| The month of September came to a close this | | | | yards 5.0 YPC 5 TDs / 5 catches 56 yards 1.2 |
| past Saturday and the Ohio State Buckeyes have | | | | YPC 0 TDs. |
| clearly established themselves as the nation's No. 1 | | | | 6) STEVE SLATON (West Virginia) Last Week: 5. |
| team. Three of the team's first five wins have | | | | I jumped Hart over Slaton this past week, as |
| come over ranked opponents with two of those | | | | Slaton and the Mountaineers had the week off. |
| wins coming on the road. OSU beat then-No. 2 | | | | Slaton is coming of his worst game of the year, |
| Texas (defending champs) in Austin back on | | | | as the Mountaineers struggled to get past East |
| September 9 (24-7) and last Saturday night | | | | Carolina two Saturdays ago, 27-10. The |
| trounced No. 13 Iowa by the score of 38-17. QB | | | | Mountaineers found the road a little more difficult, |
| Troy Smith has now led OSU to 12 straight wins | | | | as after three straight home wins by the |
| (12-0 ATS as well) and enters the month of | | | | combined scores of 139-37, West Va struggled in |
| October as the Heisman front-runner. My entire | | | | Greenville, North Carolina against East Carolina. |
| Heisman top-10 follows. | | | | Slaton, who entered the game averaging 168 YPG |
| Heisman Top-10 | | | | rushing (West Va entered averaging 350 YPG |
| Monday, October 2 | | | | rushing as a team), was held to just 80 yards on |
| 1) TROY SMITH (Ohio State) Last Week: 1. Smith | | | | the ground in 24 attempts and did not score. As |
| threw two TDPs in the game's first half, as OSU | | | | a team, the Mountaineers rushed for just 153 |
| led Iowa 21-10 at the half last Saturday night in | | | | yards, almost 200 yards below their average! |
| Iowa City. The Buckeyes pulled away in the | | | | Slaton caught three passes for 35 yards as well |
| second half as they opened the third quarter on | | | | but all-in-all, it was a very average game. West |
| an 11-play 80-yard TD drive (Smith's third TDP of | | | | Va is on the road again this Saturday, at |
| the game) and followed with a FG on their next | | | | Mississippi State. Slaton's season stats are: 86 |
| drive that not only put them up 31-10 but took | | | | carries 583 yards 6.8 YPC 6 TDs / 4 catches 47 |
| eight minutes off the clock. Later in the fourth | | | | yards 11.8 YPC 0 TDs. |
| quarter, Smith tossed his career-high fourth TDP | | | | 7) GARRETT WOLFE (Northern Illinois) Last week: |
| to end OSU's scoring for the night. In the 38-17 | | | | 7. This guy just won't go away. Wolfe ran for a |
| win, Smith finished by completing 16-of-25 passes | | | | career-high 353 yards (31 carries) this past |
| for 186 yards with four TDPs and no INTs. He | | | | Saturday as Northern Illinois won its third straight |
| even ran for 20 yards, something he's rarely | | | | game, after opening the season 0-2. Wolfe's |
| done this year. The win gives Smith a career | | | | previous career-high was a 325-yard effort vs |
| mark of 10-1 vs ranked opponents. In leading Ohio | | | | Eastern Michigan last year. He scored the game's |
| State to 12 straight wins (the nation's longest | | | | first TD on a 51-yard run and added TD runs of |
| active winning streak after TCU lost last | | | | 48 and 53 (no cheapies for this guy!), as the |
| Thursday to BYU), he's completed 66.2 percent | | | | Huskies pulled away from a 14-all tie at the half |
| of his throws for an average of 232.9 YPG with | | | | with Ball State to win, 40-28. It marked his 19th |
| 24 TDPs and just four INTs. How's that for a | | | | career 100-yard game and his ninth game of 200 |
| Heisman candidate? Ohio State goes 'bowling' next | | | | or more. He's now topped the 100-yard mark in |
| week, as the Falcons of Bowling Green visit | | | | all five games this year (don't forget his 171 vs |
| Columbus. Smith's season stats are: 84-of-128 | | | | Ohio State as well as 114 more in receiving yards |
