2011 Heisman Trophy Leading Quarterbacks After Week 3

The Heisman Trophy almost always goes to a quarterback or running back.

Since 2000, nine quarterbacks have won the award, along with one running back.

With so many top quality QB's in 2011, the odds are that a QB will win it this year.

The winner will likely come from an undefeated or a one-loss team.

So, after only three games, the front-runners are on one of the 33 undefeated teams.

So who are the top five quarterbacks after three games?

No. 1: Robert Griffin III, Junior, Baylor

Robert Griffin III has a 8-0 TD/INT ratio. That says it all.

His 244.5 quarterback rating is partially derived from his 83.7 percent completion percentage.

He has accumulated 624 passing yards (312 per game).

Baylor has a very tough schedule, ranked the third most difficult in the country.

Baylor's next opponent is Rice, so they will likely better their record to 3-0.

If Baylor can beat seven other undefeated teams: Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Texas, as well as a few others, Robert Griffin III will win the Heisman Trophy.

No. 2: Seth Doege, Junior, Texas Tech

Seth Doege also has an 8-0 TD/INT ratio that rivals Robert Griffin III's.

His 195.4 quarterback rating is also partly due to his 81.8 percent completion percentage.

He has accumulated 727 passing yards (364 per game).

Texas Tech's schedule is not as tough as Baylor's, ranked 50th in the country.

Tech's next opponent is Nevada, so they will likely better their record to 3-0.

If Texas Tech can beat seven other undefeated teams: Texas A&M, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Iowa State, Texas, Oklahoma State and Baylor, as well as a few others, Seth Doege will win the Heisman Trophy.

No. 3: Tevin Washington, Junior, Georgia Tech

Tevin Washington has a 7-0 TD/INT ratio.

His 334.3 quarterback rating is off the charts and his 60.7 percent completion percentage is very good.

He has accumulated 637 passing yards (212 per game).

Georgia Tech's schedule is not very difficult, ranked 63rd in the country.

Tech's next opponent is North Carolina, who is also 3-0, so one team will be going home 3-1.

If Georgia Tech can beat seven more undefeated teams, North Carolina, Clemson and Virginia Tech, as well as a few other tough teams, Tevin Washington will win the Heisman Trophy.

No. 4: Tajh Boyd, Sophomore, Clemson

Tajh Boyd has an outstanding 10-1 TD/INT ratio.

His 173.8 quarterback rating is superior as is his 67.3 percent completion percentage.

He has accumulated 911 passing yards (304 per game).

Clemson's schedule is very tough, ranked 12th most difficult in the country.

Clemson's next opponent is Florida State, so they could better their record to 4-0.

If Clemson can beat four other undefeated teams: Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and South Carolina, as well as a few others, Tajh Boyd will win the Heisman Trophy.

No. 5: Matt Barkley, Junior, USC

Matt Barkley's outstanding 9-1 TD/INT ratio puts him fifth on this list.

His 157.4 quarterback rating is very good as is his 69 percent completion percentage.

He has accumulated 892 passing yards (297 per game).

USC's Strength of Schedule (SoS) is ranked seventh toughest in the country.

USC's next opponent is Arizona State, so they could better their record to 4-0.

If USC can beat two other undefeated teams: California and Stanford, as well as a few others, Matt Barkley will win the Heisman Trophy.

The 2nd Tier of the Next 7 Best Quarterbacks (6 Through 12)

No. 6: Andrew Luck, Sr., Stanford. 8-1 TD/INT ratio. 173.4 QB rating. 67.1 completion percentage. 786 yards (262 ypg). Stanford has a BYE this week and a relatively easy (SOS at 49th), schedule.

No. 7: Russell Wilson, Sr., Wisconsin. 8-1 TD/INT ratio. 213.4 QB rating. 75.8 completion percentage. 791 yards (264 ypg). Wisconsin strength of schedule is ranked only 71st and they play South Dakota this week.

