Games that will decide the Heisman Race

Games to decide the Heisman Race by player....

Tim Tebow (Florida)
at Tennessee 9/20 - rivalry game will get a media spotlight
LSU 10/11 - just another big game in the SEC
Georgia 11/1 - the key game for Tebow
SEC Title game 12/6

Summary: the bar is always raised higher for a returning winner and Tebow's stats on the ground figure to fall with an improved RB position. To repeat, Tebow has to play big while leading the Gators to a national title game appearance or the voters will likely go elsewhere for the sake of variety.

Chase Daniel (Missouri)
Illinois (in St. Louis) 8/30 - this is one of the spotlight games of the opening weekend and a great opportunity for Daniel to get a head start.
at Texas 10/18 - even if Texas is coming off a loss to Oklahoma, the media is going to jump all over Daniel returning to his home state to face the school that ignored him until the last few days of the recruiting process. Texas is vulnerable this year and Daniel could light up the Longhorn secondary. If Missouri wins, the hype-machine on Daniel and the Tigers goes into overdrive in anticipation of a potential rematch with Oklahoma.
Big 12 Title Game 12/6 - Missouri is a lock to be in KC on the first Saturday of December but will they be undefeated and in range of a shot at the national title?

Summary: If Chase Daniel leads Missouri past nemesis Oklahoma (likely South winner) in the Big 12 title game and into the national title game, Daniel is your winner no matter what happens with the other guys.

Chris (Beanie) Wells (Ohio State)
at Southern Cal 9/13 - if Wells has a big game against a stout Trojan defense AND the Buckeyes win, Wells takes an early lead but could lose momentum if the Big Ten is as weak as its critics suggest.
at Wisconsin 10/4 - depending on how good the Badgers really are but this will get some media attention.
Michigan 11/22 - Big Blue has no shot to beat Ohio State but its still a marquee rivalry and people still watch.

Summary: the only way for Wells to win it is for Ohio State to win at USC and then hang on to that momentum while Daniel and Tebow need to suffer losses.

Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)
Texas (in Dallas) 10/11 - because its a big rivalry and both should be undefeated at the time
Texas Tech 11/22 - could be the game that decides the Big 12 South and a chance to outduel Graham Harrell
Big 12 Title Game 12/6 - would likely face fellow Heisman hopeful

Summary: Bradford may be developing into the Tom Brady of college football. Like Stafford at Georgia, he faces the potential his running back may dominate the highlight reel but the numbers should be there. In a QB heavy league, Bradford can score points by outplaying his competition. It's unlikely a sophomore will win it again. Bradford's shot probably rests on going undefeated surviving a process of elimination by the voters.

Matthew Stafford / Knowshon Moreno (Georgia)
at LSU 10/25 - any big game win in Baton Rouge will grab attention
Florida 11/1 - showdown with Tebow
at Auburn 11/15 - sure to be a spotlight game in the SEC
SEC Title game 12/6 - final chance to state the case

Summary: Tough schedule and preseason No. 1 ranking carries a lot of attention and pressure. Will Stafford and Moreno take votes from the other?

Pat White (West Virginia)
at Colorado 9/18 - has the Thursday night spotlight all to himself
Auburn 10/23 - voters will closely watch how White fares against an SEC defense
at Pitt 11/28 - Pitt is a popular pick and upset WV last year, game also falls on a holiday weekend
S. Florida 12/6 - could decide the Big East championship

Summary: White is outstanding but the Mountaineers probably have to punch a ticket to the national title game for him to win it.