2012 Heisman Trophy Power Rankings: Top 5 Contenders Week 13: On the heels of last Saturday’s rash of upsets, the Heisman race has been complete turned upside down. A bad performance in an ugly loss to Baylor knocked Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein from his perch atop the rankings, while an overtime loss to Stanford likely doomed the Heisman hopes of any member of Oregon’s high-powered offense. Obviously, the reshuffled rankings have benefited a few of the contenders immensely, but it has also opened the door for some new players. With that in mind, here is a look at the top Heisman Trophy contenders heading into the final week of the regular season.
2012 Heisman Trophy Power Rankings: Top 5 Contenders Week 13
1. Johnny Manziel, Quarterback, Texas A&M Aggies
A freshman has never won the Heisman Trophy, but the seas of parted for Manziel following the losses by Kansas State and Oregon. He is on pace to throw for more than 3,000 yards, and he has already topped 1,000 yards on the ground. He already has 33 totla touchdowns under his belt, as well, with one game left to play. Yes, the Aggies have two losses in their own right, but as Robert Griffin III showed last year, a few losses are just fine as long as you play for a program that isn’t a traditional power. There really isn’t another player out there right now that has the numbers, signature win and media hype on their side the way Manziel does.
2. Braxton Miller, Quarterback, Ohio State Buckeyes
Sadly, Miller would likely be the frontrunner for the award if the Buckeyes weren’t ineligible for the postseason. Still, the dual-threat weapon’s chances are gaining steam now that Ohio State has a realistic shot at winning the AP national title. Miller also helped his cause by taking the Buckeyes into Madison and knocking off Wisconsin. If he has a monster game in the regular season finale against Michigan to seal an undefeated season, Miller could add the signature moment he needs to sway voters to his side.
3. Collin Klein, Quarterback, Kansas State Wildcats
It would be unfair to completely write off Klein after Kansas State’s loss to Baylor. After all, he is still the main reason why a program that had fallen off the map has won double-digit games in back-to-back years and is a win away from a Big 12 title and a BCS bowl appearance. However, he probably would have been better off had the Wildcats never been in position to play for the national title. Now, voters can’t help but remember his three-interception performance in a loss to the Bears just weeks before the season comes to an end.
4. Aaron Murray, Quarterback, Georgia Bulldogs
Murray has been rock solid for most of the year, throwing for more than 2,600 yards while completing almost 66 percent of his passes. He has 24 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions, and he currently ranks in the top three in the country in both quarterback rating and yards per pass attempt. More important than his numbers is the Bulldogs’ remaining schedule. Barring any more upsets in the final week of the regular season, Georgia will face Alabama in the SEC title game with a spot in the BCS title on the line. If Murray has a big game on that stage, he could rocket up the rankings.
5. E.J. Manuel, Quarterback, Florida State
Manuel has been flying under the radar since the Seminoles suffered a one-point loss on the road early in the year and fell out of the national title conversation. However, FSU has been perfect since the loss, and Manuel ranks in the top 10 in the country in completion percentage, quarterback rating and yards per attempt. He also has two big games remaining on the schedule to make his case. The Seminoles close the year against a Florida team ranked in the top five and follow it up with the ACC title game. A pair of noteworthy performances from Manuel in both games could jumpstart a push for the Heisman.
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