Nate Longshore, Cal, QB, Soph.

	Nate Longshore has thrown for 1,325 yards and 17 touchdowns since the Golden Bears' season-opening loss against Tennessee. Scott A. Miller/US PRESSWIRE

Last week: 14 of 26 passing, 189 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 1 rush, 1 yard, 1 TD in a 45-24 victory against No. 11 Oregon
Season: 102 of 157 passing, 1,410 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs
Heisman-o-meter: Since Cal's implosion in the opener at Tennessee, Longshore has played as well as any quarterback in the country, throwing for 17 touchdowns against four interceptions in the last five games. And considering that the Vols contest was Longshore's first full game since 2003, the Watchman is willing to grade that effort leniently.
Up next: Saturday at Washington State

Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, RB, Jr.

Last week: 25 rushes, 109 yards, 1 TD in a 28-10 loss against No. 7 Texas (in Dallas)
Season: 142 rushes, 752 yards, 8 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: No one runs tougher than this workhorse, who pounded a stout Longhorns run defense for every inch available. One factor, though, could cost Peterson votes to Ohio State's Smith: Smith was able to lead his team to a victory over Texas while Peterson was not.
Up next: Saturday vs. Iowa State

Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, QB, Sr.

Last week: 27 of 37 passing, 232 yards, 3 TDs in a 31-10 victory against Stanford
Season: 148 of 233 passing, 1,634 yards, 16 TDs, 4 INTs
Heisman-o-meter: This was a typical Quinn-like effort: Attack different parts of the field, get multiple receivers involved (seven, in the case Saturday) and methodically move the ball downfield. The Watchman raised this question last year at this time and is wondering again: Has coach Charlie Weis made Quinn or does Quinn make Weis? I lean to the former.
Up next: Oct. 21 vs. UCLA

Steve Slaton, West Virginia, RB, Soph.

Last week: 26 rushes, 185 yards, 1 TD in a 42-14 victory against Mississippi State
Season: 112 rushes, 768 yards, 7 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: Numbers don't tell the whole story here. This game was much closer than the score indicates, and Slaton's performance was much better than his numbers show, considering the Bulldogs' run defense had allowed only one 100-yard rusher all season. The Watchman has been a Slaton backer since the Sugar Bowl, but I'm wondering if he will fight the same lack-of-competition bias that Garrett Wolfe is battling.
Up next: Saturday vs. Syracuse

Troy Smith, Ohio State, QB, Sr.

Last week: 17 of 20 passing, 191 yards, 3 TDs; 7 rushes, 54 yards in a 35-7 victory against Bowling Green
Season: 101 of 148 passing, 1,261 yards, 15 TDs, 2 INTs
Heisman-o-meter: Smith threw only three incompletions and had his best running day this year, including a 34-yard scramble on third-and-26 that began with a low shotgun snap and ended with a slalomly tour of the 'Shoe. He's been a sniper passing the ball; if he returns the running dimension to his game, watch out.
Up next: Saturday at Michigan State

Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois, RB, Sr.

Last week: 29 rushes, 162 yards, 2 TDs in a 28-25 victory at Miami (Ohio)
Season: 156 rushes, 1,343 yards, 13 TDs; 13 receptions, 162 yards, 1 TD
Heisman-o-meter: A 162-yard rushing night is never disappointing, but the Watchman was amped at the possibility of seeing Wolfe flirt with 300. Oh well. The Wolfe bandwagon has definitely picked up followers, and he must continue rolling or risk losing the considerable buzz factor he's built.
Up next: Saturday at Western Michigan