Sure enough, the BCS is headed for the blazing firestorm we predicted. Six undefeated teams remain, with Texas likely facing the SEC champion for the national title and immortality, while Cincinnati, Texas Christian and Boise State play for cool watches.
But while a college football playoff is still an unattainable dream, somehow the Heisman Committee lucked out and has a playoff of its own Saturday.
Four of the top candidates play against each other this weekend. It’s Florida’s über-hyped quarterback Tim Tebow vs. Alabama’s fading tailback Mark Ingram in the SEC championship game in Atlanta in one game. It’s the smart money’s Colt McCoy of Texas against Mr. Trendy Pick, Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, in the Big 12 title game in Arlington, Texas.
Like everything else, college football has it all wrong. If I had a vote and voted today, I’d give it to Stanford tailback Toby Gerhart.
No player has had a better year statistically, has played better against the best competition or lifted his team to a higher level.
Let’s review. Gerhart’s 144.7 yards per game are second in the country. His 26 touchdowns lead the country. Has he jacked up his stats against the pride of the Sun Belt?
No. The Pac-10’s depth blows away that of the Big 12 and SEC this year. In three of the last four weeks, Gerhart had 223 yards and three touchdowns against seventh- ranked Oregon, 178 and three scores against No. 18 USC, and 136 and four against No. 19 Cal.
He finished off the onslaught Saturday with 205 yards and three TDs against Notre Dame.
If you’re more into aesthetics and the hype about win-loss records instead of cold, hard facts, compute this: Stanford, picked sixth in the Pac-10, is ranked 24th and 8-4, its second-best record in 17 years.
“Toby Gerhart is one of the best big backs we have seen in a long time in college football,” NFL Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott said. “He is reminiscent of great big backs like Larry Csonka, Christian Okoye and Ron Dayne. He’s a combination of speed, power and toughness.”
Unfortunately for Gerhart, no one will see him play again before the Heisman ballots are due Monday. He won’t play for a conference championship. He’ll play for a watch.
If Gerhart makes it to the Heisman ceremony in New York, he’ll remain in his chair when either Tebow or McCoy stands up to accept it. In ESPN’s weird Heisman Predictor formula, based on 11 categories ranging from conference affiliation to last year’s voting, Tebow leads with 133 points, compared with Ingram’s 130.5 and McCoy’s 130.
Unless Tebow throws for 300, runs for 100 and tackles Ingram for a safety in a Florida win, he should not win the Heisman. I don’t care if his Gators are unbeaten and ranked No. 1. His numbers — 2,166 yards and 17 passing TDs along with 13 on the ground — aren’t as impressive as McCoy’s, and against his only opponent in the top 25, LSU, Tebow threw for only 134 yards.
However, he’s the poster boy for everything good about college football and, if you believe the hype, life.
Ingram was my pick until Saturday, when he had only 30 yards on 17 carries against Auburn’s mediocre defense. He’s now 11th in rushing at 109.08 yards per game.
McCoy is the favorite. Face it. His numbers are remarkable. He’s 310-for-432 for 3,328 yards with nine interceptions and 27 TDs. His third-ranked Longhorns are unbeaten, and he’s hot. In his past two games against Texas A&M and Kansas, he has thrown for 700 yards and eight TDs with no picks.
Then again, this is A&M and Kansas. Since they both lost to Colorado, should McCoy’s stats against them even count? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Suh is intriguing, but he has no shot. The trophy isn’t intended for the best NFL prospect and, as Miami defensive tackle Warren Sapp told me at the 1994 Heisman ceremony, “The statue is carrying a football for a reason.” Besides, Suh was almost a nonfactor last Friday against Colorado.
Still, the SEC and Big 12 championships will have more riding on them than any two league title games in history: BCS championship berths and the Heisman Trophy.
Unfortunately, Gerhart will be on his couch, stuck watching from the peanut gallery. Just like Cincinnati, TCU and Boise State.
