Hypesman: Bradford Crashes, Bryant Burns Georgia

Three weeks ago, I wrote that the Big Three of Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and Sam Bradford would end up being the big two, and that the 2009 Heisman race would feature several players that were just on the periphery of the Heisman hunt in the preseason. One week in, that's already happened. Following an unfortunate shoulder sprain, Sam Bradford is out of the running. That leaves Tebow and McCoy as the leaders in the clubhouse, but guarantees that a couple of guys no one is talking about will snag invites to New York for the Heisman ceremony.

Each week during the season we're going to be ranking the top candidates in the country based on a complicated mathematical algorithm. The exact formula of this algorithm is a state secret. Although some have pointed out that at its root the algorithm is quite simple: what Clay Travis thinks the Heisman voters are thinking. I'm going to give you a top eight Hypesman count each week and count them down in reverse order. Here we go.

8. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State

Against Portland State, Rodgers ran 16 times for 103 yards and three touchdowns. I still believe Rodgers is a darkhorse. Rodgers can change that in two weeks by gouging defending Big East champ -- and stomper of Rutgers -- Cincinnati, Sept. 24. This will help with his national recognition in the Midwest and East Coast. But his real stretch run doesn't come until late October when Oregon State plays at USC, against UCLA, and at Cal in three consecutive weeks.

Until then, the oxygen is going to be in short supply for Rodgers' candidacy and he may end up subsumed by another Pac-10 runner, Jahvid Best.

7. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

Let's be clear about this, no matter how much you hate Notre Dame -- and most people who aren't Notre Dame fans hate Notre Dame -- Jimmy Clausen has played better than any quarterback in America in his last two football games. Granted those performances were against Hawaii and Nevada, but the numbers speak for themselves.

Against Hawaii in last year's bowl game, Clausen went 22-of-26 for 401 yards. Against Nevada, Clausen was an astounding 15-of-18 for 315 yards. That's an average of 21 yards per completion this season. Come Saturday Clausen takes Notre Dame into the Big House. If the Fighting Irish can win and Clausen plays impressively, look for the hype meter to leap off the charts.

Why?

Because NBC needs Clausen's candidacy to leap off the charts so people watch their games. And it won't hurt ABC/ESPN to have a Notre Dame player in the running either. The real question is, has the spiky haired kid who made the understated decision to announce his college choice after arriving in a limo at the college football Hall of Fame, finally, in his junior season, grown into the expectations. We'll see.

By the way USC fans, it's okay to be skeptical. In the last regular-season game of 2008, Clausen completed 11-of-22 passes for 41 yards and two picks.
6. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State

Pryor's ability to contend for the Heisman comes down to this weekend against USC. If the Buckeyes pull the upset and Pryor has a couple of "Oh my God" plays, which he's definitely capable of, no one will rise faster. But if the Buckeyes lose, Pryor is out of the running for the season.

There is no player on this week's Hypesman with more at stake this weekend. And before the e-mails and comments start, Pryor is on this list despite what happened against Navy. The game against Southern California is going to loom so large on the national scene, that a win will send Pryor's Hypesman status into the stratosphere.

By the way, a couple of weeks ago, I argued that no quarterbacks outside of the Big Three were possibilities because the oxygen in the quarterback race had already been sucked up by the Big Three. Now, I'm not so sure. In fact, I'm reversing field.

Why?

Bradford's elimination from contention happened so early in the season that I think a quarterback like Clausen or Pryor can get involved in the race. Although Pryor's media savvy is severely in question right now after the Mike Vick eyeblack. Everyone has killed people?

Nice line, Jack the Ripper.

5. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Berry's stats were pedestrian Saturday, but something more impressive came out of Tennessee's game, the Vols looked capable of winning nine games, a prerequisite for serious Heisman consideration. Easy, easy, I know it was Western Kentucky, but the Vols get a chance to prove that game wasn't a fluke this weekend against a major team from a big time voting region, the West Coast.

Plus, the Berry candidacy seems to be gaining ground in the media. Even guys like Scoop Jackson at ESPN, whose column consistently begs the question of whether this guy graduated from elementary school, are taking note. With UCLA, a major West Coast opponent, rolling into town and a national television audience on ESPN, Berry has a chance to launch his candidacy with a big play mixed in with a win. Get a pick against UCLA and there's a decent chance the headlines after this game include the fact that Berry, a junior in the second game of his season, has become the all-time interception return yardage king in NCAA football.

Combine that with the fact that the hype will be off the charts for Berry's match-up against Tebow the following week, and you're talking about a player who will have made himself the best Heisman candidate outside of Tebow and McCoy.

The Hypesman groundwork has been laid.

Now, he just has to make plays this weekend.

4. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

Why has McCoy fallen to four? Because Bradford's injury also weakens McCoy's candidacy. How? Because the dueling Big 12 quarterbacks story angle would have appeared everywhere for the remainder of the season. Who is better, McCoy or Bradford? Now, McCoy is left standing alone. Part of the appeal of McCoy's candidacy was that he could vanquish a really strong candidate in Bradford en route to the award. In so doing, he would strengthen his own profile, think Obama taking down Hillary in the primaries.

Instead everyone expects for McCoy and Texas to beat an ailing Bradford and Oklahoma on Oct. 17th. Where's the unexpected buzz coming from in Austin? Nowhere right now. Texas's perfect record is already built into McCoy's candidacy. Only pratfalls lie ahead.

3. Jahvid Best, RB, Cal

Best had just 10 carries in Cal's revenge beatdown of Maryland. But he put up 137 yards and two touchdowns in those carries. More importantly, he's started to attract some national attention. Cal gets USC Oct. 3. Between now and then, the Golden Bears need to win every game and Best needs to rack up the yards.

If that happens, come the first weekend in October, the national spotlight will be on Best for their home game against the rival Trojans.

He's slotted in at No. 3, because I think he's much better known than Rodgers, plays in a bigger media market, is the best running back in the country, and is well-positioned to explode on the national stage.

2. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

Bryant's performance against Georgia should be getting more attention than it actually is. Granted, he only caught three passes, but two of them were for touchdowns. At least Sports Illustrated took note, Bryant is on the cover this week. But most national media figures ignored the performance.

How?

I think there's an argument to be made that Bryant was the single most important player on the field for any winning team last weekend. His 48-yard touchdown catch brought Oklahoma State out of their funk, and his second touchdown helped put the game away.

Earlier in this column, I said that Berry was the best positioned player outside of the quarterbacks. I believe that's true, but Bryant will be the best-performing big-game player in the country right now. With games upcoming against Houston, Rice, and Grambling, Bryant's stats are going to be eye-popping by the end of September.

My point? Bryant's here to stay all season as a legit Heisman contender.



1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

Bradford's injury helped Tebow more than any player in the country. It vanquished a quarterback foe and diminished another. As a result, Tebow continues to ride high atop the Hypesman. That's despite the fact that his stats, 1 rushing touchdown and 1 passing touchdown, didn't impress against a mismatched Charleston Southern team.

With Troy coming to town this weekend, look for the Gators to hang a big number on the board. Troy won't shy away and play a ball-control game that seeks to limit Tebow's touches. They'll come out gunning. So will Tebow.

Setting the stage for the epic Hypesman tilt of the early season, Eric Berry and Tennessee at Tebow and Florida.