Heisman Trophy Watch: Breaking Down Andrew Luck's Chances

Andrew Luck has helped the Stanford Cardinal to another successful season this year, and the Cardinal quarterback looks to be a favorite to take home the 2011 Heisman Trophy. 

Luck has been a favorite for the 2011 Heisman Trophy since the 2010 college football season ended. 

Analysts and fans alike have been talking up the skill of Andrew Luck in that time.

ESPN's Brock Huard said that Andrew Luck is the first college quarterback he has seen measure up to Peyton Manning since Manning was drafted in 1998. 

Like any trophy, though, Luck is not going to walk away with the 2011 Heisman. There are a number of players that will be fighting him for the prestigious trophy up until its presentation. 

The following slideshow evaluates the resumes of Andrew Luck and his competitors, and delves into what the Stanford quarterback must do in order to take home the 2011 Heisman Trophy. 

Andrew Luck: Stanford's Season

The Stanford Cardinal have arguably been the best team in the Pac-12 this season. Andrew Luck has led the team to a 10-1 record. 

Their final game of the season sees the Cardinal hosting the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame this weekend. 

Stanford's one loss came against the Oregon Ducks, when David Shaw's team was on the wrong end of a 53-30 scoreline. 

It is safe to say that his school would have a much less impressive record had he left for the NFL last year. 

Luck has been the key to a lot of Stanford's success this season. Any player that leads his team to a top-10 BCS spot is going be a Heisman contender, and Andrew Luck is no different. 

Andrew Luck: Last Year

Andrew Luck finished second in 2010's Heisman Voting to Auburn's Cam Newton, and rightfully so.

There was no college football player better than Cam Newton in 2010. The Auburn quarter led his team to a 14-0 season and a BCS title.

But Newton's great play may have overshadowed Luck's season a bit too much. 

As a redshirt Sophomore, Andrew Luck helped head coach Jim Harbaugh lead Stanford to a 12-1 season and a BCS bowl victory. 

Luck was voted the Orange Bowl MVP. Stanford's 40-12 victory over Virginia Tech was helped by the quarterback's four touchdown passes.

By the end of the season Luck had accrued 3,338 passing yards, 453 rushing yards and 32 touchdown passes.

Andrew Luck: This Season

Andrew Luck has been the spotlight player throughout this entire college football season. The Stanford quarterback has been the talk of the sport ever since he publicly decided to stay in school another year.

Luck hasn't disappointed his fans. So far this season he has thrown for 2,937 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

His team is currently ranked sixth in the BCS, and they will be making a bowl appearance for the second year in a row.

Luck's quarterback rating on the season is 167.4, which is the fifth highest in the FBS.

The Cardinal quarterback ranks eighth in completion percentage (70.3 percent), and only five players in the FBS have thrown more touchdowns than Luck.

Competition: Brandon Weeden

Brandon Weeden has been the standout player for the Oklahoma State Cowboys this season. The quarterback has helped his team to a 10-1 start, and set up a probable BCS bowl appearance. 

Weeden ranks second in the FBS for yards thrown with 4,111. His completion percentage of 73 is the fifth best in the nation. He has thrown for 34 touchdowns, the third most in the nation. 

There is no debating that Weeden's numbers are impressive, but along the way the Cowboy quarterback has thrown 12 interceptions, including three in the his team's loss to Iowa State. 

His passer rating of 162.2 is the eighth best in the FBS. 

Competition: Kellen Moore

Boise State has been America's favorite underdog ever since their victory over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

The school captivated the nation in a game that may very well be the most exciting BCS Bowl game ever to be played.  

Fast forward to last season, when quarterback Kellen Moore asserted himself as one of the nation's premier college quarterbacks. 

In 2010 Moore led the nation with a passer rating of 182.6. He completed 71.3 percent of his passes, the third highest completion percentage in the FBS.

He finished the season with 3,845 yards, 35 touchdowns and six interceptions. This season Moore has not been quite as impressive.

The Boise State quarterback has thrown for 35 touchdowns, which ranks second in the FBS. He has only thrown six interceptions, and has a passer rating of 177.

His weakness, however, has been his yardage. Moore has 2,915 yards, which puts him at 21st in the nation.

Competition: Case Keenum

Case Keenum has endured one of the most low-profile seasons that a player of his caliber could have. The Houston quarterback has helped his team stay undefeated throughout their first 11 games. 

Keenum has undoubtedly been the secret to the success of the Cougars this season. Keenum leads the nation in passing yards with 4,269 yards. His 186.9 passer rating ranks third in the nation.

Keenum's 38 touchdown passes are only a national best, and he's managed to do all of this while only throwing three interceptions. 

Keenum's downfall, however, is the strength of schedule that his team plays. The Cougars have not, and will not, play one ranked team all year. 

What's more, is the fact that Houston plays in Conference USA. Although they ran the conference, their conference is so weak that this will severely hurt Keenum's Heisman chances.  

Competition: LaMichael James

LaMichael James has been at the core of the Oregon Ducks' recent success. He helped lead them to the BCS Title game last year. 

Despite injury woes this season, the running back has still helped secure Oregon a probable Pac-12 title along with a Rose Bowl berth. 

James has rushed for 1,285 yards this season, the ninth most in the FBS. He's also pounded in 13 touchdowns, and has done all of this despite missing two games due to injury. 

James was instrumental in the Ducks' defeat of Stanford, and he has been as consistent a player as any team could hope for. 

His absence in two games along with his team's 9-2 record may come back to hurt James once Heisman voting commences. 

Competition: Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson has been a fantastic rusher for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season.

His team is ranked second in the BCS, and barring a stunning upset in Auburn, they will be playing for a BCS title come January.

Richardson has rushed for 1,380 yards this seasons, the fourth most in the FBS. His 20 touchdowns are the fifth most in the nation.

On top of his rushing exploits, Richardson has also proved competent as a passing option. The Bama back has caught 26 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns.

Richardson is probably the player most likely to steal Andrew Luck's thunder and snag the 2011 Heisman trophy. 

Andrew Luck: What Could Derail Him

Andrew Luck has one game left to stake a claim for the 2011 Heisman Trophy. Stanford's last game of the season sees them hosting the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. 

Notre Dame is not a team to be taken lightly. The Fighting Irish have won eight of their last nine games. Their headline win of the season took place in September when they defeated Michigan State 31-13. 

Notre Dame has a formidable defense. Their opponents average a tame 20.3 points per game, which is the 22nd best total in the FBS. 

If the Fighting Irish find a way to limit Andrew Luck in his final game for Stanford, Trent Richardson and other Heisman hopefuls may find themselves on the receiving end of the coveted trophy.

Andrew Luck: What He Has to Do

Andrew Luck does not have to have an amazing game in order to win the 2011 Heisman Trophy, not to say that this will hurt. 

In order to stay a favorite, Luck simply needs to take the field against Notre Dame, and have an Andrew Luck game. 

He needs to make smart decisions, he needs to be effective in his passing, and he needs to help his team win. 

If he could rack up enough yards to get him over 3,000 on the season, which is not asking much at all, it would certainly help his chances. 

But everyone knows what Andrew Luck can do. He's as solid a quarterback as there is in college football. 

As long as Luck has a solid game against the Fighting Irish, he should remain a favorite to take home the 2011 Heisman Trophy.