Week 8 of the college football season dramatically altered both the BCS standings and the race for the Heisman Trophy.
The No. 6 ranked Wisconsin Badgers blew a 14-0 lead, came back from a 31-17 4th quarter deficit to tie it at 31, only to lose on an improbable Hail Mary as time expired.
The loss not only dropped Wisconsin to No. 15 in the BCS, but Russell Wilson's Heisman bid is practically a thing of the past.
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The biggest shock of the weekend, however, was unquestionably Texas Tech's upset victory on the road at No. 3 Oklahoma. Landry Jones had a monster game (30-55, 412 yards, 5 TD, INT) but when you're team loses, you feel the effects in the Heisman Watch.
Fortunately for the Sooners, they only dropped to No. 9 in the BCS and still have three ranked opponents on the schedule to make up ground.
Does it make sense that Wisconsin fell nine spots after losing on a Hail Mary on the road against the No. 16 team, and Oklahoma only dropped six spots after losing to an unranked team at home? Of course not, but that's the world of the BCS.
The Heisman is also an imperfect science but it doesn't mean we don't try to get it right. Without further ado...
News
RankPlayer, Position, SchoolRecent Game StatsSeason StatsNext Game1Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford16-21, 169 yards, 2 TD in65-21 win over 25 Washington145-202 (72), 1888yards, 20 TD, 3 INT, rush TDAt USC (No. 20 AP Poll)2Trent Richardson, RB,Alabama17 rush, 77 yards, 2 TD in37-6 win over Tennessee149 rush, 989 yards (6.6YPC), 17 TD, 212 rec. yards, rec. TDBye, No. 1 LSU3Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson27-46, 367 yards, 5 TD,rush TD in 59-38 win over North Carolina172-278 (62), 2379 yards,24 TD, 3 INT, 165 rush yards, 4 rush TDAt Georgia Tech4Kellen Moore, QB, BoiseState23-29, 281 yards, 3 TD, INTin 37-26 win over Air Force174-228 (76), 2010 yards,24 TD, 5 INTBye, At UNLV5Brandon Weeden, QB,Oklahoma State33-49, 338 yards, 3 TD, INTin 45-24 win at Missouri222-309 (72), 2436 yards,19 TD, 7 INTBaylor
On the bubble: Robert Griffin IIIQBBaylor, Landry JonesQBOklahoma, Case KeenumQBHouston, Russell WilsonQBWisconsin
Analysis:
1) Andrew Luck: How was he supposed to put up big numbers when the Cardinal rushed for a school single-game record 446 yards? That surely won't be the case when Stanford travels to USC this weekend, as the Cardinal will need Luck's arm to get by the Trojans. But don't let anybody fool you, Stanford's season, and Luck's Heisman candidacy rides on the showdown November 12 with Oregon.
2) Trent Richardson: Had he not scored two touchdowns he probably would have slipped a spot in the rankings after registering just 77 yards rushing against Tennessee. Nonetheless, Richardson has a chance to steal in the show (and possibly the Heisman) when the Crimson Tide host No. 1 LSU on November 5 in the undisputed Game of the Year.
3) Tajh Boyd: Before the season, or before this week, or before one minute ago when you starting reading this blog, did you know who Tajh Boyd was? The redshirt sophomore has put himself, and No. 5 Clemson on the map and has the Tigers dreaming of a BCS tile game appearance (it's not a dream anymore, it's a reality). WARNING: Don't look past Georgia Tech this week -- yes, the Yellow Jackets have lost two in a row and have gone from No. 12 in the AP Poll to unranked, but they would like nothing more than to ruin your perfect season and then hope to meet you again in the ACC Championship Game. Consider yourself warned...
4) Kellen Moore: He had a solid game against Air Force but the Broncos shouldn't have struggled like they did against the Falcons. I said last week that Kellen Moore has smallest margin of error if he wants to remain in the Heisman hunt, and the same goes for Boise State's BCS quest. In reality, Boise has .00000009 chance of making the BCS National Championship Game but will surely earn a spot in a BCS game if they simply win out. Let's use this analogy for Moore's Heisman bid: He doesn't have a great shot at winning it (BCS Title Game) but if Boise wins out, he will be invited to New York (a BCS game).
5) Brandon Weeden: His 19 touchdowns to 7 interceptions doesn't scream "Heisman" but he is completing 72 of his passes and has thrown for 2436 yards for the No. 3 ranked team in the land. With a daunting schedule ahead (Baylor, No. 8 Kansas State, at No. 20 Texas Tech, at Iowa State, No. 9 Oklahoma) it's simple: If the Cowboys win out, they will be facing either LSU or Alabama in the BCS Championship Game, and Brandon Weeden will be in New York for the Heisman presentation.