YCS/Heisman Watch - Week 11

While those at the WWL might be crying over the misfortune of glamor teams like USC and Notre Dame, the rest of us are impressed with the likes of Pitt and Jim Harbaugh's Stanford. Who else impressed this week, are we closer to finding a worthy Heisman winner? Find out at the only place that tells it like it is, RSS!

YCS STANDINGS

1. Alabama (10-0, last week W vs. at Miss. St. 31-3, up next Sat. vs. Chattanooga)

-Bama moves back to the top spot after their most completely dominant performance of the season at Miss. St. Mark Ingram was his usually reliable self (more on him later) and the defense was as stout as it has been in weeks. Even more encouraging, QB Greg McElroy and WR Julio Jones continue to show signs of life. Up next is a glorified scrimmage with Chattanooga before the annual Iron Bowl at Auburn.

2. Texas (10-0, last week W vs, at Baylor 47-14 up next Sat vs. Kansas)

-Finally, finally the Texas offense got off to a hot start Saturday versus Baylor. By halftime, the Longhorns were up 40-0 before they eased off in the second half. Again, even though Colt McCoy's numbers aren't what they were last year, they don't have to be for Texas to be successful. This week's game against Kansas shouldn't be much of a hurdle either, as they will be coasting into the Big 12 title game, where you can bet they'd much rather see Kansas St. than Nebraska.

3. Florida (10-0, last week W at South Carolina 24-14, up next Sat. vs. FIU )

-Once again, everyone but us seems to be watching replay's of last year's Gators instead of this year's wholly unspectacular version. Florida's once potent offense once again sputtered at South Carolina until again being bailed out by their defense. If the SEC title game were tomorrow, Alabama might be a touchdown favorite. But, for now, Florida is still the king of the mountain...not about to be knocked off by an in-state peasant like FIU.

4. TCU (10-0, last game W vs. #16 Utah 55-28, up next Sat. at Wyoming)

-TCU leapfrogs Cincinnati after another relentless beatdown of a ranked opponent. The latest thrashing of Utah was by no means soft...this is a Utah team coming off a BCS bowl victory of their own. But at times, it didn't even look like they belonged on the same field as TCU. While it's looking less and less likely two of the top three will slip, TCU seems to be the next in line...for now. Their weak finishing schedule and lack of a conference championship will hurt them severely while other teams are still playing.

5. Cincinnati (10-0, last week W vs. #25 West Virginia 24-21, up next Nov. 27 vs. Illinois )

-Cincinnati stayed unbeaten against a very game West Virginia team, but they've continued to look less and less impressive in recent weeks. QB Tony Pike showed he's ready to return with 2 TDs in 4 passes. While Fr QB Zach Collaros certainly has a bright future ahead of him, it's time for Pike to once again man the controls. Give Pike a full game against Illinois before the de facto Big East title game against Pitt.

6. Boise St. (10-0, last week W vs. Idaho 63-25, up next Sat. at Utah St.)

-Once again, Boise's ultimate destiny is completely out of their hands. With their weak schedule and that opening win against Oregon losing steam, they are easily on the bottom of the undefeated totem pole. All they can do now is pray a bowl committee remembers their past BCS triumphs favorably and isn't swayed by other school's large alumni bases.

7. Georgia Tech (10-1, last game W at Duke 49-10, up next Nov. 28 vs. Georgia)

-After stumbling briefly at Duke, Dwyer, Nesbitt and company turned on the afterburners to run away from a slightly game Duke football program (yeah, let that sink in a little bit, Duke is actually 5-5). In any other season, Georgia Tech would be the team in the catbird seat, waiting for the right break to send them into the national title game. This year, they're an also-ran. Still, for a program on the rise under HC Paul Johnson (above), an ACC championship would be a step in the right direction.

8. Ohio St. (9-2, last game W vs. #10 Iowa 27-24, up next Sat. at Michigan)

-After a second straight victory over a Top 15 opponent, Ohio St. vaults back in to the YCS, which has to rank just below earning that first trip to the Rose Bowl in over a decade. Much to the chagrin of many in the media (you didn't have to look far to read stories knocking Ohio St. in victory) and the nation of BuckNuts, HC Jim Tressel won Saturday his way. In the Big Ten, it means a fifth straight conference title. Fans and media alike have to ask themselves, would Ohio St. be better off any other way. John Cooper's still sitting by his phone waiting for a phone call. Charlie Weis may be out of a job soon. Do those sound like good alternatives? The media and the most rabid fans have to realize the grass isn't always greener, especially in college. Be thankful for what you do have, for those in Columbus, it's a perennial champion, no matter how "ugly" or "timid" it may look. Oh by the way, Saturday Tressel will be looking for his 8th win in 9 games versus that team up north.

9. Pittsburgh (9-1, last game W vs. Notre Dame 27-22, up next Sat. at West Virginia)

-Much to my surprise, Wanny's Panthers stood up to a late Notre Dame rally to hang on and win a crucial spotlight game. As impressive as Fr Dion Lewis was running the ball, WR Jonathan Baldwin was as impressive with his spectacular catches. However, at times the team looked very shaky. Whether they're built for the BCS will be found out in the next two weeks. While everyone is looking ahead to their last game against Cincinnati, the Backyard Brawl at West Virginia is up next. You can bet if Pitt looks one bit past WVU, they'll get be in for a rude awakening.

