Heisman Trophy Watch: The 5 Frontrunners After Week 9

The Heisman Trophy race is starting to heat up and let it be known that if you play on a national championship contender, your chances to win the Heisman increase significantly. 

I will do my best Joe Tessitore analysis by giving you the current Top Five for the coveted trophy. 

Stanford QB Andrew Luck

Luck put together one fine effort in his team's come-from-behind victory over Southern California in triple overtime. 

For the game, the surefire top pick threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns, though his lone interception was taken back to the house. Still, he found a way to reach the end zone on the ground, rushing for 36 yards.

Being the best player in America is obviously helpful in trying to win the Heisman, but the leader that Luck has become is nothing short of amazing. This Cardinal team is fairly talented, but it is their signal caller that leads them to every victory. Until his team loses a game, nobody stands a legitimate chance of hoisting the trophy.

Alabama RB Trent Richardson

Richardson has the biggest opportunity of the season to impress Heisman voters and fans everywhere. If there was ever a time for someone to pass Luck, the Alabama-LSU game would be that time.

The "Game of the Century" can also shut the door on his Heisman hopes because Richardson is going up against the mighty Bayou Bengals defense.

Alabama needs to win, of course, and the "freak" needs to be a big reason why. This should be a defensive battle where Richardson could get 25-30 touches and if he reaches pay dirt a few times, he could be right there in New York to lift the trophy.

Boise State QB Kellen Moore

Moore should be in the running all season due to his ability to win games. He needs only one more victory to pass Colt McCoy for all-time wins in FBS history (45). 

The Broncos will be favored in all of their games and I would bank on Moore leading them to an undefeated record. He averages 285 yards of total offense per game and his 24 TDs rank in the Top Five across the nation. 

Plus, his Broncos are in the race for a place in the national title game, which could end up deciding his Heisman fate.

Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden

While one could throw in Landry Jones into the conversation due to his masterful performance, throwing for 505 yards and five touchdowns, against Kansas State, his Sooners already have a loss.

Weeden leads the most potent offense in America and they are the leading contender to play the winner of the Alabama-LSU game in the national championship. There is a chance that Weeden could pass Moore and get closer to the top of the Heisman list.

However, some of his votes could be taken away by his All-American teammate Justin Blackmon, who is a stud receiver and a Heisman candidate in his own right, albeit outside the Top Five.

Houston QB Case Keenum

Keenum has all of a sudden jumped into the Heisman race, with Russell Wilson, Sammy Watkins, Tajh Boyd and Robert Griffin III all having lost over the weekend.

Griffin III is coming off a two interception game, on top of his team getting smoked by Oklahoma State. Plus, Clemson just lost a shocker to Georgia Tech so they dropped quite a bit, and don't forget the Badgers have now lost their second consecutive Big Ten game.

Case Keenum is breaking records left and right at the moment and he leads the nation with his 32 passing touchdowns. The Cougars are getting closer to the Top 10 and if they continue to run the table, there would be a great chance Keenum is on his way to New York.