K-State's Collin Klein strengthens hold on Heisman lead
The numerous high-profile games on October's final college football weekend served as a big national stage for the Heisman Trophy frontrunners.
None of them disappointed, resulting in little change among the top contenders in the weekly survey of official Heisman voters from the USA TODAY Sports Media Group.
| Rank | Player | 2012 statistics | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
| 1 | CollinKlein, Kansas State | 1,630passing yards, 12 TDs; 634 rushing yards, 16 TDs | 35 | 1 | 107 | |
| 2 | MantiTe'o, Notre Dame | 80tackles, 5 interceptions | 1 | 23 | 10 | 59 |
| 3 | BraxtonMiller, Ohio State | 1,527passing yards, 12 TDs; 1,093 rushing yards, 12 TDs | 7 | 11 | 25 | |
| 4 | AJ McCarron, Alabama | 1,684passing yards, 18 TDs | 4 | 8 | 16 | |
| 5 | GenoSmith, West Virginia | 2,417passing yards, 26 TDs | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 6 | Kenjon Barner, Oregon | 974 rushing yards, 14 TDs | 2 | 2 | ||
| Marqise Lee, USC | 1,129 receiving yards, 10 TDs | 2 | 2 | |||
| Also receiving votes: Tajh Boyd (Clemson) 1, De'Athony Thomas (Oregon) 1. | ||||||
Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein easily retained the lead, named on every ballot and first on all but one after what is becoming a typical day for him with four touchdowns, two by air and two by land, against the Texas Tech defense that had derailed West Virginia's Geno Smith just two weeks earlier.
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o remained second after leading the Fighting Irish to a huge road win at Oklahoma. The leader of a defense that has allowed only eight touchdowns in seven games, Te'o also recorded his first sack of the season as well as his fifth interception, a diving effort on a tipped ball that sealed the victory for the Irish.
If Te'o doesn't win the award, he appears likely to be the highest finisher for a player at his position since Florida State linebacker Marvin Jones came in fourth in 1992.
Ohio State QB Braxton Miller's team isn't eligible to play for the BCS national championship, but he keeps leading the Buckeyes to victories anyway. He remains third in the Heisman survey after OSU took down Penn State on the road. The Buckeyes are one of six unbeatens in major college football but cannot play in a bowl game.
A.J. McCarron is fourth and could have the most room to move up if he keeps quarterbacking the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide to wins. A big night in Baton Rouge this week against No.5 LSU could have him challenging the leaders.