| 65.6 percent 1,070 yards 12 TDPs 2 INTs / 22 | | | | on five catches) and 10 straight going back to last |
| carries 24 yards 1.1 YPC 0 TDs. | | | | year. He's averaged 226.3 YPG over that |
| 2) ADRIAN PETERSON (Oklahoma). Last Week: 2. | | | | 10-game stretch and with 4,417 yards, is the |
| AP and the Oklahoma Sooners had the week off | | | | career-leader among active players. Of course his |
| and I'll leave the junior in my second spot pending | | | | 236.2 YPG average this year is also tops, as is his |
| his upcoming performance against Texas this | | | | 12 TDs (11 rushing). Northern Illinois plays at |
| coming Saturday in the annual "Red River | | | | winless Miami-Ohio this Saturday. Wolfe's season |
| Shootout." As I've mentioned before, Peterson | | | | stats are: 127 carries 1,181 yards 9.3 YPC 11 TDs |
| almost won this award as a freshman in 2004, | | | | 12 catches 159 yards 13.3 YPC 1 TD. |
| finishing second to USC's Matt Leinart (highest | | | | 8) MARIO MANNINGHAM (Michigan). Last Week: 8. |
| finish ever by a freshman). Peterson has 21 | | | | Manningham entered the 2006 season off a fairly |
| career 100 yard games, including five of 200 | | | | unimpressive 2005 season in which he caught just |
| yards or better. In his freshman season he ran 32 | | | | 27 balls for 433 yards (16.0 YPC) with six TDs. He |
| times for 225 yards vs the Longhorns as the | | | | was quiet in Michigan's first two games as QB |
| Sooners won 12-0. However, a less than 100 | | | | Henne struggled (had just five catches for 71 |
| percent Peterson had just 10 yards on three | | | | yards and one TD) but exploded on the national |
| carries last year, as Texas routed Oklahoma | | | | scene with three TD catches in Michigan's 47-21 |
| 45-12. Peterson's season stats are: 117 carries | | | | rout of Notre Dame three Saturdays ago. He |
| 643 yards 5.5 YPC 7 TDs / 4 catches 72 yards | | | | continued to shine this past weekend, catching |
| 18.0 YPC 1 TD. | | | | five passes for 131 yards with another TD in |
| 3) BRADY QUINN (Notre Dame). Last Week: 3. | | | | Michigan's win over Minnesota. That makes 16 |
| Quinn was "licking his chops" in anticipation of | | | | catches these last three weeks for 381 yards |
| facing the Boilermakers this past Saturday, as | | | | (23.8 YPC) with six TDs. His average TD has |
| Purdue entered the game as the nation's | | | | covered 36.2 yards, with none being shorter than |
| fifth-worst pass defense. He didn't disappoint, | | | | 20 yards.Michigan hosts Michigan State this |
| connecting on 24 of his first 28 attempts, as the | | | | Saturday. Manningham's season stats are: 21 |
| Irish jumped out to a 28-7 lead before halftime. | | | | catches 452 yards 21.5 YPC 7 TDs. |
| Quinn threw his second TDP of the game in the | | | | 9) MARSHAWN LYNCH (California) Last Week: 9. |
| third quarter (both to McKnight), as Notre Dame | | | | Cal opened the season ranked No. 9 in the AP but |
| went up 35-14. RB Darius Walker took it from | | | | found itself down 35-0 late in the third quarter at |
| there, finishing with 146 YR (his first 100-yard | | | | Tennessee in its season opener. Since that 35-18 |
| game of '06) and adding 73 more yards on nine | | | | loss, the Bears have won four straight games, |
| catches. Quinn finished Notre Dame's 35-21 win | | | | averaging 43.5 PPG, never failing to top 40 points |
| with 29 completions in 38 attempts for 316 yards | | | | in any contest. This past Saturday, the Bears won |
| with two TDPs and no INTs. It marked his second | | | | at Corvallis, 41-13. QB Nate Longshore threw for |
| straight 300-yard game and the ninth of his | | | | 341 yards and four TDPs and has completed 69.4 |
| career. Notre Dame hosts Stanford this Saturday. | | | | percent of his passes, averaged 284 YPG and |
| Quinn's season stats are: 121-of-196 61.7 percent | | | | tossed 14 TDPs against just three INTs, in the |
| 1,402 yards 13 TDPs 4 INTs / 1 rush TD. | | | | team's winning streak. However, it's Cal RB |
