Record: 8-1
Marquee wins: 4
Numbers: 52 tackles (15.0 for loss), 8.5 sacks, 1 INT, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Are you ready for the key? I'd think that a few might be fairly self-evident, especially if you're familiar with the current FBS standings.
In order:
Player A – Kansas State QB Collin Klein
Player B – Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch
Player C – Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel
Player D – Alabama QB A.J. McCarron
Player E – Louisiana Tech QB Colby Cameron
Player F – UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin
Player G – Northwestern RB Venric Mark
Player H – Oregon RB Kenjon Barner
Player I – Kansas State RB John Hubert
Player J – USC WR Marqise Lee
Player K – Clemson WR DeAndre Hopkins
Player L – West Virginia WR Tavon Austin
Player M – Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier
Player N – Notre Dame LB Manti Te'o
Player O – Georgia LB Jarvis Jones
Does this change how you look at certain contenders? If anything, a blind test might send home the idea that Klein, McCarron, Barner and Te'o should lead the pack due not only to their statistical excellence but the impressive wins they've helped their teams land over the first 10 weeks of the season.