Week eight of the college football season saw a battle between the top two Heisman candidates. Collin Klein and his Kansas State Wildcats traveled to Morgantown to face Geno Smith and his West Virginia Mountaineers. When the dust settled, it was Klein and his guys that stood tall winning in a 55-14 rout. How far would Smith fall and how high would Klein rise based on this head to head battle?
What you'll see each week in the Bloguin Heisman Poll:
*The top four total vote getters and quotes from bloggers in support of their candidates.
*A list of all players who receive votes in the Bloguin Heisman Poll
*Poll notes that look at some of the interesting facts, figures and trends of the poll.
*The BHP Roll Call of voters, the links to their respective blogs and their twitter accounts.
Without any further adieu, the Bloguin Heisman Poll…
1) Collin Klein (QB-Kansas State) – 30 Points, 45.45%, 8 1st Place Votes
Last Week BHP Ranking = 2
Last Week: 19/21 for 323 yds passing, 3 passing TDs, 41 yds rushing, 4 rushing TD
Season: 98/139 for 1402 yds passing, 10 passing TD, 2 INT, 70.5% completions, 556 yds rushing, 14 rushing TD
This Week: vs No. 14 Texas Tech (6-1)
*There is no reason why anyone, at this point, should have Smith over Klein, period. After the 55-14 win by Kansas State over West Virginia, most of the lingering questions about the two were answered. For better or nauseatingly worse, the comparisons to Tim Tebow are only going to get louder after the 7 TD performance on Saturday. And while that is annoying to most of the fans who watch ESPN all day, the football circles that vote on these kind of things admire the guy and take those kind of things into consideration.
– Hamilton Riley, Lambeth Field
*After that performance in Morgantown, Klein is a no-brainer at this point. I have serious questions for anyone that does NOT put Klein atop their ballot.
– Kris Brauner, Saturday Night Slant
2) Manti T'eo (LB-Notre Dame) – 13 Points, 19.70%, 2 1st Place Votes
Last Week BHP Ranking = 3
Last Week: 10 tackles, 1 INT
Season: 69 total tackles, 4 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 2.5 TFL, 3 PBU, 4 QB Hurries
This Week: at No. 8 Oklahoma (5-1)
*While everyone is now ready to anoint Collin Klein the Heisman winner, I want to make the argument that what Te'o is doing on defense and for Notre Dame is way more valuable. If he can lead the Irish to win over Oklahoma in Norman, then they should create a new award in his name.
– Tom Perry, Eye and Eer
3) Geno Smith (QB-WVU) – 7 Points, 10.61%, 1 1st Place Vote
Last Week BHP Ranking = 1
Last Week: 21/32, 143 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Season: 216/291, 2414 yards, 26 TDs, 2 INT; 1 rushing TD, 74.2% completions
This Week: Idle
*Not his best game last week but still has 26 TDs and only 2 INTs to go along with a 74% completion rate. I believe it's still his to lose at this point.
– Marty Valania, Nittany Lions Den
4) AJ McCarron (QB-Alabama) – 6 Points, 9.09%, 0 1st Place Votes
Last Week BHP Ranking = Not ranked
Last Week: 17/22 for 306 yds passing, 4 TD
Season: 106 of 154 for 1476 yds passing, 16 TD, 0 INT, 68.8% completions
This Week: vs No. 11 Mississippi State (7-0)
*Don't look now, but McCarron has quietly emerged as the most consistent quarterback in the SEC and a Heisman front-runner. Incredibly Alabama's quarterback has now gone seven games without throwing an interception, while adding 16 touchdowns and a 68 percent completion percentage as well. With three straight games against three ranked opponents coming up, we'll find out quickly if McCarron's Heisman buzz is for real or not.
– Aaron Torres- Aaron Torres Sports
Also Receiving Votes: Braxton Miller (QB- Ohio State) 3 pts, Kenjon Barner (RB- Oregon) 3 pts, Seth Doege (QB- Texas Tech) 2 pts, Jordan Lynch (QB- NIU) 1 pt, Tyler Tettleton (QB- Ohio) 1 pt
Dropped Out: Johnny Manziel (QB- Texas A&M), De'Anthony Thomas (RB-Oregon), Stephon Jefferson (RB- Nevada)
Poll Notes
– It the match-up between Kansas State and West Virginia it was the Wildcats who were the clear winners on the field and in the Heisman Poll. Collin Klein had an increase of 19.69% of total votes and Geno Smith has a reduction of 27.27% of total votes.
– For the first time this year someone other than Geno Smith is at the top of our poll and Collin Klein's 45.45% of the total vote represents the third highest total percentage of the year.
– Last year, between week four and week five, Robert Griffin III dropped from first place to third falling from 30.21% of total votes to 10.42% of total votes. RG3 would not regain the lead until week twelve.
– Manti T'eo continues his slow rise toward the top of the poll. This week he moved to second place which represents the highest rank for a defensive player in the two years that I've been hosting this poll.
– The game to watch this week is Notre Dame traveling to Oklahoma. If the Fighting Irish can somehow escape with a victory, Te'o could gain even more momentum.
Under The Radar: Jordan Lynch (QB – NIU)
*He's got over 1,700 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing already for a team that's beaten Kansas as a "non-BCS" conference team and is 7-1 overall. Add in 13 touchdowns each passing and rushing and tell me again how he's not a legit Heisman candidate?
– Andrew Coppens, Madtown Badgers
Bloguin Heisman Poll Roll Call
Aaron Torres Sports– Aaron Torres (@aaron_torres)
Blatant Homerism– Allen Kenney (@blatanthomerism)
College Football Zealots– Kevin Causey (@CFBZ)
College Football Zealots– Pete Sonski (@29Sonski)
Eye and Eer– Tom Perry (@eyeandeer)
Lambeth Field– Hamilton Riley (@lambethfield)
Leftover Hot Dog– Ritch (@LOHDgamecocks)
Madtown Badgers– Andrew Coppens (@andycoppens)
Nittany Lions Den– Marty Valania (@TheNLD)
Saturday Night Slant– Kris Brauner (@snslant)
The Duck Stops Here– Dale Newton (@Dale_Newton)
