Wisconsin's Russell Wilson and College Football's Top 5 Quarterbacks

Hello, Heisman Race.

There were two newcomers to the Big Ten in Madiscon, Wisc. on Saturday night. One got beaten up, and the other did most of the beating.

The Badgers welcomed Nebraska into the conference in punishing fashion, drumming the Huskers 48-17 as Wisconsin moved to 5-0 on the season and positioned itself firmly in the BCS National Championship picture.

Thank Russell Wilson for Wisconsin's hot stock.

Wilson put up his worst game of the season, statistically, passing for a measly 255 yards and two scores on 70% passing, adding 32 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

The former NC State signal caller is slowly piecing together a Heisman-worthy season, and backed by a nasty Badgers defense, the prospects for the postseason are excellent.

Wilson is already en route to a career campaign. With 1391 passing yards—a career high in average yards per pass attempt—13 TDs and one INT on 83 of 111 attempts (74.8%), the senior is on track to break personal records in completion percentage, touchdown passes, interceptions and quarterback rating.

The Richmond, Va. native is putting incredible pressure on other Heisman hopefuls. Wilson has the luxury of the second-best scoring defense in the FBS, so one or two slip-ups from the other Heisman candidates could catapult Wilson into the front of the pack.

In a quarterback-heavy Heisman year, every game will have implications for college football's most prestigious individual award.

Wilson has at least one foot in the conversation for top quarterback and playmaker. Here are five others to monitor.

Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck gave up being the first selection in the 2010 NFL Draft in order to finish his degree at Stanford and compete for championships at the conference and national levels.

The senior has picked up right where he left off in 2010, passing efficiently and effectively, all the while winning football games.

He hasn't jumped off the page from strictly a statistical point of view, but he reeks of NFL potential, perhaps more so than any other college quarterback.

Luck has led the Cardinal to a 4-0 mark, 2-0 in conference, while leading his team to great offensive production, including a top 10 scoring unit.

On the season, the native Texan has completed 80-of-112 passing for 1013 yards, 11 touchdowns and just one interception.

Luck began the season as a top Heisman candidate, and while he has yet to disappoint, others have leapfrogged him with more explosive statistics. Nevertheless, he will remain at the top of the list of NFL-ready signal callers. 

Kellen Moore

Like Luck, Kellen Moore returned to school for his senior season to leave his mark on the sport.

The Boise State quarterback more likely than not will be the winningest signal caller in the history of college football by season's end. For that reason alone, he is in the conversation as a top quarterback this season.

To further his argument, he continues to put up big numbers even without the two sure-handed receivers in Titus Young and Austin Pettis he has had over the past few seasons.

Ranked fifth in completion percentage, Moore has put up 1137 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions on the season.

He looked quite pedestrian in Boise's 30-10 win over Nevada, but there is no questioning his ability to win football games.

Robert Griffin III

If any quarterback has hotter stock than Baylor's Robert Griffin III, that is news to everyone.

The dual-threat signal caller has battled injuries throughout his college career, but his playmaking ability has never been in question. The Big 12 knew of his explosiveness years ago.

Now the whole country knows.

Tops in the FBS in quarterback rating, completion percentage and touchdown passes, Griffin has put his team on his shoulders. With a dreadful defense that bleeds points from the ears, the stats explosion should be looked on with even more praise and applause.

With 1308 yards, 18 touchdowns and one interception—which he threw decisively in the Bears' 36-35 loss—Griffin has taken the college football landscape by surprise.

If he can maintain his form throughout the season, which includes the Big 12 gauntlet, a postseason award won't be far off.

Case Keenum

Welcome back to the spotlight, Case Keenum.

After missing the majority of the 2010 season with an ACL injury, Keenum has returned to his regular form in 2011.

With the pass-heavy Cougars offense at Houston, Keenum has compiled 2005 yards passing to lead the FBS. Tuck that into 14 touchdowns and two interceptions and the Abilene, Texas product is well on his way to another fantastic season.

While he probably won't match his monstrous 2009 numbers, his efficiency as a passer has definitely increased.

Armed with explosive weapons in Patrick Edwards and Tyron Carrier, Keenum has the arsenal to compete with the top quarterbacks in the country on any given night.

Nick Foles

If you were expecting to see Brandon Weeden, look no further.

Arizona's Nick Foles is on his way to a career season with the Wildcats.

Second only to Case Keenum in yards with 1872, Foles runs the heaviest passing offense in the FBS. His 170 completions is 28 more than Weeden's, and Foles has also thrown at least 23 more attempts than any quarterback in Division I.

Foles' completion percentage, touchdowns, passing yards and quarterback rating have all increased, this coming after the brunt of Pac-12 play.

The senior, running the nation's third best passing offense, is piecing together a respectable campaign.