Heisman Vote Came Down to Last Game

This weekend proved how entertaining conference championship games can be and how players step up and have career games. Three players this weekend had career games that could have won them the Heisman: Mark Ingram, Ndamukong Suh, and C.J. Spiller. Unfortuneately, Spiller was not invited to New York so he is out of the running for the Heisman Trophy. On Monday night, 5 finalists were named: Ingram, Suh, Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and Toby Gerhart. Here are my rankings of the top 10 candidates because there is a legitimate case for 10 players maybe even more that could have won college football's most prestigious award.

10. Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
STATS: 93 receptions, 1496 yards, 15 TD, 2 rush TD
Tate was one of the few bright spots for the Irish this season and will be lock to go in the first 2 rounds of the draft after declaring to forgo his senior season on Monday.
9. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
STATS: 3325 pass yards, 39 TD 3 INT 64.8% completion rating
Moore would have been higher on the list but the Broncos did not play the quality of teams outside of Oregon and Nevada that many of the main contenders faced.
8. Dion Lewis, RB, Pitt
STATS: 1640 rush yards, 16 TD
Lewis was by far the best freshman in the nation and will be a Heisman contender in the next 2-3 years.
7. Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
STATS: 2350 pass yards, 26 TD, 62.8% completion
Pike was hurt for a quarter of the season and still put up tremendous numbers. If it wasn't for his injury, Pike might have been visiting New York this weekend with the other Heisman finalists.
6. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
STATS: 1590 total yards, 15 total TD, 1 pass TD
Spiller's performance Saturday night in Tampa was Heisman worthy by running for 233 yards and 4 TD, if Clemson had won there would be no doubt Spiller would be a Heisman finalist instead of Toby Gerhart.
5. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
STATS: 1736 rush yards, 26 TD
Gerhart dominated Pac-10 defenses the whole season but lacks the national exposure that the Cardinal got. Also, with Stanford finishing fourth in the Pac-10, it weakens Gerhart's appeal because all of the other 4 players ahead of him reached a championship game in their respective conferences and although the Pac-10 does not have a championship game, had Stanford won the title outright, Gerhart would have a better chance of winning the Heisman.
4. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
STATS: 3272 total yards, 31 total TD, 65.2% completion
The best college football player this decade, Tebow will finish his career in the Sugar Bowl instead of the BCS National Championship and as a Heisman finalist instead of the winner of the Heisman. If voters judged his overall career compared to the other finalists, Tebow would win hands down. When the winner is announced Saturday night, Archie Griffin will still be the only 2-time Heisman winner.
3. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
STATS: 3512 pass yards, 30 total TD, 70.5%completion
McCoy had a very average game versus Nebraska and he needed a game like he had against Texas A&M on Thanksgiving to win the award. But, because of the performances of Suh and Ingram, college football's winningest quarterback will have a national championship to focus on winning after his vacation to New York and thats is. Although, he has a better chance than Tebow to win, McCoy hurt his chances in the Big 12 Championship Game.
2. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
STATS: 52 tackles, 11.5 sacks
Suh is the best defensive player in football this season and maybe since Charles Woodson swarmed around Michigan Stadium a decade ago. Suh's performance was SUH-perb against Texas with 12 tackels and 4.5 sacks against the #2 team in the nation. All year long Suh has made players around him better and is truly the most valuable player to his team this season.
1. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
STATS: 1542 rush yards, 322 receiving yards, 18 total TD
Ingram won the Heisman trophy in the SEC Championship against Florida. Rebounding from his horrific performance against Auburn, Ingram had 189 total yards and 3 rushing touchdowns. Ingram wins this award because he is the best player on the best team in the nation, and traditionally that is who wins the Heisman and this year will be no different.