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Posted: Monday November 10, 2008 3:01PM; Updated: Monday November 10, 2008 3:22PM
Gene Menez Gene Menez >
HEISMAN WATCH

Texas Tech's Graham Harrell holding steady as frontrunner

Story Highlights

After another impressive game, Harrell could seal it with a win at Oklahoma

Last year's winner, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, has jumped back in the race

Michael Crabtree, Sam Bradford and Shonn Greene vying for N.Y. invite

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If Graham Harrell performs well against Oklahoma in two weeks, he'll very likely lock up the Heisman Trophy.
If Graham Harrell performs well against Oklahoma in two weeks, he'll very likely lock up the Heisman Trophy.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

There wasn't much movement atop the Heisman Watch as last week's leaders -- Graham Harrell, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford -- all had impressive outings, but someone did make a slight move. Reigning champ Tim Tebow had his best running game of the season Saturday and has attracted some renewed Heisman buzz. But is it too late for Touchdown Tim to repeat?

1. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, QB, Sr.

Last week: 40-of-50 passing, 456 yards, 6 TDs; 5 rushes, minus-2 yards in a 56-20 victory over No. 8 Oklahoma State.

Season: 332-of-463 passing, 4,077 yards, 36 TDs, 5 INTs; 28 rushes, minus-5 yards, 6 TDs.

Heisman-o-meter: Harrell and the Red Raiders didn't have any letdowns this weekend, though the Heisman frontrunner got off to a rough start when he fumbled a snap on Tech's opening possession, setting up an Oklahoma State touchdown. Harrell recovered and threw six touchdowns, though his first touchdown pass on a fade pattern to Edward Britton may have been the prettiest of them all (or perhaps it was his fifth, another fade, to Michael Crabtree). The whole night, Harrell took the short stuff against the Cowboys' defense (his longest pass was 28 yards), which allowed Tech to score touchdowns on seven-consecutive possessions. Now he gets two weeks to prepare for an epic showdown in Norman, where a good performance and a win would just about nail down the top spot on this list.

Up next: Nov. 22 at Oklahoma.

2. Colt McCoy, Texas, QB, Jr.

Last week: 26-of-37 passing, 300 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs; 8 rushes, 21 yards in a 45-21 victory over Baylor.

Season: 244-of-313 passing, 2,879 yards, 28 TDs, 7 INTs; 101 rushes, 449 yards, 7 TDs; 2 punts, 69 yards.

Heisman-o-meter: The hits McCoy took in Lubbock a week ago seemed to spill over Saturday (he was nailed on his first interception and pounded a couple more times), but the tough Texan shook it off for his first five-touchdown passing game since 2006. Twice, McCoy kept plays alive with his feet that resulted in scores: his first touchdown to Quan Cosby came when Baylor dropped eight men in coverage and his last score to Jordan Shipley came when McCoy sidestepped a defender and found Shipley all alone. While The Watch has McCoy No. 2, it will not argue with anyone who has him as the frontrunner at this point.

Up next: Saturday at Kansas.

3. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, QB, Soph.

Last week: 22-of-33 passing, 320 yards, 4 TDs; 5 rushes, 23 rushes, 1 TD in a 66-28 victory at Texas A&M.

Season: 224-of-330 passing, 3,406 yards, 38 TDs, 6 INTs; 5 rushes, 23 yards, 1 TD.

Heisman-o-meter: The Sooners' cool operator once again made it look easy against another overmatched defense in just three quarters. Bradford had a nice touchdown run on the team's first possession, found Ryan Broyles for a scoring pass after patiently stepping up in the pocket and could have finished with five touchdown passes had Jermaine Gresham not dropped an easy score. (Bradford also could've had a pass intercepted for a pick six, but Danny Gorrer couldn't hold onto the ball.) A big performance against the Red Raiders in two weeks would make the Heisman and BCS championship races anyone's guess.

Up next: Nov. 22 vs. Texas Tech.

4. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, WR, Soph.

Last week: 8 receptions, 89 yards, 3 TDs in a 56-20 victory over No. 8 Oklahoma State.

Season: 78 receptions, 1,010 yards, 18 TDs; 1 rush, 3 yards; 1 kickoff return, 50 yards.

Heisman-o-meter: One week after changing the BCS and Heisman landscapes with his game-winning touchdown against Texas, Crabtree had another Biletnikoff-caliber effort, catching two scores on slants and another on a fade in the corner of the end zone. On his first score, from nine yards out, Crabtree plowed past Jacob Lacey on his way to the end zone and showed just how physically superior he is to the defensive backs attempting to stop him. The Harrell and Crabtree performances this season have given voters a dilemma: While Harrell is without question the more valuable of the two because of the position he plays, who is better at what he does, Harrell or Crabtree? The Watch would like to hear what Texas Tech followers think.

Up next: Nov. 22 at Oklahoma.

5. Shonn Greene, Iowa, RB, Jr.

Last week: 28 rushes, 117 yards, 2 TDs; 1 reception, 6 yards in a 24-23 victory over No. 3 Penn State.

Season: 226 rushes, 1,374 yards, 13 TDs; 8 receptions, 49 yards.

Heisman-o-meter: He got off to a fast start against the nation's 11th ranked rushing defense with 32 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown run, after three carries and finished with his 10th straight 100-yard rushing game this year. Greene's tough running was Iowa's best weapon all day against a stout Nittany Lions defense, and was enough to make up for his two dropped passes on the Hawkeyes' game-winning drive.

Up next: Saturday vs. Purdue.

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