Clausen’s Chances

It’s highly unlikely that Jimmy Clausen wins the Heisman Trophy this year.

I’d put his chances of winning at 5 percent right now. 

If he throws a touchdown pass on that last drive against USC–and leads the Irish back from a 20-point fourth quarter deficit to win–he probably runs away with the award.

But he didn’t.

Now, he must hope every other legitimate candidacy goes through a meltdown in order to be seriously reconsidered.  The way McCoy and Tebow are playing, I suppose it’s a good possibility that he squeezes back in the race, but actually winning is another story.

Then again, he could lead four or five more fourth-quarter comebacks, which is something Heisman voters love.  

Stay tuned:  this race has a few more twists and turns left in it.

About Heismanpundit

Chris Huston, A.K.A. ‘The Heisman Pundit‘, is a Heisman voter and the creator and publisher of Heismanpundit.com, a site dedicated to analysis of the Heisman Trophy and college football. Dubbed “the foremost authority on the Heisman” by Sports Illustrated, HP is regularly quoted or cited during football season in newspapers across the country. He is also a regular contributor on sports talk radio and television.

7 Responses to Clausen’s Chances

  1. Ken October 19, 2009 at 10:45 am #

    So Clausen/Notre Dame put up 27 points on the best defense in the country, and now he is out of the race? I realize the Heisman goes by other “rules”, but you say it as if it is a definitive 5%. Just like a freshman not winning was definitive (oh wait let me throw in this caveat for wiggle room). Clausen is the best quarterback in the country, on Notre Dame, and he just faced the toughest defense in the country and lived up to the task. If ND runs the table, with Clausen having videogame stats like 30 TDs, 5 INTs, 3200 yards, how can he not be seriously considered? Tebow has been a turnover machine. McCoy has looked ordinary. Alabama Soph RB with no hype? Maybe. The year isn’t exactly full of big game performances.

  2. David October 19, 2009 at 11:53 am #

    HP,

    What about Max Hall, the BYU QB. What do you think about his chances? I know the Cougars lost to Florida St. and that looks ugly but if BYU runs the table at 11-1 and wins the Mountain West which would include wins over TCU & Utah, would that give Hall any momentum at all? Just by schedule alone I’d think an 11-1 BYU team is more deserving of a BCS berth than a 12-0 Boise St. team who basically has played nobody outside of Oregon (wow is that a different team now) and the WAC is way down.

    So what about Max Hall???

  3. socraticsilence October 19, 2009 at 12:37 pm #

    Ken in what way has Tebow been a “turnover machine” he has 2 fumbles and 2 picks on the year against 13 TDs- oh and unlike Clausen- he actually beats teams that finish above .500.

  4. Ken October 19, 2009 at 5:42 pm #

    socraticsilence:

    Tebow has 2 fumbles? 2 fumbles?!?! He had 2 fumbles just against Arkansas! He had another in the Tennessee game that led to 7 points. And he’s had fumbles in other games as well. Tebow has been a turnover machine. If you aren’t aware of that, you aren’t watching much Florida football.

    Tim Tebow – 46th ranked schedule
    1032 yards, 8 TD, 2 INT, 378 yards rushing, 5 TD
    Colt McCoy – 56th ranked schedule
    1537 yards, 11 TD, 7 INT, 91 yards rushing, 1 TD
    Jimmy Clausen – 13th ranked schedule (13th!)
    1804 yards, 14 TD, 2 INT, 1 rushing TD

    In the words of GOB: “COME ON!”

  5. sandymex October 20, 2009 at 5:35 am #

    Clausen has had about 30 turnovers and you call Tebow a “turnover machine” because of a bad snap that hit the running back?

    I think Clausen still has a shot, but he’s got to stop losing and he’s got to beat at least one top 25 team.

  6. Locker October 20, 2009 at 3:42 pm #

    clausen’s had two turnovers..

  7. sandymex October 21, 2009 at 7:22 am #

    Tebow’s played in 18 more games than Clausen and has about 10 less turnovers. Clausen’s 3 turnovers this year is low, so I’m not sure how one more makes Tebow a “turnover machine.”

    Tebow is on pace to have the lowest interception percentage in the history of the SEC (he’s well ahead of Andre Woodson’s mark). He’s on the verge of overtaking Herschel Walker’s rushing TD mark and has fumbled less while running the spread.

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