Here’s how Palm Beach Post University of Miami beat writer Matt Porter sizes up the Heisman Trophy race this week:
Headed to New York
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State: Ballots are due Dec. 9, and it would be a shock if Winston doesn't come out on top. He put up another stellar stat line in a 37-7 beating of rival Florida: 19-of-31, 327 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He finishes his first regular season of competition as the nation's leader in passing efficiency (192.64) and is second in yards per attempt (11.0) and third in touchdowns (35). The fact his team enters the postseason as No. 1 in the BCS standings only solidifies his case.
Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: His squad has lost to Alabama (now No. 4), Auburn (No. 3), LSU (No. 15) and Missouri (No. 5), and Manziel played exceptionally well in each game save for the LSU contest, in which he had a passer rating of 83.20. Manziel's total offense (368.2 yards per game, third nationally; 41 total touchdowns) and play in those big games is what will get him to New York on Dec. 14.
Jordan Lynch, QB, Northern Illinois: Right behind Manziel in total offense (351 yards per game), the fifth-year senior did it with his legs Wednesday night against Western Michigan. He completed just 5 of 17 passes for a season-low 39 yards but broke his own FBS record for rushing yards by a quarterback (316) by gaining 321 yards on 27 carries (11.9 yards per). Good for a quarterback? Sure. But Lynch is the only FBS player at any position to achieve two 300-yard games this season, and his rushing numbers — 1,755 yards and 20 touchdowns — are good for third in the FBS and are better than those of Alabama's Mark Ingram, the last running back to win the Heisman (2009).
Just missed
AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama: Look, he wasn't out there on special teams. Had Alabama won the Iron Bowl and held on to its No. 1 ranking, undefeated season and hopes for a third national title in a row, we'd all be talking about McCarron's 99-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper in the fourth quarter that put the Crimson Tide ahead by seven points. But Auburn scored two touchdowns, including the Missed Field Goal Runback Heard Round the World. McCarron's would-be Heisman moment was now just a regular part of the highlight reel.
Andre Williams, RB, Boston College: What now for Andre 2,000? Well, there are also-rans, and there is no shame in that. Williams ended his run at the Heisman by putting up just 29 yards on nine carries in a 34-31 loss to Syracuse. His right shoulder, which has been troubling him of late, knocked him out of the game after his first carry of the third quarter. He ends the regular season with an ACC-record 2,102 rushing yards, which leads the nation by nearly 330 yards, and the ACC single-game rushing record (339). With a bowl game to play, he needs 84 yards to move into fourth on the all-time FBS single-season rushing list. He is currently ninth, behind Texas' Ricky Williams (2,124).
Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State: All done after a loss to San Jose State, which ended Fresno State's hopes for an at-large BCS bid. Carr threw for 519 yards and six touchdowns but tossed a fourth-quarter interception in a 62-52 loss. Finished the regular season as the nation's leader in total offense, averaging 418.0 yards per game, nearly 40 yards per game more than the next-closest producer.
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