The Great Heisman Race

Looking for a sleeper to enter the Heisman debate late in the season? Keep an eye on Penn State quarterback DARYLL CLARK (below). The Nittany Lions lost three All--Big Ten offensive linemen and two of Clark's favorite receivers, but the dynamic senior, who threw for 19 touchdowns and ran for another 10 last year, can handle the extra load. If Clark leads Penn State to an undefeated season—the game against Ohio State being the primary obstacle—he will have punched his ticket to New York.

NO. 11 /// DEC. 5
Big 12 Championship Game

A Heisman candidate makes a final statement at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but will it be BRADFORD or MCCOY (above)? Last year Bradford sealed his Heisman with a 384-yard outing against Missouri in the conference title game.

NO. 12 /// DEC. 5
SEC Championship Game

The fourth quarter of last year's SEC title game was vintage TEBOW, who rallied Florida to victory over Alabama and gave Heisman voters reason to pause. The stage in Atlanta figures to belong to Tebow again when the defending national champions attempt to send their star signal-caller out on top.

And SI's projected winner is ... McCoy, who will lead the Longhorns to 13 consecutive victories and become the fifth Heisman runner-up to be named college football's player of the year the following season.

SI.COM
Beginning on Aug. 26, vote for your favorite Heisman-crowning moment of all time and watch videos of SI's top 16 picks, including Tim Tebow's jump pass against Kentucky in 2007, Doug Flutie's Hail Mary against Miami in 1984 and Herschel Walker's trampling of Florida in 1982. Also, check out Gene Menez's Heisman Watch each week during the season, as well as weekly highlights of the Heisman front-runners.