September 30, 2009

Olin Buchanan
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer

VOTE: Tell us who you would vote for this week

There's no denying a player's performance in previous seasons can enhance his candidacy in the Heisman Trophy race. But at some point, what's accomplished this season has to be the No. 1 factor of consideration.

One month into the season, that point has arrived. And based on what's been accomplished thus far, Houston quarterback Case Keenum has taken over as the leading candidate.

Keenum emerged as a candidate after leading the Cougars to a 45-35 upset of Oklahoma State two weeks ago. He leaps ahead of the pack after directing a 16-play, 95-yard drive to give Houston a come-from-behind 29-28 victory over Texas Tech last week.

On that drive, Keenum was 5-for-8 for 50 yards and rushed three times for 22 yards, including a 4-yard run for the game-winning touchdown.

"The whole drive for everyone was just reaction," Keenum said. "There's not a lot of thinking after four quarters of hard-nosed football. As fast as we play and as fast as the Texas Tech defense plays as well as our defense, it's just reaction. We just have to go out there and make plays, and our guys did in a crucial time."

This season, Keenum has passed for 1,160 yards and eight touchdowns. That's comparable to the statistics accumulated by other contending quarterbacks such as Texas' Colt McCoy (1,145 yards, nine TDs), Cincinnati's Tony Pike (1,223 yards, 11 TDs) and Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen(1,122 yards, 10 TDs).

But Keenum has accumulated those numbers in three games; the others have played in four. Keenum also has played his highest-profile opponents; the other contenders have their biggest games remaining.

Florida's Tim Tebow can strengthen his bid in upcoming games against LSU and Georgia. McCoy can make a move in games against Oklahoma and Missouri. Pike can raise his profile in an upcoming game against USF. Clausen's next two games are against Washington and USC.

The candidacy of California running back Jahvid Best lost momentum with a 55-yard performance in a lopsided loss to Oregon. But he could re-emerge as a leading candidate with an impressive performance against USC this weekend.

Olin Buchanan is the senior college football writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at olin@rivals.com.