Oklahoma freshman running back Adrian Peterson is about to learn a hard lesson: To win a Heisman Trophy, you must be healthy enough to put up good numbers the whole season.
While Peterson might have been the top player in the country during the previous month, injuries and a bad game can cost you everything - just ask Purdue senior quarterback Kyle Orton. Although his team is still undefeated, Peterson is in competition with quarterback Jason White, who has played extremely well in the last two weeks.
Getting down to the final couple weeks and games of the season, it looks like a five-player race, with Peterson, White, Southern Cal quarterback Matt Leinart, Texas running back Cedric Benson and Utah quarterback Alex Smith.
Don't be surprised if these are the five players in New York City for the announcement of the 2004 Heisman Trophy.
Front runners
Matt Leinart
junior quarterback, Southern Cal
Just when you thought Leinart was slipping, he comes up with another solid, Heisman-like effort. He was 27-for-35 for 280 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against Arizona. Yes, it was only Arizona but a good game is a good game no matter who it is against.
The Trojans are 10-0 with two games left, against UCLA and Notre Dame. They play the Fighting Irish this week and the Bruins two weeks later. For the season, Leinart has 23 passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and only five interceptions.
Jason White
senior quarterback, Oklahoma
Last year's Heisman winner has come alive in the last two weeks and jumped over his stud freshman running back in the Heisman race. He was 29-for-35 for 383 yards and three touchdowns against Nebraska. He set a school record when he completed 18 consecutive passes against the Huskers.
For the season, he has 2,513 yards passing, 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Oklahoma will finish their regular season with Baylor and then play the Big 12 North Champion at the Big 12 Championship on Dec. 4 in Kansas City.
Cedric Benson
senior running back, Texas
Benson continues to get no love from the media in the Heisman race while he posts big numbers week after week. Against Kansas this last week, he rushed 28 times for 161 yards and one touchdown. While not a huge threat to catch the ball, he did have three receptions for 18 yards against the Jayhawks.
For the season, Benson only has had one game in which he rushed for less than 141 yards (92 yards against Oklahoma). And while he hasn't elapsed 189 yards in a game this season, Benson does have 19 total touchdowns. The Longhorns play at home against No. 20 Texas A&M this week.
Alex Smith
junior quarterback, Utah
Smith has the most impressive numbers of all the quarterbacks because his touchdown-interception ratio is so good (27 TD-2 Int.), but also because he can run the ball. This last week against Wyoming, Smith rushed a season-high 14 times for 90 yards and one touchdown.
Although he must play teams such as San Diego St. and Colorado St. in conference, Smith and the Utes have played and beaten Texas A&M, North Carolina, New Mexico and Wyoming, all bowl eligible or possible bowl teams. This week they play 5-5 Brigham Young, who beat Notre Dame. Don't talk to Smith about strength of schedule and not playing good teams.
Adrian Peterson
freshman running back, Oklahoma
There is no doubt Peterson is an excellent running back and has been one of the best players all season. However, last game he slipped up, rushing 15 times for 58 yards and no touchdowns. In his last two games, Peterson has rushed 44 times for 159 yards, two of his three lowest efforts of the season.
On the year, Peterson has 1,431 yards and nine touchdowns. He has one game left, this week against Baylor, to impress the voters into making a freshman the Heisman Trophy winner.
Peterson isn't out of it yet, but he has taken a few steps backward, while his teammate, Jason White, has had to carry the Sooners to victory. Watch for these two to steal votes from each other for the award - a problem for past teammates.
