2011 Heisman Race, week 8: Most candidates fall flat

Everyone has a bad week now and then, including the majority of the Heisman Race cohort. Normally the contenders are attempting to out-do each other with stellar performances every week, and a dud is ruinous to your chances. But this week was full of fail for the larger part of our list. Russell Wilson's team lost, LaMichael James was out again with injury, Denard Robinson and Robert Griffin's teams were idle, Oklahoma (Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles) was upset, and Justin Blackmon was injured. Marcus Lattimore is of course out for the season, and Trent Richardson had fewer than 100 yards. That leaves three quarterbacks, and the top two didn't have their best games. Only Case Keenum had an unequivocal good game last weekend.

Andrew Luck had a relatively good outing. He didn't make mistakes and Stanford blew out ranked Washington 65-21. But his team ran the ball most of the time, and he finished with fewer than 200 passing yards. Kellen Moore had to fight off a pesky Air Force team that threatened Boise State at home. In the end, though, these two performances were among the best of the week for our group, and they remain #1 and #2. That's also because our #3 candidate, Russell Wilson, had a bad evening against Michigan State. He threw two interceptions, one on a very ill-advised attempt, and seemingly lost control of the game at times. He did throw two TD passes and run for another. He remains #3 for now but his candidacy is harmed by the loss.

LaMichael James' candidacy is in jeopardy as he misses his 2nd consecutive game for Oregon. Still the leading per-game rusher, he has only 5 or 6 more chances to impress voters and rack up yards. His shot at winning is probably past but he could still get to New York if he returns soon—very soon. Otherwise he'll probably dwindle down to somewhere in the top 10. He falls below idle Denard Robinson this week. Robinson is forgotten but not gone, and his performance over the next few weeks will determine whether he can stay in the top five.

2011 Heisman Race after week 8

1. Andrew Luck, QB-Stanford (7-0)
   145-202 72% 1888yd 20TD 3int; 16rsh 83yd 5.2av 1TD 0fmb; 1rec 13yds 0TD
   Luck only threw 21 passes (169 yards, 2 TDs) as Stanford ran all over the Huskies.
   
2. Kellen Moore, QB-Boise State (7-0)
   174-228 76% 1998yd 24TD 5int; 8rsh -12yd -1.5av 0TD 0fmb
   Moore's numbers are nearly identical to Luck's. He was 26 of 30 last weekend.
3. Russell Wilson, QB-Wisconsin (6-1)
   109-149 73% 1780yd 16TD 3int; 32rsh 212yd 6.6av 3TD 0fmb; 1rec 25yds 1TD
   Wilson threw two interceptions in Wisconsin's loss to Michigan State.
4. ^ Denard Robinson, QB-Michigan (6-1)
   76-141 54% 1253yd 11TD 10int; 120rsh 762yd 6.4av 9TD 0fmb
   Michigan did not play last weekend.
5. v LaMichael James, RB-Oregon (6-1)
   95rsh 852yd 9.0ave 8TD 0fmb; 11rec 159yd 1TD; 137ret yds 1TD
   James was out again, still no word on his exact return date.
6. ^ Case Keenum, QB-Houston (7-0)
   194-266 73% 2685yd 23TD 2int; 26rsh 40yd 1.5av 0TD 1fmb
   Keenum completed 24 of 28 passes for 6 touchdowns against Marshall.
7. v Robert Griffin III, QB-Baylor (4-2)
   142-182 78% 1950yd 22TD 2int; 72rsh 295yd 4.1av 2TD 2fmb; 15 rec yds
   Baylor was idle last weekend.
   
8. Trent Richardson, RB-Alabama (8-0)
   149rsh 989yd 6.6av 17TD 0fmb; 18rec 212yd 1TD; 43ret yds 0TD
   Richardson had 77 yards and 2 touchdowns against Tennessee.
9. Justin Blackmon, WR-Oklahoma State (6-0)
   61rec 662yd 8TD 1fmb; 2rsh 6yds 3.0 ave 0TD
   Blackmon had his lowest yardage total of the year (54) and was injured against Missouri.
   
10. Landry Jones, QB-Oklahoma (6-1)
    201-308 65% 2589yd 21TD 7int; 14rsh 22yd 1.6ave 2TD 0fmb
    Oklahoma's upset loss to Texas Tech hurts Jones despite his 5 TD passes.
11. ^ Ryan Broyles, WR-Oklahoma (6-1)
    67rec 899yd 9TD 1fmb; 161ret yds 0TDs 1fmb
    Broyles had 7 receptions for 84 yards against Texas Tech.
12. v Marcus Lattimore, RB-South Carolina (6-1)
    163rsh 818yd 5.0av 10TD 2fmb; 19rec 182yd 1TD
    Lattimore is out for the season with injury.
13. Tajh Boyd, QB-Clemson (8-0)
    172-278 62% 2379yd 24TD 3int; 81rsh 165yd 2.0av 4TD 0fmb
    Boyd's team is 8-0 after a second 50-point offensive effort in a row.
    

Case Keenum had the best weekend of any candidate on last week's chart certainly. He passed for 6 touchdowns and completed 24 of 28 passes in a Houston win. Their opponent was Marshall, which certainly lessens the accomplishment. But Keenum is starting to ring up the all-time NCAA records, and that's worth something. He passes Robert Griffin III, whose team was idle. Griffin could still make a push for the top five but Baylor has two losses and more could be on the way in the tough Big Twelve.

Trent Richardson had just 77 yards against Tennessee, not exactly a Heisman-like stat. For the year, though, he's passed just shy of 1,000 yards, and with Alabama undefeated he will almost certainly make the top 5 in the coming weeks. That is, unless they lose to LSU. If Alabama can't claim to be the best team—with Richardson as best player on the best team—then Richardson's numbers look less impressive. To win the Heisman without being on the best team you should have at least 150 yards per game, and Richardson is well short of that.

Justin Blackmon's candidacy falters further with a 54-yard effort against Missouri. He remains #9 only because #10 Landry Jones doesn't deserve to rise after Oklahoma's loss to Texas Tech. Teammate Ryan Broyles moves up as Marcus Lattimore falls to #12. And finally joining this week is Tajh Boyd, who threw for 5 touchdowns and rushed for another in Clemson's 59-38 win over North Carolina. Any loss by Clemson effectively ends his chances but it hasn't happened yet.