The co-sports editors and editor-in-chief adjust their Heisman frontrunners for Week 10

Tony Peterson – Editor in Chief

1. Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn, Jr.
As much as I hate to drop Kellen Moore, Newton’s stats are just too good to be ignored. The man has passed for 1,573 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 1,122 yards and 14 touchdowns. All this while leading the Auburn Tigers to an undefeated record, in the SEC nonetheless. What could seal this award for Newton is a win over defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide on Nov. 26.

2. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon, So.
This is another case where the stats just overwhelm all else. Last week against USC, James rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns, making his season totals 1,210 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. If Newton slips up, James will almost certainly become the Heisman frontrunner.

3. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State, Jr.
Though no fault of his own, Moore has dropped from No. 1 to No. 3 in my rankings. His play hasn’t been any worse””for the season he has thrown for 3,197 yards with a 69.8 completion percentage and 18 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He has simply been victim of amazing play by those above him on this list. Moore, much like Boise State in the race for the BCS National Championship, will likely fall short due to the inherent biases in the college football system.

4. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford, Jr.
Luck has led the Cardinal to a 7-1 record, an amazing feat in and of itself. On top of that, Luck has already thrown for 1,920 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Shoot, last week he even ran for 92 yards and a touchdown. He has little to no chance to win, but his season has sure been impressive.

Dark Horse: Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa, Sr.
At this point in the season, there aren’t really any “dark horses.” But Stanzi is having a phenomenal year, and deserves notice after Iowa’s drubbing of former No. 5 Michigan State. In that game, Stanzi had his best game of the season, throwing for 190 yards and three touchdowns.

Ben Ingersoll – Co-Sports Editor

1a. Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn, Jr.
College football is a “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately” sport, and Newton has done his fair share. The junior college transfer has 1,122 rushing yards and 172.6 passer rating. If no one else votes for him, Newton has at least one first-place vote. Auburn legend and 1985 Heisman winner Bo Jackson said Newton already has his vote.

1b. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon, So.
If James played on the east coast, I have a feeling people would pay a little less attention to Newton. Oregon’s offense is a ridiculously good fit for James, who already has three 200-yard games this season. It will basically come down to who loses first: Auburn or Oregon?

3. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State, Jr.
Moore is kind of slipping under the radar lately. Too bad, because Boise State is pretty good. Really good. Extremely good. And Moore has just two interceptions to 1,865 pass yards. Good enough?

4. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford, Jr.
Luck has just four regular-season games and a bowl left until he’s taking snaps for the Buffalo Bills. He will be the first pick in the NFL Draft and his numbers back it up. He has dropped off slightly as of late, but his 1,920 pass yards and 20 touchdowns can’t be overlooked.

Dark Horse: Darron Thomas, QB, Oregon, So.
Am I being biased? Maybe a little, but check back in a couple weeks. Thomas is giving Andrew Luck some serious competition for First-Team All-Pac 10 quarterback. He has the most touchdown passes in the Pac 10 with 21, and isn’t far behind Luck in yards with 1,827.

Vongni Yang – Co-Sports Editor

1. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State, Jr.
With a lineup of respectable games against Hawaii, Nevada and Fresno State this month, Moore can cement his status as the top player in the nation.
If Moore continues to play on a consistent level, he will only sway voters that he is indeed a frontrunner.
Moore has tossed two or more touchdowns in seven games this year. On the season, Moore has thrown for 18 touchdowns to only two interceptions for 1,865 yards.
A few more nationally televised games will only throw Moore into the Heisman spotlight.

2. Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn, Jr.
Newton is the most gifted signal-caller in the nation and he plays in what many consider the toughest conference in the country””the SEC.
If the Tigers continue to win, expect voters to hand the Heisman to Newton. A former Heisman winner is already proclaiming Newton as the top candidate for the award.
On the year, he’s thrown for 1,573 yards and 15 touchdowns while also adding 1,122 yards rushing and 14 scores.

3. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon, So.
James would be much higger on this list, but he’s been too much of a workhorse for Oregon in the past month. He’s averaging 30 carries a game in the past five contests.
I’m not too sure if James’ 5’9” 185 pound frame can withstand the amount of grinding and pounding for an entire season.
But he has produced with his excessive carries, James is the nation’s second leading rusher with 1,210 yards. He’s already scored 15 touchdowns through seven games.

4. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford, Jr.
Luck hasn’t “wowed” voters in the past two games, but he’s been as consistent a quarterback can be this year.
Luck doesn’t have an athletic supporting cast like an Oregon or an Auburn, but he’s putting up impressive numbers.
On the season, Luck has completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,920 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s also a threat on the ground, Luck’s ran for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns.

Dark Horse: Andy Dalton, QB, TCU, Sr.
Another non-BCS quarterback on the list? Yes. If Moore wasn’t generating all the buzz as the top non-BCS quarterback, it would be Dalton.
All Dalton does is win games. He’s lost only one game in the past two years as TCU’s signal caller and that was to Moore and Boise State.
Dalton has tossed 16 touchdowns to only five interceptions this year.
If Dalton has an impressive game against No. 5 Utah, he’ll skyrocket up many Heisman lists.