Heisman Watch 2011: Who Realistically Still Has a Shot to Win?

The Heisman Trophy is the most prestigious award in college football. The trophy winners are among the most elite players. Win it, and your life will change forever.

Before every season, everybody throws out several players who have a chance at winning the award. Some are favorites; others are dark horses who, if they are able to play to their potential, have an outside shot of winning the trophy.

The reality is that there are many talented college football players, but only a handful have a chance of winning the Heisman.

Here are the few players that realistically still have a shot to win the prestigious award. 

Stanford QB Andrew Luck

Of course Andrew Luck still has a great chance of winning the award because he has the most popular name and has fantastic stats to go with it. He's thrown for 2,680 yards and 29 touchdowns and is a huge reason for the Cardinal success.

Many would still consider him the favorite for the award, even after the loss to the Oregon Ducks. The only thing that may hurt Luck in the campaign is the fact that he won't be playing in the Pac-12 Championship and doesn't really have a big game left on the schedule to impress voters one last time.

Regardless, he still has a chance to win the award.

Alabama RB Trent Richardson

How do you deny a running back who has 1,205 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns? If it wasn't for Richardson the Crimson Tide may have more than one loss because he is the majority of this teams offense. He is also the reason Alabama had a chance to attempt so many field goals in the loss to LSU. So even in the loss, he gave his team a chance to win the game.

He is the best running back in the country without question, and still has a big game left against Auburn. If he can continue to run wild and have a big game in the Iron Bowl, he may become the second Heisman winner in three years from Alabama.

Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden

Brandon Weeden has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks all year and has slowly began to get some Heisman love. He's thrown for 3,635 yards and 31 touchdowns in one of the most prolific offenses in the country.

Weeden actually has the advantage in the Heisman voting because his team is undefeated and competing for a National Championship. But also, they finish the regular season with a game against the highly ranked Oklahoma Sooners. If Weeden can lead his team to victory, he'll have his Heisman moment that will be fresh in the voters minds.

He may be an afterthought to many, but Weeden actually has a great shot at winning this award if he continues the pace that he's on.

Everybody Else

I really think it's a three man race right now and everybody else may have a case, but won't end up winning the award.

Kellen Moore would have had to have a perfect season for him to win the award because of his weak schedule, and they lost to TCU. His chances are now over because of the loss. He may have great numbers, but those no longer matter. He had a great college career, but he won't win the Heisman.

Case Keenum has had a fantastic career and is continuing that with a great season at Houston. He is leading the Cougars to an undefeated season and probably a BCS Bowl now that Boise State lost. The problem is his weak schedule as well. Hard to give the award to somebody who plays teams like Rice and Marshall. He'll get an invite, but won't win.

LaMichael James is back in the hunt since the Ducks upset Stanford, but I don't see him winning the award either. He has great numbers with 1,207 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, but those two games he missed really hurt him. He could climb the latter if he goes off against USC and in the Pac-12 Championship, but if any running back wins the Heisman this year, it'll be Trent Richardson.