No. 8: Ryan Lindley Sr., San Diego State. 7-1 TD/INT ratio. 143.1 QB rating. 53.7 completion percentage. 622 yards (207 ypg). San Diego State is at Michigan and their SOS is 84th in the nation.

No. 9: Geno Smith, Jr., West Virginia. 7-1 TD/INT ratio. 159.1 QB rating. 69.5 completion percentage. 1,008 yards (336 ypg). West Virginia has a road block with LSU this week, but SOS is only 74th in the country.

No. 10: Tyler Tettleton So., Ohio. 7-1 TD/INT ratio. 147.6 QB rating. 61.7 completion percentage. Only 577 yards (192 ypg). Ohio is at Rutgers and plays the easiest (120th) schedule in the country.

No. 11: B.J. Daniels Jr., USF. 6-1 TD/INT ratio. 157.8 QB rating. 67.0 completion percentage. 869 yards (290 ypg). USF plays easy UTEP and has an easy schedule (64th in the country).

No. 12: Wesley Carroll Sr., FIU. 3-1 TD/INT ratio. Three TDs isn't much, and it is FIU, but they are 3-0 so must be on this list. 142.5 QB rating. 62.5 completion percentage. 568 yards (189 ypg). FIU hosts a very easy LA Lafayette and has one of the easiest schedules (118th in the nation).

The 3rd Tier of the Next 7 Best Quarterbacks (13 Through 19)

No. 13: Case Keenum Sr., Houston. 9-2 TD/INT ratio. 165.9 QB rating. 66.9 completion percentage. 1,119 yards (373 ypg). Houston hosts Georgia St. this week and a relatively easy (SOS at 114th) schedule.

No. 14: Kellen Moore Sr., Boise St. 8-2 TD/INT ratio. 187.6 QB rating. 78.9 completion percentage. 716 yards (358 ypg). Boise St. has a BYE this week but a tough (SOS at 51st) schedule.

No. 15: Ryan Tannehill Sr., Texas A&M. 4-1 TD/INT ratio. 164.9 QB rating. 72.3 completion percentage. 583 yards (292 ypg). Texas A&M hosts Oklahoma State this week in addition to having a very tough (SOS at 22nd) schedule.

No. 16: Nathan Scheelhaase, Only a sophomore, Illinois. 3-1 TD/INT ratio. 180.9 QB rating. 71.7 completion percentage. 504 yards (168 ypg). Illinois hosts Western Michigan this week and has a medium (SOS at 48th) schedule.

No. 17: Case McCoy, Only a sophomore, Texas. 2-0 TD/INT ratio. 178.0 QB rating. 76.0 completion percentage. 225 yards (75 ypg). Texas has a BYE this week but a tough (SOS at 31st) schedule.

No. 18: Jarrett Lee Sr., LSU. 3-1 TD/INT ratio. 144.4 QB rating. 67.8 completion percentage. 444 yards (148 ypg). LSU should win at West Virginia this week and has a very rough (SOS at fifth) schedule.

No. 19: Zach Maynard Jr., California. 9-3 TD/INT ratio. 140.5 QB rating. 51.6 completion percentage. 724 yards (241 ypg). California plays at Washington this week and has a medium (SOS at 43rd) schedule.

The 4th Tier of the Next 7 Best Quarterbacks (20 Through 26)

No. 20: Tyler Wilson Jr., Arkansas. 5-2 TD/INT ratio. 163.4 QB rating. 68.6 completion percentage. 822 yards (274 ypg). Arkansas plays at Alabama this week and has a fairly tough (SOS at 20th) schedule.

No. 21: Collin Klein Jr., Kansas St. 2-1 TD/INT ratio. 111.7 QB rating. 56.4 completion percentage. 202 yards (101 ypg). Kansas St. is at Miami (FL) this week and has a fairly tough (SOS at 27th) schedule.

No. 22: Brett Smith Freshman, Wyoming. 5-3 TD/INT ratio. 132.6 QB rating. 61.7 completion percentage. 778 yards (259 ypg). Wyoming hosts Nebraska this week but has an easy (SOS at 85th) schedule.

