2012 College Football Heisman Trophy Power Rankings: Top 5 Contenders Week 12: The fall of the top-ranked and defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide shook of the BCS standings and has created some new frontrunners as far the national title is concerned. The question is whether or not the fall of Nick Saban’s bunch also shook up the Heisman race. With just a couple of weeks to go in the regular season, here is the latest look at the top contenders for college football’s most prestigious individual honor.
2012 Heisman Trophy Odds and Predictions: Top 5 Contenders Week 12
1. Collin Klein, Quarterback, Kansas State Wildcats
He is the most important player for a Kansas State team that has climbed to No. 1 in the BCS rankings. Klein currently ranks in the top 10 in the country in quarterback rating and has piled up 31 total touchdowns. Nineteen of those have come on the ground, and his power running continues to make him a matchup nightmare for defenses, especially in the red zone. Klein beats teams with his arm and his legs, and his teammates feed of his leadership. Plain and simple, the Wildcats are not in contention for a national title without Klein under center, and if Kansas State runs the table, Klein deserves the Heisman Trophy.
2. Johnny Manziel, Quarterback, Texas A&M Aggies
Manziel has had the crazy stats all year, but fresh off an upset of top-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the freshman finally has a signature win to go with his numbers. He currently has 18 passing touchdowns to go along with 15 rushing scores, and he has accounted for more than 3,700 yards of offense for the Aggies. More than 1,000 of that has come on the ground, and Manziel has surpassed Michigan’s Denard Robinson as the most explosive dual-threat quarterback in the country. As impressive as his performance against the Crimson Tide was, Manziel did post pedestrian numbers in Texas A&M’s losses to Florida and LSU this year, and he doesn’t really have any big games left on the schedule to make a statement. However, that could chance if Alabama were to somehow lose again and let the Aggies slip into the SEC title game. If Manziel gets one more chance to wow voters on a big stage, the freshman is capable of taking advantage and making Heisman history.
3. Braxton Miller, Quarterback, Ohio State
The dual-threat sophomore fits Urban Meyer’s offense so perfectly it’s almost unfair. Miller has been burning defenses with his arm and his legs and has 14 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns and more than 1,100 rushing yards for the undefeated Buckeyes. He has been the team’s only source of offense at times, and with the Ohio State defense struggling throughout the year, the Buckeyes have needed Miller’s production to remain perfect. Ohio State’s probation doesn’t help his chances, but with a road game at Wisconsin and a meeting with rival Michigan still remaining, Miller has two big stages left to sway voters.
4. Kenjon Barner, Running Back, Oregon Ducks
Is it possible that he peaked too soon? One week after shredding the USC Trojans for more than 300 yards and five scores, Barner was held in check by California. Granted, his 1,360 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns are still impressive, but since he plays for an offensive juggernaut in Oregon, he has to distinguish himself as the team’s most important part if he wants to win the Heisman Trophy. Managing just 65 yards and no scores when his team scored 59 against the Golden Bears didn’t exactly do that. However, the Ducks remaining schedule features two games against ranked opponents and likely a third game against a ranked opponent in the Pac-12 title game. If Barner lights it up in all three games and the Ducks end up in the BCS title game, he still has a shot.
5. Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Oregon Ducks
I’m not sure Mariota is getting enough credit for what he has done this season at Oregon. The redshirt freshman has stepped in as the general of Chip Kelly’s high-powered spread-option attack and has helped lead the Ducks to an undefeated record thus far. Along the way, he has thrown 28 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions and is completing more than 71 percent of his passes. He has added more than 500 yards and three more scores on the ground, and he has provided stability and production to a position that was a huge question mark for Oregon at the start of the year. When California slowed down Oregon’s vaunted rushing offense last weekend, Mariota responded by throwing for 377 yards and six scores. If he has three more monster games to close the year, he could end up being the freshman that makes history.
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