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Harrell is holding on to the top spot

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Wednesday - November 21, 2008

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The big three still dominate, but No. 1 is pulling ahead of the pack.

1. Graham Harrell. Texas Tech, Sr., 10-0. No. 2 AP. (Last Week:
¹⁾

Last Week: Did not play.

Season: 332-463, 4,077 yards, 36 TDs, 5 INTs, QB rating: 169.2; 6 rushing touchdowns.

With one game left on the regular season schedule and with lowly Baylor coming to town, Harrell is one game away from being the first “system” quarterback to win the Heisman since Ty Detmer in 1990. A year ago he didn’t even dent the top nine. Now, with an undefeated team, he’s standing on top of the mountain.

2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, QB, So., 9-1. No. 5 AP. (Last Week:²⁾

Last week: Did not play.

Season: 224-330 passing, 3,406 yards, 38 TDs, 6 INTs, 4 rushing touchdowns. QB rating: 188.9.

The Sooner QB has No. 11 Oklahoma State in the season finale, and he’ll need a monster performance to leap frog Harrell for the lead. Quality of competition is on Oklahoma’s side, but Harrell has a comfortable lead and room for error.

3. Colt McCoy, Texas, QB, Jr., 10-1. No. 4 AP. (Last Week: 3)

Last week: 24-34 passing, 255 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs; QB rating: 153; 16 rushes, 78 yards, 1 rushing TD in a 35-7 win at Kansas.

Season: 268-347 passing, 3,134 yards, 30 TDs, 7 INT, QB rating: 177.6; 117 rushes, 527 yards, 8 TDs.

McCoy and Bradford are 2 and 2A in the big race of 2008. No matter the finish, the voting will be close. McCoy, like Harrell, has the opportunity to pile up stats against poor competition and once it goes to a vote, it’s anyone’s to lose.

4. Chase Daniel, Missouri, QB, Sr., 9-2. No. 12 AP. (Last Week: 4)

Last week: 32-40 passing, 328 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INTs, QB rating: 160.4; in a 52-20 win at Iowa State.

Season: 306-400 passing, 3,592 yards, 30 TDs, 11 INT; 41 rushes, 136 yards, QB rating: 171.2.

A 30-point victory and an 80 percent completion percentage is impressive; whuppin’ a team that hasn’t won in conference is not. Ending the season against Texas A&M is just another unfortunate turn in a what-could-have-been season for Daniel.

5. Tim Tebow, Florida, QB, Jr., 9-1. No. 3 AP. (Last Week: 5)

Last week: 13-20 passing, 173 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT, 14 rushes, 39 yards, 1 TDs, QB rating: 170.7 in a 56-6 win over South Carolina.

Season: 139-214 passing, 1,913 yards, 19 TDs, 2 INTs, QB rating: 167.5; 119 rushes, 393 yards, 11 TDs.

With three games left on the schedule including mighty Citadel, Tebow has the longest path on the way to a New York invite. He won’t make the top three, but he’ll have the chance to add to his resume for the 2009 NFL draft.

6. Max Hall, BYU, QB, Jr. 10-1. No. 16 AP. (Last Week: 6)

Last week: 28-37 passing, 354 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INTs, QB rating: 168.5; in a 38-24 win at Air Force.

Season: 279-390 passing, 3,424 yards, 34 TDs, 8 INTs, QB rating: 167.5.

Hall has a chance to both impress voters and ruin a rival’s BCS chances with a victory over Utah Saturday. A win also keeps BYU’s conference championship hopes alive. The Cougars are tied with TCU who handed BYU its only loss. That’s a lot of motivation.

7. Javon Ringer, Michigan State, RB, Sr., 9-2. No. 17 AP. (Last Week:⁷⁾

Last week: Did not play.

Season: 353 rushes, 1,548 yards, 20 TDs; 21 receptions, 133 yards; 11 kickoff returns, 224 yards.

Penn State has the conference’s best rushing defense and doesn’t want the championship to slip away. Ringer will not find much room to run, but it’s been a heck of a season for the senior.

8. David Johnson, Tulsa QB, Sr., 8-2. unranked. (Last Week: 9)

Last Week: 18-29 passing, 271 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, QB rating: 179.2 in a 70-30 loss at Houston.

Season: 190-287 passing, 3,254 yards, 37 TDs, 11 INTs, QB rating: 196.3.

Tulsa got hammered, but this one can’t be blamed on the quarterback. He just got outplayed by Case Keenum who threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns. Johnson’s career is over, but Keenum is a name to watch for 2009.

9. Daryll Clark, Penn State,QB, Jr., 10-1. No. 7 AP. (Last Week: 8)

Last week: 20-36 passing, 240 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, QB rating: 124.3 in a 34-7 win over Indiana.

Season: 155-259 passing, 1,978 yards, 13 TDs, 4 INT, 68 rushes, 261 yards, 8 TDs, QB rating: 137.5

Penn State keeps winning, but Clark has just been along for the ride. A BCS game is the most he can hope for. 10. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech,WR, Soph., 10-0,No. 2 AP. (Last Week: unranked) Season: 78 catches, 1,010 yards, 18 TDs. Dez Bryant has better overall numbers, but Crabtree’s 18 catches in the last two games is spectacular.