No. 23: Denard Robinson Jr., Michigan. 6-4 TD/INT ratio. 151.6 QB rating. Only a 49.1 completion percentage. 531 yards (177 ypg). Michigan hosts, and may lose to, San Diego State this week and has a very hard (SOS at 85th) schedule.

No. 24: John Brantley Sr., Florida. 3-2 TD/INT ratio. 147.8 QB rating. 65.3 completion percentage. 637 yards (212 ypg). Florida is at Kentucky this week and has a difficult (SOS at 23rd) schedule.

No. 25: Taylor Martinez Only a sophomore. Nebraska. 3-2 TD/INT ratio. 122.0 QB rating. 48.4 completion percentage. 490 yards (163 ypg). Nebraska is at Wyoming this week and has an easy (SOS at 47th) schedule.

No. 26: Larry Smith Sr., Vanderbilt. 3-2 TD/INT ratio. 105.4 QB rating. 53.5 completion percentage. 368 yards (123 ypg). Vanderbilt is at South Carolina this week and has a difficult (SOS at 11th) schedule.

The Bottom Tier of Undefeated Quarterbacks (27 Through 33)

No. 27: Brandon Weeden Sr., Oklahoma St. 8-6 TD/INT ratio. Yes, that is six interceptions. 157.5 QB rating. 72.5 completion percentage. 1,154 yards (385 ypg). Oklahoma St. plays at Texas A&M this week and has a fairly tough (SOS at 18th) schedule.

No. 28: Logan Thomas Only a sophomore, Virginia Tech. 4-3 TD/INT ratio. 124.8 QB rating. 52.8 completion percentage. 532 yards (177 ypg). Virginia Tech plays at Marshall this week and has an easy (SOS at 83rd) schedule.

No. 29: Bryn Renner Only a sophomore, North Carolina. 5-4 TD/INT ratio. 176.7 QB rating. 81.4 completion percentage. 693 yards (231 ypg). North Carolina plays at Georgia Tech this week and has a fairly easy (SOS at 68th) schedule.

No. 30: Landry Jones Jr., Oklahoma. 2-2 TD/INT ratio. 140.3 QB rating. 71.6 completion percentage. 574 yards (287 ypg). Oklahoma plays hosts Missouri this week and has a fairly tough (SOS at 25th) schedule.

No. 31: AJ McCarron Only a sophomore, Alabama. 2-2 TD/INT ratio. 132.3 QB rating. 64.0 completion percentage. 579 yards (193 ypg). Alabama hosts Arkansas this week and has a fairly tough (SOS at 24th) schedule.

No. 32: Steele Jantz Jr., Iowa St. 6-6 TD/INT ratio. Yes, six INTs. 117.7 QB rating. 57.5 completion percentage. 666 yards (222 ypg). Iowa St. has a BYE this week and has an extremely tough (SOS at second in the nation) schedule.

No. 33: Stephen Garcia Sr., South Carolina 2-3 TD/INT ratio. 115.2 QB rating. 55.4 completion percentage. 456 yards (152 ypg). South Carolina hosts Vanderbilt this week and has a medium (SOS at 52nd in the nation) schedule.

There Will Only Be 23 on This List After Saturday

A sure bet is that this list will have at least seven less undefeated teams next week because 14 of these undefeated teams (QBs) are playing each other.

North Carolina plays at Georgia Tech.

LSU plays at West Virginia.

San Diego State is at Michigan.

Oklahoma State is at Texas A&M.

Arkansas is at Alabama.

Nebraska is at Wyoming.

And Vanderbilt is at South Carolina.

There are a few tough matchups for others quarterbacks on this list too:

Florida State is at Clemson; USC is at Arizona State; California is at Washington; Kansas State is at Miami, Fl; Virginia Tech is at Marshall and Missouri is at Oklahoma.

After Week 4, there will probably be only 23 undefeated teams and 23 quarterbacks who will be in a good position to win the Heisman Trophy.