Heisman Watch Final

I can't remember a year when I had less of an opinion on who should win the Heisman (other than not Matt Ryan).

The final Heisman Pundit poll gives it to Tim Tebow, barely over Darren McFadden. At ESPN, the poll also goes to Tebow, although Ivan Maisel gives it to Dennis Dixon. Tebow also leads at USA Today and the New York Times.

It looks like Tebow will win, and it's hard for me to argue against a guy who accounted for 51 touchdowns in 12 games. That was on a schedule that featured 8 bowl teams, and another, in Troy, that could've been.

But people say it's wide open for a reason.

Here's a look at the other contenders.
Quarterbacks:
• Sam Bradford, Fr., Oklahoma
For: Nation's leader in pass efficiency, we saw what OU looked like without him
Against: 8-19, 2 picks in loss to Colorado
• Tim Tebow, Soph., Florida
For: 51 TDs, more than 3,000 passing, 750 rushing
Against: three-loss team; what was his defining win? South Carolina? Tennessee in Sept.?
• Colt Brennan, Sr., Florida
For: Gaudy numbers, nearly 4,200 passing with 38 TDs, led game-winning drives
Against: Those game-winning drives were against SJSU, Washington
• Dennis Dixon, Sr., Oregon
For: Led nation's best offense until he blew out his knee against Arizona, 161.2 passer rating
Against: Missed last three games as Ducks slid from BCS to Sun Bowl
• Patrick White, Sr.,West Virginia
For: One of the nation's best dual threats; led explosive offense
Against: Is he Dennis Dixon with worse numbers against worst competition?; loss to Pitt

Next Tier: Todd Reesing, Chase Daniels, Cullen Harper, Graham Harrell, Andre Woodson

Running Backs:
• Kevin Smith, Jr., Central Florida
For: Could set NCAA rushing record, with exception of SF game, came up big when needed
Against: Plays in Conference USA
• Darren McFadden, Jr., Arkansas
For: Does everything well, #4 in rushing
Against: May not be best running back on team; Ark. lost four games
• Rashard Mendenhall, Jr., Illinois
For: Led Illini to Rose Bowl with 6.2 ypc
Against: Juice Williams considered hero of Ohio State game
• Chris Wells, Soph., Ohio State
For: Made more clutch runs when needed than anyone I saw
Against: Only finished 12th in rushing
• Felix Jones, Jr., Arkansas
For: Averaged 9.1 ypc, one of top kick returners in the nation
Against: Probably not best running back on team; Ark. lost four games

Next Tier: Matt Forte, Ray Rice, Mike Hart, Jonathan Stewart, Jamaal Charles, Javon Ringer, Knowshon Moreno, Ian Johnson, C.J. Spiller

Best at other positions: WR: Jordy Nelson, Michael Crabtree, Ryan Grice-Mullen, Mario Manningham, DeSean Jackson; TE: Travis Beckum, DL: George Selvie, Chris Long, Shawn Crable, Nick Reed, Maurice Evans, Eric Norwood, Jonal Saint-Dic; LB: Scott McKillop, Jordan Dizon, Erin Henderson, Mike Klinkenborg, James Laurenaitis, DB: Aqib Taliq, Leondis McKelvin, Jack Ikegwuonu, Alphonso Smith, Trae Williams

If I had a real Heisman ballot I can only vote for three, so here it is.
1. Tim Tebow: Can't ignore the numbers on that schedule
2. Dennis Dixon: Would've won if he stayed healthy
3. Kevin Smith: Expect him to set the rushing record, he has to be on ballot
If I could vote for 5:
4. Chris Wells: Maybe I watched more Ohio State than other people, but he always impressed me
5. Darren McFadden: Does it all.

It's been fun. I'm sure I left some people out, on my best of the rest. Tell me about it!

--Nate Sandstrom