Heisman Watch 2011: Projecting Top Candidates

We're headed into the home stretch of the college football season, and the Heisman is still up for grabs. The opportunities to make a statement are dwindling, and it's hard to recall a time when so there were so many contenders this late in the season.

With late losses sustained by Andrew Luck, Kellen Moore and Brandon Weeden, the race has been blown wide open. Nobody is running away with the trophy, and the finalists are anything but set in stone.

Let's take a look at who the top candidates are in the Heisman race.

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

By the Numbers

1,380 rushing yards, 5.8 YPC, 22 total touchdowns

What Richardson Has To Do To Win the Heisman

Even though Auburn is barely clinging to the Top 25, the Iron Bowl is a huge opportunity for Richardson to put his full talents on display. Auburn's defense just allowed Samford's Jeremiaha Gates to rush for 119 yards on top of his 70 yards receiving out of the backfield.

Richardson needs to massacre the Tigers and produce a ridiculous statistical performance that really leaves voters astonished. They've given him over 30 carries in each of his last two games, and it's clear that Nick Saban is trying to bring another Heisman to the university.

Biggest Competition

LaMichael James. James has comparable numbers, and he dislocated his elbow. Richardson is the best player on a team who will likely be competing in the national championship, but James' absurd stretch of three games with over 200 yards on the ground was unforgettable.

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

By the Numbers

2,937 yards, 70.3 percent completion rate, 31 touchdowns, eight interceptions

What Luck Has To Do To Win the Heisman

Luck has the jaw-dropping numbers, but some voters are going be wary of voting for him because his production drops off when the lights are the brightest.

His dud of a performance against Oregon won't be forgotten if he is able to crush Notre Dame, but Luck has only had three opportunities to face ranked opponents this season and has only put one away in regulation.

Not only does he have to beat the Irish handily—he's got to destroy them.

Biggest Competition

Case Keenum. There are going to be some voters who are going to vote for Keenum because of his historic numbers. Luck's numbers are great, but Keenum's numbers are blowing his out of the water. Keenum is the reason why Houston is ranked No. 8.

Keenum is going to steal away Luck's votes, and the reasons for voting for Luck instead of Keenum seem to make less sense every week.

Case Keenum, QB, Houston

By the Numbers

4,269 yards, 73.4 percent completion rate, 38 touchdowns, three interceptions 

What Keenum Has To Do To Win the Heisman

Keenum is the driving force behind the No. 1 passing offense and scoring offense. He has Houston in the Top 10, and with a Houston win and a few upset losses, the Cougars could end the season in the Top Five.

They are undefeated thus far, and Keenum is going to force some voters to put his name down. As long as all of the aforementioned factors hold true after a tough game against Tulsa, Keenum has a shot. He's the wild card amongst the candidates, but he has been flawless this season, and it's easy to make his case for the award.

Biggest Competition

Trent Richardson. Many would say Andrew Luck, but think about why voters who have reservations are reluctant to crown Keenum a Heisman.

He's coming out of Conference USA. He's battling inferior competition. He's a system quarterback. Those who feel strongly about these factors are likely to fall in love with Richardson, an SEC back who takes on the best in the nation on a weekly basis and still shines, rather than Luck, who rarely sees a top-notch opponent and has faltered when he has.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

By the Numbers

3,572 yards, 72.9 percent completion rate, 33 total touchdowns, five interceptions

What Griffin Has To Do To Win the Heisman

Griffin was on the outskirts of the Heisman radar before last week. Baylor fell off the map, and the hype around RGIII had died out.

After beating Landry Jones and Oklahoma and amassing 479 yards and four touchdowns in the process, all of that changed.

In his upcoming games against Texas Tech and Texas, he's got to bring more of the same. He's got his signature performance in the bag. A strong finish will force voters to take notice once more.

Biggest Competition

Andrew Luck. It's RGIII's losses that are going to hurt him in the voting. While Luck doesn't have an unblemished record, he has comparable numbers and only lost to Oregon.

Voters who are deterred by Griffin's losses will be enticed by Luck's winning ways.

LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

By the Numbers

1,285 yards, 7.4 YPC, 14 total touchdowns

What James Has To Do To Win the Heisman

James missed time due to a dislocated elbow, but he's still less than 100 yards behind Richardson. It's a long shot, but if he could pass Richardson in yardage despite missing time this season, it would look overly impressive to voters.

He accrued over 200 yards in three straight games, and an Oregon State defense that allows just under 30 PPG will open the door for him to do so. Another epic performance like the 288-yard game he produced against Arizona would do wonders for his campaign.

Biggest Competition

Trent Richardson. Richardson is an SEC back with better numbers and will likely be playing for a national championship. James got hurt, but why would it make sense for Richardson to be punished as a result?

Some voters will be more impressed by Richardson's consistency than James' ridiculous stretch of games.

Matt Barkley, QB, USC

By the Numbers

3,105 yards, 67.6 percent completion rate, 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions

What Barkley Has To Do To Win the Heisman

USC isn't receiving a lot of attention because of its ineligibility, but Barkley has forced himself into the Heisman discussion.

He came up huge for USC in its win against Oregon, and most of those who saw the Stanford game would argue that he outplayed Luck, even though Stanford won in triple overtime.

Barkley isn't going to gain another signature performance against UCLA this week, but the Bruins are the second-best team in the Pac-12 South, and dismantling them would prove that USC and Barkley aren't receiving nearly enough attention.

Biggest Competition

Andrew Luck. Luck beat Barkley when they went toe to toe. Barkley has more impressive numbers and bigger wins, but Stanford found a way to come away with a victory in the game, and USC didn't. It's a coin toss between Barkley and Luck at this point, and that is the deciding factor.

Be sure to check back for updates on the Heisman race.