Heisman Watch 2011: What's in Store for the Front-Runners in Week 11

The LSU vs. Alabama game might have been vital in deciding the BCS Championship, but there are still plenty of games left on the schedule that will help decide the Heisman Trophy.

As a change of pace, Saturday did not include any major upsets. Besides the two Top-10 SEC battles, the highest ranked team to lose was No. 10 Nebraska.

The only true contender for the Heisman to lose last weekend was Trent Richardson of Alabama, and there is no shame in losing to the No. 1 team in the country.

There is less than a month left in the regular season, so players only have a few more chances to prove they are worthy of college football's most prestigious award.

Week 11 should allow some of these athletes to truly shine.

7. Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State)

Last Week: Win vs. Kansas State; 13 rec, 205 yards, 2 TDs

This Week: At Texas Tech

This is the time of year when the list of contenders starts to get smaller, not bigger.

However, Justin Blackmon cannot be left out after his performance in the past two weeks.

Oklahoma State is now the second-ranked team in the BCS standings, and Blackmon has a lot to do with that.

In the past two games, the receiver has 26 catches for 377 yards and four touchdowns. He is on pace to have very similar receiving yards and touchdowns to Larry Fitzgerald in 2003 when he finished second in the Heisman voting, although Blackmon could finish with 40 more receptions. 

This week the Cowboys face Texas Tech, who has a porous enough defense to allow for another great game.

The downside is that it will be hard to pass his own teammate Brandon Weeden in his search for a Heisman Trophy. He certainly cannot hope for Weeden's team to lose.

6. Landry Jones (Oklahoma)

Last Week: Win vs. Texas A&M; 18-of-38, 255 yards, 2 TDs

This Week: BYE

Next Game: Nov. 19 at No. 25 Baylor

Landry Jones did not have a good game last week against Texas A&M. For the first time all season, the quarterback failed to complete more than 50 percent of his passes.

The junior currently finds himself on the outside looking in for the Heisman race, but he still has plenty of chances to get back in the hunt.

After a week off, Oklahoma travels to Baylor to take on a team without a good defense, but will still present a challenge. The Sooners end the regular season with a trip to Oklahoma State.

If Jones can help his team win the rest of its games, Jones will be hard to ignore when it is time to vote.

5. Case Keenum (Houston)

Last Week: Win at UAB; 39-of-45, 407 yards, 2 TDs

This Week: Nov. 10 at Tulane

Case Keenum only threw two touchdown passes on Saturday, but completed a ridiculous 88.6 percent of his passes.

The senior realistically has little chance at actually bringing home the Heisman Trophy, but he has been a treat to watch this season. In the past two weeks he has broken the FBS career record for touchdown passes and passing yards, and he does not look like he is slowing down any time soon.

Houston will play a prime-time game again this Thursday, so Keenum will get another chance to showcase his talent as he did two weeks ago in his nine-touchdown performance against Rice.

The Cougars will not face a real threat until the Conference-USA Championship Game against Southern Miss. If he can keep up his great numbers while remaining undefeated, Keenum should get an invitation to New York City for the award presentation.

4. Kellen Moore (Boise State)

Last Week: Win at UNLV; 18-of-31, 219 yards, 5 TDs

This Week: vs. TCU

Kellen Moore had another great game last week, throwing five touchdowns and completing a pass to 10 different receivers.

Unfortunately the Heisman voters are much like the poll voters—they are unimpressed by beating up on bad teams.

This week will provide the best and possibly last chance at a challenge for Boise State and its run at an undefeated season. TCU is not as good as it has been the past few years, but head coach Gary Patterson still knows how to run a quality defense.

Moore will have to root for teams around him to fall to improve his team's chance at a BCS National Championship and his personal chances for a Heisman Trophy.

3. Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State)

Last Week: Win vs. Kansas State; 36-of-46, 502 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs

This Week: At Texas Tech

Other people are not that high on Brandon Weeden yet, but he keeps impressing while his team keeps winning. 

Oklahoma State has moved all the way up to No. 2 in the BCS standings, and it is not by accident. The team has the second-ranked scoring offense behind 387.6 passing yards per game.

Last week, Kansas State gave the Cowboys all they could handle, but Weeden continued to fire away and helped his team escape the shootout. 

As much as Oklahoma State has done this year, there is still plenty to prove. The team will face two soft defenses in Texas Tech and Iowa State before hosting Oklahoma in the regular-season finale. 

Weeden will need to keep his team undefeated to remain the running for the Heisman Trophy, but the quarterback deserves plenty of recognition for what he has done so far this season.

2. Trent Richardson (Alabama)

Last Week: Loss vs. LSU; 23 carries, 89 rushing yards, 5 rec, 80 receiving yards

This Week: At Mississippi State

Anyone who watched Saturday's battle against LSU (and the way it was hyped up, that should be everyone) should be able to look past the statistics and see a very talented football player in Trent Richardson.

The Alabama offense was mostly held in check by the impressive LSU defense, but Richardson was able to break free a few times for big gains. He also proved to be very hard to bring down at times, even with multiple players attempting to tackle him.

Since the Crimson Tide lost the game and Richardson failed to get into the end zone, many believe that should hurt the running back's chances at a Heisman Trophy. On the other hand, he did have 169 yards from scrimmage and was really the only threat his team had all game.

Richardson is not out of the race, but will need to get back to putting up solid numbers. Mississippi State has a tough defense, but if the junior can break out a few big runs he will remain right behind Andrew Luck as the season comes to a close.

1. Andrew Luck (Stanford)

Last Week: Win at Oregon State; 20-of-30, 206 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

This Week: vs. No. 7 Oregon

Andrew Luck struggled in his team's most recent game against Oregon State, throwing his fourth interception in five games.

The redshirt junior was able to throw three touchdowns, but it seems Luck is now held to a higher standard due to his status as an elite NFL prospect.

Stanford had a tough game two weeks ago against USC, but it has not had many wins that have impressed voters this season.

That changes this week when the team hosts No. 7 Oregon in an attempt to avenge the only loss in the past season and a half.

Luck will finally get a chance to earn a marquee win over a very talented team, whose only loss was to top-ranked LSU in Week 1. All eyes will be on the quarterback, which could be either good or bad.

If Stanford can come out victorious, Luck might build an insurmountable lead in the Heisman race. However, if the Cardinal cannot keep up with Oregon, we might be looking at a new leader next week.