Heisman Case: Houston QB Case Keenum Deserves Preseason Hype

Take a look at these stats from three seasons of work: 12,950 passing yards (including two straight seasons of 5,000 passing yards or more), 102 passing touchdowns, and 20 rushing touchdowns.

If you were shown those numbers you would think this particular player would have every right to jump to the next level of his playing career in the NFL.

But Houston quarterback Case Keenum decided he didn't want to leave the college game the way the 2009 season ended. He didn't want to go out losing the final two games of the season.

If the pass was Keenum's sword, he's both lived by it and died by it.

After losing 38-32 to East Carolina in the conference championship game, a game that saw Keenum throw for 527 yards and five touchdowns, he was picked off six times in a 47-20 loss to Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Keenum couldn't go out like that. He couldn't end his college career on that kind of performance. He wanted redemption and to go out the way all athletes want to go out: on top.

While a national championship seems unlikely for the Houston Cougars, playing in a BCS bowl may not be so far-fetched. But it won't come without its share of challenges.

In 2009, Houston's third-year quarterback would pass for a combined 801 yards and four touchdowns en route to knocking off then fifth ranked Oklahoma State, 45-35, and Texas Tech, 29-28, in consecutive weeks.

The Cougars would finish the season unbeaten at home (6-0). Their only two losses during the regular season were to UTEP, 58-41, and Central Florida, 37-32, two teams that Houston will play at home this season.

In 2010, Keenum and the Cougars will face two non-conference opponents they faced, and defeated, in 2009.

Texas Tech and Houston will face each other again; this time it will be on the very last day of the regular season. Make no mistake, the Red Raiders will be looking for pay back, especially since they're playing on their home field.

Houston will also face a Mississippi State team they defeated 31-24 in 2009, behind 434 passing yards and four touchdowns from Keenum.

Houston will not only face the aforementioned teams, but also face Texas State and UCLA.

If they can win three of those four games and finish with a perfect record in conference play, the Cougars could very well land themselves in the hunt for a BCS bowl.

What they'll need is a consistent season from their senior quarterback. He'll need to be the leader that he's been over the past two seasons.

Keenum needs to cut down on his interceptions. He averaged one interception for every 47 pass attempts last year, up from his one interception for every 54 pass attempts in 2008.

There's no question that Keenum deserves the Heisman talk he'll receive leading up to the 2010 season, or the hype he is already receiving.

He will have a future in the NFL, perhaps a bright future. But, for now, Keenum has one more shot at leading the Houston Cougars higher than they've ever been before: A conference championship, a BCS bowl and maybe, just maybe, an invitation to New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation.