Heisman watch

[Higher Authority]

From CNNSI.com's Luke Winn:


Judgment day a week away
Until Oct. 9, Purdue's Orton holds commanding lead in this race

Cedric Benson has run ahead of Reggie Bush to the No. 2 slot in this Heisman hierarchy, but any position other than No. 1 carries little meaning.

That's because in this race, there's Kyle Orton, and there's everyone else.

In his first real test of the season -- a trip to Notre Dame Stadium, where the Boilers hadn't won in 30 years -- Purdue's senior quarterback continued to be prolific. His numbers, prior to Saturday, were stunning but still suspect, having been piled up against a less-than-imposing trio of opponents: Syracuse, Ball State and Illinois. After success in South Bend, Orton's campaign officially has the Beano Cook Seal of Approval.

Those currently playing follow-the-leader will have the chance to answer Orton soon. Like next Saturday soon. In Dallas, Texas' Benson and Oklahoma's Jason White square off in the defining game of each player's regular season. In Los Angeles, USC's Bush and Matt Leinart face Cal's Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Arrington in the toughest game on either team's schedule. And nothing kick-starts a Heisman campaign like an All-American showing in a head-to-head battle with another candidate. Even if it's only the second weekend in October.

1. Kyle Orton, QB, Purdue, Sr.
Last week (at Notre Dame): 21-of-31 passing, 385 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs in 41-16 win
Season (4-0): 95-of-137 passing (69.3 percent), 1,367 yards, 17 TDs, 0 INTs, 2 rushing TDs

Boilermakers wideout Taylor Stubblefield apparently has appointed himself the lead strategist for Orton's campaign. After reeling in a 97-yard touchdown strike Saturday, Stubblefield struck a Heisman pose -- "for Kyle."

"He looked at me like, whatever, and gave me a smile," Stubblefield said.

2. Cedric Benson, RB, Texas, Sr.
Last week (vs. Baylor): 34 carries, 188 yards, 3 TDs in 44-14 win
Season (4-0): 98 carries, 746 yards (186.5 yards per game), 7 TDs

Benson, who leads the nation in rushing, moved ahead of Earl Campbell on the list of Texas' all-time rushing leaders with 4,452 yards. Now all Benson needs to do to pass Ricky Williams for the No. 1 spot is ... run for 1,828 more yards this season.

3. Reggie Bush, RB, USC, Soph.
Sept. 25 (at Stanford): 16 carries, 95 yards, TD; 4 catches, 25 yards; 120 return yards in 31-28 win
Season (4-0): 51 carries, 330 yards, 3 TDs; 14 catches, 196 yards, 4 TDs; 325 return yards (212.8 all-purpose yards per game)

The President was off this week, so we'll reserve comment 'til after the Cal game.

4. Matt Leinart, QB, USC, Jr.
Sept. 25 (vs. Stanford): 24-of-30 passing, 308 yards, TD, rushing TD in 31-28 win
Season (4-0): 85-of-124 passing (68.6 percent), 1,047 yards, 8 TDs, INT, 2 rushing TDs

Ditto.

5. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Cal, Jr.
Last week (vs. Oregon State): 12-of-16 passing, 140 yards, 3 TDs in 49-7 win
Season (3-0): 43-of-58 passing (74.1 percent), 614 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs

He's No. 2 (behind Orton) in the nation in pass efficiency, but Rodgers is being hurt by the same thing that's keeping OU's White down: a balanced offense. Of course, that's also what's making the Bears a top-10 team. Which seems like a solid trade.

QB on the bubble
Jason White, Oklahoma. If, or rather, when, he beats Texas, the incumbent candidate will move into the top five.

On the radar
Vernand Morency, Oklahoma State; David Greene, Georgia; Ryan Moats, Louisiana Tech; Alex Smith, Utah; Andrew Walter, Arizona State; J.J. Arrington, Cal.

[Hal]

My order for that list:

1. Orten
2. Bush
3. Leinart
4. Moats (nice WAC representation!)
5. Smith
6. Walter
7. Greene
8. Benson
9. Rodgers
10. Morency
11. Arrington

[The Q]

Adrian Peterson has to be on this list now. Probably in the top 3. That kid is simply amazing.

[MrMustang1965]

Adrian Peterson is awesome. But he's a true freshman and I don't think the Downtown Athletic Club has ever presented the Heisman to a frosh...it would be unusual if they did.

[The Q]

It would be a first - never happened before. Last freshman who should have won it was Herschel Walker, and I'm not sure Peterson isn't more talented even than Walker. He's certainly the best since Walker led Jawja to the national championship as a freshman (and don't even mention Maurice Clarett - Peterson is lightyears ahead of Clarett.)

[KnuckleStang]

Yeah, that Peterson kid is a freak. I kept thinking, if he was in high school LAST YEAR, he had to have scored every single time he touched the ball. Nothing else would make sense. A 19-year-old running over Longhorns at will? And he has that deceptive speed, like Dickerson, where he looks like he's loafing, but he's really hauling *ss. One more year for that guy after this one, and he's in the pros making some bank.