Ivan Maisel's Heisman Watch

USC's Carson Palmer joins the Heisman fray this week after a 5-TD performance against Oregon. AP

Sports Illustrated senior writer Ivan Maisel will track the Heisman race for CNNSI.com all season long.

1. Willis McGahee, Miami, Soph., TB

Last Week (vs. W. Virginia): 32 carries, 112 yards, 3 TDs in a 40-23 win
Season (7-0): 137 carries, 847 yards (121 ypg), 14 TDs

Ground out 112 yards and three touchdowns against the leading rushing defense in the Big East. Hasn’t had a bad game yet.

2. Ken Dorsey, Miami, Sr., QB

Last Week (vs. W. Virginia): 22-of-36, 422 yards, 2 TDs in 40-23 win
Season (7-0): 118-of-213 (55.4 percent), 1,828 yards, 18 TDs, 7 INTs

Big numbers in the 40-23 defeat of the Mountaineers.

3. Byron Leftwich, Marshall, Sr., QB

Last Week (vs. C. Michigan): 29-of-42, 374 yards, 2 TDs INT in 23-18 win
Season (6-1): 165-of-251, 2,688 yards, 19 TDs, 6 INTs, 2 rushing TDs

He continues to play with mind-numbing, and defense-numbing, consistency.

4. Carson Palmer, USC, Sr., QB

Last Week (vs. Oregon): 31-of-42, 448 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT in 44-33 win
Season (6-2): 195-of-314 (62.1 percent), 2,429 yards, 18 TDs, 8 INTs, 3 rushing TDs

After three-plus seasons of potential, Palmer has begun to produce yards and touchdowns. He may even read a defense or two.

5. Chris Brown, Colorado, Jr., TB

Last Week (vs. Tex. Tech) 26 carries, 149 yards, TD in 37-13 win
Season (6-2): 190 carries, 1,303 yards (162.9 ypg), 14 TDs

May be a one-week wonder. Brown has built his numbers against average-to-poor defenses. Oklahoma is next.

6. Onterrio Smith, Oregon, Sr., TB

Last Week (vs. USC): 19 carries, 79 yards in 44-33 loss
Season (6-2): 201 carries, 1015 yards (126.9 ypg), 12 TDs

Didn’t come up big enough in the big game against the Trojans. Ducks have lost two straight.

7. Maurice Clarett, Ohio State, Fr., TB

Last Week (vs. Penn State): 4 carries, 39 yards, injured early in 13-7 win
Season (9-0): 165 carries, 1019 yards (127.4 ypg), 13 TDs

Lottery or Heisman: you can’t win if you don’t play.

Want to weigh in with your own opinion? Vote in The People's Heisman.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Ivan Maisel covers college football for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to submit a question to his Mailbag.

 

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