Heisman Hopefuls Ranked: Who Is the Best College Football Player in 2010?

Two players on this list had a bye week, two suffered a loss and two had a positive impact. With that being said, there is a new front-runner on this list, and a long-shot has stepped up and become relevant again, at least in this non-voter's eyes. The season is now in full swing, and anybody on this list has an opportunity to step up and claim the award. Here's how they're ranked as of today:

6. Andrew Luck

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PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 09: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal is surrounded by teammates and fans after they beat the USC Trojans 37-35 at Stanford Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Stanford was on a bye this week, and so the future No.1 draft pick didn't move anywhere on this list. Luck is a star in the making, but as we learned last year, despite being the best offensive player in the country, Toby Gerhardt got no love from the voters. Andrew Luck doesn't have anywhere near the stats that Gerhardt had, and there are too many people for him to jump over.

If Stanford wins out and Andrew Luck continues to play at a high level, he still has a shot to be invited to New York. I don't see him really having a chance to win the award though.  

5. LaMichael James

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EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 18: Running back LaMichael James #21of the Oregon Ducks heads to the end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Portland State Vikings at Autzen Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won

Oregon stepped up to No. 1 in the polls despite sitting at home this week. LaMichael James is now the showcase player on the top team in the nation. I don't think James has done enough to warrant a nod as the best player in the country, but my (non) vote doesn't matter. If Oregon keeps on winning, and James remains the best player on the offense, then his stock will soar. 

There is a tough road ahead in the Pac-10 and I see Oregon losing at least once, and don't think for a minute that the guys in SoCal, Arizona, Berkley and Corvallis aren't gearing up to shut down James and the high-flying Ducks offense. If he can rise above them all, then he'll convince me that I've been wrong. But, I still think I'm right. 

4. Terrelle Pryor

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MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 16: Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rushes against Kevin Claxton #37 of the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin defeated Ohio State 31-18. (Photo by Jonathan Da

Ohio State played a tough game in Wisconsin on Saturday and came out with a loss. While Pryor is not entirely to blame for the defeat, he is "the man" on the Buckeyes, and he didn't perform well enough to win. He is a very special player with an amazing set of skills. But, as I predicted earlier in the year, I just didn't see him having enough in him to carry Ohio State on his shoulder, and Saturday in Madison proved that I was right. 

Terrelle still has a chance to win the award, but Ohio State needs to win out and Pryor needs to put up insane stats from here on out. If not, the season will be a disappointment for both him and the Buckeyes. 

3. Kellen Moore

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos points in the first half against the TCU Horned Frogs during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 4, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Phot

The signal caller for the best team in the country-–according to the BCS rankings–is playing lights out. Kellen Moore is not blowing people away with his statistics unless you look at his passer rating, which is an insane 190.35. He has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes, and has thrown one interception to 16 touchdowns.

If you want to talk about efficiency, check out this line from their game on Saturday: 14-of-16 for 231 yards and two touchdowns. The Heisman usually goes to the best player on the best team. If that theory holds up this year, then who better deserves it then Kellen Moore?

2. Denard Robinson

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ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 09: Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines drops back to pass during the game against the Michigan State Spartans on October 9, 2010 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Mich

Denard Robinson had the hottest start to the season, by far, but him and his Wolverines have cooled off some, suffering loses the past two weeks. Robinson left the game early once again, and will need to recover in a big way if he wants to hold the trophy in New York later this year.

Lucky for him, he has a bye this week and a chance to get healthy for one of his marquee games—a matchup in Happy Valley. If Robinson recovers and leads his team to victory, then he has a good chance to climb back up the Heisman ladder. But he is slipping, and part of his destiny lies in the hands of the man ahead of him. 

1. Cameron Newton

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AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers throws a pass during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

The biggest surprise of the year so far has to be the Auburn Tigers, who now control their own destiny. The Tigers have a pretty solid team and the best player is definitely Cameron Newton. The big man behind center is running the offense, slinging the ball and scoring loads of touchdowns.

Newton led his team to a big win and tons of points on Saturday as they held off the pesky Razorbacks in a shootout. Newton only threw for 140 yards, but he ran for over 180 and added four touchdowns to his season total, which takes him to 25 on the year. The Tigers face LSU this week, and if he can come out with a win and some good stats, look for him to solidify his place as the new favorite to win the award.