Updated NCAA Bracket Projections

Sign Up for B/R Bracket Challenge

Kansas State's Loss Makes Johnny Manziel the Heisman Favorite

Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories
Kansas State's Loss Makes Johnny Manziel the Heisman Favorite
Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

Lost in the BCS chaos of Kansas State's defeat at the hands of Baylor is that a freshman is now the favorite for the Heisman Trophy.

With Colin Klein presumably out of the running, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel (or as I and everyone else likes to call him, Johnny Football) has become the Heisman favorite.

Look at the current Heisman climate. The only undefeated team in the nation (that is eligible for a national championship) is Notre Dame, and its only candidate is linebacker Manti Te'o. A linebacker has never won the Heisman Trophy, so we can assume he's out of it.

Oregon's Kenjon Barner has a legitimate case, but his Ducks lost to Stanford and probably lost their shot at a BCS title. His stats are great, but not great enough to win him a Heisman without a potential national championship.

In a normal year, Ohio State's Braxton Miller would be the current favorite. But Ohio State isn't eligible for a bowl game. That has left the Buckeyes largely ignored by the media and general public, putting a major damper on Miller's case. If Ohio State were in the title hunt, things would be different.

Right now, Manziel is the only legitimate candidate. Look at his resumé; he has everything you ask for in a Heisman candidate:

- Tremendous statistics? Check. Manziel became the first freshman in NCAA history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000. Those numbers are only going up.

- Team success? Check. A&M hasn't had a two-loss season since 1994. They are currently ranked No. 8 in the BCS standings.

- A "Heisman moment"? Check plus. How does beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa sound? For those of you living under several rocks (because one just wouldn't do it), the Tide came into that game undefeated, ranked No. 1, and have won two of the past three national championships. 

Manziel seems to be the only candidate to fill all three criteria. He has the fans, media and voters behind him. Get ready to cringe, traditionalists; barring a major collapse by the Aggies, Johnny Manziel is going to win the Heisman Trophy.

Load More Stories

Follow Texas A&M Football from B/R on Facebook


Texas A&M Football

Subscribe Now

We will never share your email address

Thanks for signing up.