A rendition of Roger Staubach on the cover of Sports Illustrated, November 1963:

Colt McCoy’s Heisman hopes could rest on the outcome of Saturday’s game between Texas and Oklahoma State.

It’s really his last chance to make a positive impression on Heisman voters, as the rest of the Longhorns’ schedule contains no games of national interest (save the Big 12 title game, if Texas makes it).

McCoy is coming off a good outing against Missouri, so he can create a sense of momentum by turning in a fine performance against the Cowboys. 

And with Mark Ingram sitting out with a bye and Jimmy Clausen playing a team of little import, he’ll have the full attention of Heisman voters.

If he plays really well and leads Texas to a win over Oklahoma State, all he has to do is finish strong against a weak schedule to win the Heisman.  He’ll be a senior quarterback on an undefeated team that is headed for the BCS title game.  His stats won’t be out of this world, but they’ll be considered Heisman worthy, especially in the context of this season. 

But if he doesn’t play well on Saturday, I think his Heisman hopes fade considerably.  The race will open up even further and some other names will be in position to make a late-season run. 

Here is the latest in our series of Heisman candidate testimonials, courtesy of Houston Sports Information:

* Currently is #1 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense (399.71 ypg.) and passing yardage per game (390.57 ypg.), outdistancing himself from the runner up by 62 yards (total offense) and 36 yards (passing), respectively.

* Has posted the top single-game numbers in 2009 in total offense (544 yards), total plays (79), passing yards (536), pass completions (51), and pass attempts (76).

* Tied an NCAA record for most pass attempts in a game (76) without an interception (vs. UTEP on Oct. 3.)

* Has led team to wins over three BCS AQ schools in three attempts (Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Mississippi State), the only non-AQ quarterback to achieve this in 2009 and only the fourth non-AQ quarterback to accomplish
this since the BCS was created.

* Led the Cougars to a road upset over #5 Oklahoma State, the first Houston win over a Top 5 team since a 29-15 win over #3 Texas in Austin in 1984.

* Led the Cougars to two fourth-quarter wins over both Texas Tech at home and Mississippi State on the road.

* Triggers the nation’s top offense (536.6 ypg.) yet team has only eight turnovers in seven games.

* Is the current FBS Active Career Passing Yards Per Game (303.4 ypg.) and Career Total Yards Per Game Leader (324.5 ypg.)

* Has a 5-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season and over a 3-to-1 career ratio.

* Has a career average of 2.36 touchdown passes per game, topped only by Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford (2.84.)

Is this year’s Heisman race boring because no one is dominating statistically and there’s not a clear leader?

Or is this year’s Heisman race exciting because no one is dominating statistically and there’s not a clear leader?

My thought:  I think the race has been boring–to this point.  There’s no getting around the lack of pizazz from the various candidates, especially compared to last year. 

However, I think this race also has a chance to produce a real cliffhanger of a Heisman ceremony.  For the first time in a long, long time, five guys might head to New York thinking they have a shot.

What say you?

I’m told that on Friday Clemson will debut a website for C.J. Spiller complete with video of all seven of his 60-yard-plus touchdown runs.

In the meantime, here is the latest on Spiller courtesy of the Clemson Sports Information Department (thanks to Timothy Bourret for sending it in):

Top  Facts on CJ Spiller

•Leads the nation in all-purpose running with 208 yards per game.  Has achieved that against a tough schedule.  Clemson is one of just three teams nationally to face three top 15 teams (Miami and Washington are the others) and Spiller has his top three all-purpose games against those three opponents.  He had 234 against Georgia Tech, 227 against TCU and 310 against Miami (FL)

•Had school record 310 all-purpose yards at eighth ranked Miami,  tied for the most in the nation this year. Almost had at least 100 yards in three different areas.  Had 125 in kickoff returns, 104 receiving and 81 rushing.   This was against a Miami defense ranked in the top 25 in the nation in total defense.

•Has had a play of at least 60 yards in every game this year.  That is seven straight games with a 60-yard play, perhaps a first in the history of college football.  Has had a touchdown of at least 60 yards in six of the seven games (60 yard catch against TCU did not score). And he has achieved a 60-yard play four different ways.  Has three kickoff returns, two pass receptions, a punt return and  two runs of at least 60 yards this year.

•Joins Reggie Bush as only players in college football history with 2500 yards rushing, 1500 yards in kickoff returns, 1000 in receiving and 5000 in punt returns.

•Ranks third in the nation in kickoff return average with 38.2.  Has 37-yard average in punt returns also, but doesn’t have enough attempts to qualify. 

•Has 17 total returns this year and has taken four for touchdowns.

•Has tied the national record for career kickoff returns for touchdowns with 6.  Needs one more to break mark he co-holds with Anthony Davis of Southern Cal (1972-74) and Ashlan Davis of Tulsa (2004-05). Also needs one more kick return to tie NCAA record for total kick returns for touchdowns in a career. He has seven.

•Has 6363 career all-purpose yards and is on pace to become just the fifth player in NCAA history to reach 7000 yards in a career.

•Has 19 career touchdowns of 50 yards or more. More than Tim Brown, Rocket Ismail  or Reggie Bush, similar types of players, had in their careers.  Spiller needs just 182 yards to go past Bush’s career total and he already has more all-purpose yards than the aforementioned players and Desmond Howard had. 

•Only player in Clemson history to account for a touchdown five different ways (punt return, kickoff return, reception, rush and has thrown a touchdown pass).

•Ranks fifth  in Clemson history in rushing, 15th in receptions, first in kickoff returns. He has recorded these numbers while serving three years as a part time player with James Davis.  C.J. has started just 13 games in his career.

•Needs 118 rushing yards to become just second player in Clemson history and sixth in ACC history to reach 3000 rushing yards and 1000 receiving yards in a career.

•Will graduate in three-and-a-half years on December 17, 2009.  Made first-team Academic All-ACC last year when he made the Dean’s List.  First  Clemson running back to make first-team Academic All-ACC and first-team All-ACC on the field in same year in school history.

•Owns or is tied for 20 Clemson records, including three ACC records and one NCAA.

What do you all think?  Has a good case been made?

Fifty years ago this week…