Heisman Trophy winner

	Steve Slaton came out of nowhere last year, but he enters this season as one of the country's most hyped running backs. Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Mandel: Brady Quinn, senior, QB, Notre Dame. In terms of Heisman stereotypes, Quinn is straight out of central casting. Between Charlie Weis' QB-friendly offense and the built-in Irish exposure, it's Quinn's trophy to lose.

Winn: Steve Slaton, sophomore, RB, West Virginia. Imagine this: The 'Eers go undefeated, Slaton breaks 2,000 yards and a Notre Dame hype-backlash sinks Quinn. But yeah, I know ... that last one ain't gonna happen.

McCartney: Quinn. If the Irish's Golden Boy only matches the 3,919 passing yards and 32 touchdowns from last year, he'll end the school's 19-year Hessian drought. All that Notre Dame mystique doesn't hurt his case, either.

Beech: Quinn. What's not to like? High-powered offense? Check. Big-time schedule? Check. Tons of television exposure? Check. Barring a meltdown in South Bend, Quinn should walk away with this award.

Overhyped preseason Heisman candidate

Mandel: Jamaal Charles, sophomore, RB, Texas. The speedy running back is a star in the making, but he's not going to contend for the Heisman while sharing carries with Selvin Young.

Winn: Adrian Peterson, junior, RB, Oklahoma. Bob Stoops said AD will get 30-35 carries per game -- and he is the nation's best running back, if all things are equal. Unfortunately, they aren't: Peterson is running behind a questionable interior line, he has a history of injuries, and I'm not sold that his new QB, Paul Thompson, can do enough to keep Big 12 defenses honest enough to pave the way for a Heisman run.

McCartney: Chad Henne, junior, QB, Michigan. He still hasn't proven he can be the same player without Braylon Edwards to throw to and David Bass anchoring the line. Plus, the Wolverines haven't hit double-digit victories with him at the controls.

Beech: Ted Ginn Jr., junior, WR, Ohio State. No wideout has won the Heisman since Michigan's Desmond Howard in 1991. Ginn is a wonderful player, but everything has to break just right if he's to win the award.

Next household name

Mandel: Reggie Smith, sophomore, CB, Oklahoma. He will emerge as a Charles Woodson/Chris Gamble-type playmaker this season, especially now that Bob Stoops is planning to use him at receiver as well.

Winn: Brent Schaeffer, junior, QB, Ole Miss. Schaeffer was once a household name, back in 2004, when he started Tennessee's opener as a freshman -- but then he broke his collarbone, was arrested after a dorm fight and left Knoxville. He's resurfaced at Ole Miss after a year at a Cali juco and will immediately be the SEC's best mobile QB.

McCartney: Sam Shields, freshman, WR, Miami. With Ryan Moore suspended indefinitely, Shields and his 4.39 40-yard dash speed will see significant time. If the freshman ball-magnet dominates opponents the way he did Miami's veteran secondary at practice, watch out.

Beech: Emmanuel Moody, freshman, TB, USC. The true freshman has already elicited comparisons to Reggie Bush from his coaches. With starter Chauncey Washington expected to miss Saturday's game against Arkansas with a bad hamstring, Moody should get plenty of touches.