Heisman Trophy: College Football's MVP Award

While the final standings would indicate a lackluster, surprise-less season for the most part, the Heisman Trophy has been anything but predictable. The top three from last season all returned, so it looked like a three-way race from the season’s start. But, after Sam Bradford got injured early on, the Gators didn’t look as dominating as usual, and Colt McCoy had an up and down season (especially down vs. Nebraska), things have been shaken up since the preseason.

These rankings are based on the idea of how MVP voting is. I don’t necessarily take into consideration record, although that always helps. Instead, I think of how the team would suffer if this player was not there—making him the Most Valuable Player.

10. Case Keenum, QB, Houston

He had a great season and was the first pure-passing numbers guy in long time without any major Heisman consideration. Keenum would have had a shot had he not ended the year with more than one loss.

9. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

If the defense could have replicated the offense’s success, Charlie Weis would be up for coach of the year and not on the cutting board. Clausen proved to NFL draft evaluators (including myself) that he’s an elite talent, but his team's struggles hurt him mightily.

8. Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon

While coach Chip Kelly has a lot to do with the continued success of Oregon’s offense this season, Masoli played well in every big game (after Boise State) and has his team in the Rose Bowl.

7. Kyle Moore, QB, Boise State

He's the most efficient quarterback in college football, and most think he could start on over 100 FBS schools so he’s not a small school wonder. He’s only a sophomore so he’ll have a better shot next year.

6. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

No question the biggest shocker of this board, McCoy put up great numbers at times this year, but usually against one of the weakest Big 12 conference’s in recent history. The best defense he played this year, Nebraska, put him in place.

5. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

While being shunned from the Final Five for voting, Spiller was everything to his team this season. He dominated in the running game as well as being the most electrifying and surprisingly clutch return man in the country.

4. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Ingram single-handedly won a few games for Alabama this year, and set the tempo and tone for every game he played in. Greg McElroy was unable to run the offense without Ingram having success this year, and the Alabama’s offense and BCS hopes lied in Ingram’s successes.

3. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

For the most part, I hate when people give defensive players attention for the Heisman. Guys like Glenn Dorsey in the recent past had undeservedly got attention from reporters and analysts as a Heisman sleeper. Suh deserves everything because he dominated every game, dictated what each opposing offense could do, and stepped up on the huge Big 12 stage.

2. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

Regardless of the fact that Florida lost to Alabama in the SEC title game and BCS semi-final, Tebow is the best college football player OF ALL TIME. Even though he “only” won one Heisman trophy, this will be the third straight Heisman trophy final standing for him.

1. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

He is the most deserving guy of this award in my opinion. While Ingram and Tebow were the main factors in their team’s success all season, Gerhart was most of the time, the ONLY factor in Stanford’s success. In the biggest games of their season (vs. Oregon, USC, and Notre Dame), Gerhart had over 200 yards.