10. Oregon (8-2, last game W vs. Arizona St. 44-21 , up next Sat. at Arizona)

-Oregon barely hangs on to the coveted last spot in the YCS after winning against Arizona St. As the only one-loss conference team left standing in the Pac 10, they control their own destiny to make it to the Rose Bowl. Their first hurdle comes against Arizona, who also can make the Rose Bowl if they win their last 3 games. Here's hoping for the sake of an interesting New Year's Day Oregon keeps winning.

Dropped from the YCS: USC, LSU

Just Missed Out: LSU, Stanford

-LSU falls just outside the YCS after struggling to beat La. Tech at home Saturday night. But the real story of the week was Stanford's beatdown of USC, at USC, by hanging a school-worst 55 points on the Trojans. Let's look at the key storylines one-by-one, because there are a lot. First, is this the beginning of a USC decline? Slowly but surely, USC has come back to the Pac-10 pack (get it, Pac...pack, clever, right?) leaving us to wonder whether this is a one-year blip, or a sign of times to come. With a young defense and quarterback, it's doubtful the Trojans will be down for long. Second, give it up for Stanford and HC Jim Harbaugh for taking care of USC twice in three years, both at USC. He's built a team that was closer to competing against the Chess Club to a couple games away from the Rose Bowl. Here's where things get interesting, up 48-21, Harbaugh went for two in the 4th quarter. From day one, Harbaugh has made no secret of his desire to knock off USC. Some say the move lacked class...I say, if Pete Carroll did the same thing, would any one complain? Probably not. To be the man, you have to beat the man, and give credit to Jim Harbaugh for staking his claim to being the man.

RSS HEISMAN WATCH

1. Mark Ingram-RB-Alabama (last week 19 rushes, 149 yards, 2 TDs)

-Once again, Mark Ingram had to have a big game, and then delivered. Even a nasty goalline collision cut him early on, Ingram was able to rush for almost 150 yards and added 2 much needed TDs to his resume. On one hand, he won't be needed much against Chattanooga, so he'll have to hope to pile up some early numbers. Of course, Ingram has shown he doesn't need many carries to bust loose.

2. Colt McCoy-QB-Texas (last week 23/34, 181 yards, 2 TDs)

-Colt McCoy does just enough to hang around, and realistically still has an excellent shot at the Heisman trophy. He's got a Saturday night game this week against Kansas and another showcase in the Big 12 title game. Anyone doubting his prospects is foolish at best, naive at worst. While he wouldn't get my vote this year, the fact is he's still a major player.

3. C.J. Spiller-RB-Clemson (last week 18 rushes 97 yards, 1 TD; 3 catches, 48 yards, 1 TD; 1 passing TD)

-C.J. Spiller continued to try his all this past week at N.C. State. For throwing, receiving, and rushing for a TD, he should get a lot more attention than he did this weekend, too bad his team is out of the ACC picture, and has been for quite some time. Unfortunately, in this day and age, Spiller can't be a viable candidate without a good team to back him up. But, if this were truly a vote based on most outstanding player, Spiller would certainly be a prime candidate.

4. Toby Gerhart-RB-Stanford (last week 29 rushes, 178 yards, 3 TDs)

-Maybe the best player no one has heard of, Toby Gerhart makes the RSS Heisman Watch after his role in Stanford's domination of USC. That makes two weeks in a row that Gerhart has run all over a Top 10 team...too bad he plays on the West Coast for Stanford. If this were the middle of the season, he'd have time to make a case. Instead, it's too little too late.

5. LaMichael James-RB-Oregon (22 rushes, 150 yards, 3 TDs)

-James barely beats out fellow freshman sensation Dion Lewis of Pitt to take the last spot in the Heisman Watch this week. James's consistent game-breaking ability has made people in Oregon quickly forget about suspended Duck LeGarrette Blount. While James is on the outside looking in this year, he'll be on the early Watch list at the start of next season.

Dropping Out of the Race: Another loss for Houston does in the campaign of Case Keenum. But, even more shocking, we've finally given up on Superman, JC QB, Tim Tebow. Even though he tied Kevin Faulk in career TDs in the SEC with 53, he once again threw for under 200 yards and only ran for 46. We just can't ignore any longer his consistently mediocre performances. More alarming to Tebow should be his draft stock, which is falling faster than Jay Leno's ratings (sorry Jay, had to do it...I've always liked you, even more than Dave and Conan, but I digress). Unless Tebow has a dramatic position change (TE, FB, LB), his NFL career will be short-lived.

Keep an Eye On: Dion Lewis-RB-Pittsburgh

Ok, so it might be lazy, but Lewis did so much to impress on Saturday night, we felt he deserved another week in the spotlight. He ran for 152 yards and a TD, although it was against Notre Dame. Still, the Fr showed he's a force to be reckoned with in the Big East title race because both WVU and Cincinnati lack his electrifying big play ability. With his speed/power combination, Lewis is another name you should get used to seeing the next two years.

That's it for this week's YCS and Heisman Watch. As always your thoughts and comments are appreciated, we're open to any and all forms of feedback. Our NFL recap is on tap tomorrow as well as our continuing countdown of the games of the decade. Until then, it's bye for now!