| 4) CHRIS LEAK (Florida) Last Week: 4. Florida fell | | | | Marshawn Lynch who is my choice at the number |
| behind Alabama quickly this past Saturday 10-0, | | | | nine spot this week. Lynch topped the 100-yard |
| on a 50-yard fumble return for a TD and a FG. | | | | mark for the fourth straight game (has 13 in his |
| However, spurred by Leak's career-long 45-yard | | | | career) with 106 yards on just 17 carries (one |
| scamper, the Gators closed the score to 10-7 | | | | TD). He also caught three passes for 59 yards |
| right before the half, as Tim Tebow capped a | | | | with two going for TDs. In 346 career attempts, |
| 12-play 95-yard drive with a two-yard TD run. | | | | Lynch has averaged 7.0 YPC! Cal, now ranked |
| Leak capped a seven-yard 80-yard drive with his | | | | 16th, will host No. 11 Oregon on Saturday in a |
| first TDP of the game in the third quarter, giving | | | | HUGE game! Lynch's season stats are: 79 carries |
| the Gators a 14-10 lead. In the fourth quarter, | | | | 555 yards 7.0 YPC 4 TDs / 11 catches 123 yards |
| with Florida up just 14-13, he threw his second | | | | 11.2 YPC 3 TDs. |
| TDP game, a 21-yarder following a Florida | | | | 10) RAY RICE (Rutgers) Last Week: NR. I like to |
| interception that had given the Gators a FD on | | | | use the 10-hole for someone new and why not |
| the Alabama 34. Nelson's 70-yard TD interception | | | | honor Rutgers sophomore RB Ray Rice? As a |
| return made the final, 28-13. Leak finished the | | | | freshman, Rice ran for 1,120 yards (5.7 YPC and |
| game 14-of-20 for 174 yards with two TDPs and | | | | 5 TDs), as he led Rutgers to the school's |
| no INTs. He added 31 yards on six attempts. | | | | second-ever bowl appearance and a 7-5 mark. |
| There is no rest for the weary however, as the | | | | Rutgers began last week ranked No. 23 in the AP |
| Gators host No. 9 LSU this Saturday. Leak's | | | | poll, the school's first ranking since the 1976 team |
| season stats are: 84-of-130 64.6 percent 1,240 | | | | finished 11-0. This past Friday night, the Scarlet |
| yards 14 TDPs 4 INTs. | | | | Knights survived in Tampa 22-20 against South |
| 5) MIKE HART (Michigan) Last Week: 6. I love this | | | | Florida, when the Bulls failed on a late two-point |
| guy. He runs hard every game and is playing for | | | | conversion try. As for Rice, he ran 35 times for |
| arguably the second-best team in the nation in | | | | 202 yards with two TDs, topping the 200-yard |
| Michigan. Michigan beat Minnesota for the 11th | | | | mark for the second time this year (had 201 at |
| straight time in the Metrodome last Saturday | | | | North Carolina in the team's season-opener). It |
| night, 28-14. Chad Henne threw three first-half | | | | marks his seventh straight 100-yard game (a |
| TDPs as the Wolverines opened a 21-7 lead. A | | | | school record) and the 10th of his career. His |
| one-yard TD run by Grady gave the Wolverines a | | | | career-high came at U Conn last season, when he |
| 28-7 lead late in the fourth quarter and Michigan | | | | ran for 217 yards. It should be noted that all three |
| held on for the 28-14 win. Hart carried 31 times | | | | of his career 200-yard games have come on the |
| for 195 yards, including a 54-yard run on his final | | | | road! The nation's second-leading rusher this year |
| carry of the game, as Michigan was able to run | | | | (161.2 YPG) gets an off week as Rutgers plays |
| out the clock. It marked the fourth time he's | | | | next on October 14 at Navy. His season stats |
| topped 100-yards this season and gives him 14 | | | | are: 141 carries 806 yards 5.7 YPC 11 TDs / 3 |
| career 100-yard games (Michigan is 13-1 when he | | | | catches 26 yards 8.7 YPC 0 TDs. |
| tops 100!). He also added one catch for 31 yards. | | | | Dropped Out: |
| The Wolverines will host the Spartans this | | | | No. |
| Saturday. Hart's season stats are: 135 carries 672 | | | | |