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NEW YORK (AP) -- Matt Leinart replaced a Heisman Trophy winner and became one himself.

The Southern California quarterback won college football's most prestigious individual award Saturday night, beating out Oklahoma teammates Adrian Peterson and Jason White, last year's winner.

In 2002, Carson Palmer won the Heisman as a senior with the Trojans. Leinart succeeded the first overall pick in the NFL draft with a splendid sophomore season that set him up as the preseason favorite this year.

Leinart has delivered, throwing for 2,990 yards and 28 TDs and leading the top-ranked Trojans to a 12-0 regular season.

``I remember when Carson was sitting up here,'' Leinart said. ``He said his heart was beating out of his chest, I think mine's about to do the same thing.''

The junior is USC's sixth Heisman winner, tying the Trojans with Ohio State for second-most behind Notre Dame's seven.

Peterson, the freshman tailback, was second, White was third, Utah quarterback Alex Smith was fourth and Leinart's teammate Reggie Bush was fifth in the voting.

White, Peterson, Leinart, Bush and Smith made this year's something that the award hasn't been in years: interesting. There was no clear-cut favorite and this year presented five worthy candidates.

For what it's worth, I would have voted:
1. Smith
2. Peterson
3. Bush
4. White
5. Leinart

PETERSON IS A MONSTER, I GUESS HE'LL GET ONE OF THOSE STATUES IN THE FUTURE

I wonder what kind of numbers the USC and Oklahoma guys would have put up if they didn't have the other playing with him. How many carries/yards would Peterson have had if White wasn't such a good passer? What kind of freaky numbers would Leinart have without a running game? The stats might have suffered, but the teams were far better with the balance.

To me, they're all damn good. But Reggie Bush would have gotten my vote.

just happy that criminal cedric benson didn't win!