Houston Has Case of Hypesman Fever

The Hypesman has hit a wall.

Be that a defensive end coming unblocked to hit Tim Tebow, a linebacker driving Sam Bradford into the turf, Colt McCoy playing no one of value for the month, orJahvid Best getting shut down on the road; these are the times that try a hypemaster's soul. And the Heisman, as we all realize, is nothing if not the crafty creation of diabolical minds bent on building up their own television ratings in the guise of determining who is college football's greatest player.

But with the demise of the major candidates has come a startling rise in the ranks of the unknown. Could it be that Houston, Boise State, or, wipe away the look of amazement on your face, Cincinnati represent the new founts of quarterback greatness? Yep, at least if the ClayNation analysis of surging Heisman candidacies holds any credence whatsoever. Which it does.

Read on for the top eight Hypesman candidacies and why they're surging or plummeting.

8. Eric Berry, S Tennessee

I know, I know, he's done nothing since the Florida game when CBS named him Tennessee's player of the game and briefly brought him back to the forefront.

The only reason he's alive at all is this -- he's the only defensive player with enough name recognition to get an invitation to New York. On Saturday he plays against Auburn on ESPN prime time. Berry is still 15 yards away from becoming the all-time leading interception returner in the history of college football. What if he had two picks, one for a touchdown, and broke the record? ESPN would play this highlight four billion times.

Conservatively.

Fresh off this story, the next week, Berry and the Vols take on Georgia, followed by at Alabama, South Carolina, a virtual bye against Memphis, and then at Ole Miss. Four of those games will be nationally televised on CBS or ESPN. If the Vols are struggling, which they will be, who is the only player on the team that might make you tune in to watch?

Yep, Berry.

CBS and ESPN need Berry to make plays to keep viewer interest in these games. They still need the story of a Heisman upstart and if he makes the plays, you won't be able to avoid him. Why?

Because Berry is one of the few players left who has enough national pull to help catalyze that attention.

7. Jahvid Best, RB Cal

You're here because you're the only running back that anyone has ever heard of. Last week you would have been No. 1. This week, you're hanging on for your Hypesman life.

After your team laid an egg at Oregon, you need to blow up against USC. Do something that makes us all question how we could select anyone but you. Oh, and your team has to win as well. Lose two in a row, and no matter how gaudy your stats are, you're done.

If you win, pull a Marshawn Lynch and take the medical cart for a joyride. Something, anything, to make us push you back towards the top of the list.

6. Colt McCoy, QB Texas

With just nine touchdowns against five picks, no top 25 wins, zero Heisman standout plays, the only reason McCoy is still ranked this highly is because he hasn't won the award before and because Texas is poised to snag the national spotlight as their game against Oklahoma moves closer.

Until then, McCoy's in the Hypesman shadows for the next 16 days.

5. Tim Tebow, QB Florida

Everyone has heard of voter fatigue -- when a politician becomes tiresome due to their perceived ubiquity -- now we've entered the days of Heisman fatigue. That was even before Tebow took the hardest shot in the bluegrass since Tubby Smith's recuiting had all of Wildcat nation tossing back Four Horsemen of the Apocalypses seven nights a week.

Strangely, even though the concussion cost him part of a game and could potentially cost him another, it might actually strengthen Tebow's candidacy since it allows a new story angle to be driven into the ground. Tebow's already promised that no one will work harder and that resulted in a national championship. Now he can promise that no brain will work harder at repairing itself.

Meaning we've got a new Hypesman storyline: Can Tebow overcome the effects of his concussion and lead Florida to another championship? I can already see the gauzy interviews where Tebow talks about coming to grips with his own football mortality.

4. Tony Pike, QB Cincinnati

Raise your hand if you'd recognize Tony Pike in an uncrowded bar.

You're a liar if you're from anywhere outside Ohio. Actually, you're probably a liar if you're from Dayton too.

Despite his anonymity, Pike is surging up the Hypesman charts. He's got 11 touchdowns, only two interceptions, and has thrown for over 1,100 yards. What's more, his team just cracked the top 10 and will be favored from here on out to win every game.

He plays at Miami of Ohio this weekend. Win that game and his Hypesman status will go through the roof in preparation for the Thursday night ESPN game at South Florida. That game will be make or break for his candidacy. Win and he's got a shot to be in New York come December, lose and you'll never hear about him again.

3. A.J. Green, WR Georgia

Earlier this week, I said that Green was the only wide receiver in the country whose play was worth three individual games. Now, let me rephrase, is there any player in the country at any position who is worth three victories by himself?

Seriously, think about this.

Minus A.J. Green, Georgia might well have lost to South Carolina, Arkansas, and Arizona State. They could be 0-4. Plus, he's making Heisman worthy plays, a blocked kick to preserve a win? Are you kidding me? That thing should be getting replay time over and over again. Especially since it was followed up by a 36 yard reception to set up the eventual winning field goal.

Yep, the stirrings of an A.J. Green candidacy are just beginning. When he blows up for 150+ yards against LSU this weekend, his name will be on the tip of every talking head's tongue. Consider this the launch party.

2. Kellen Moore, QB Boise State

Write this prediction down: on Oct. 18th, Boise State will ascend to the No. 1 ranking in college football.

How's that happening? LSU is losing to Georgia this weekend. In the late afternoon of October 10th, Ole Miss is upsetting Alabama and then that evening Florida is losing to LSU. The next weekend, Oklahoma is taking down Texas Oct. 17th.

Bang, Boise is number one.

And you know what a No. 1 team is required to have? A Heisman candidate. Meet Kellen Moore, who has already thrown for almost 1,000 yards, 10 touchdowns against one interception, completed almost 70 percent of his passes, and will finish the season with over 30 touchdowns and a mere handful of interceptions.

He's surging right now, on the verge of taking off like a rocket into the Hypesman stratosphere.

1. Case Keenum, QB Houston



On a national stage, Keenum came up big against Texas Tech, throwing for 435 yards and leading his team to a last-second victory. He now has eight touchdowns against just two interceptions and a road win against a top-five team. Something that no other player on this list has managed.

What's more, Keenum has several things working for him that is driving his Hypesman status:

A.) His team is on a quest to crash the BCS.
B.) He plays in a large media market that is obsessed with football.
C.) He gets an opportunity to play against multiple major conference foes -- he's 2-0 against the Big 12 South and gets Mississippi State in two weeks.
D.) His candidacy grows each week that the Cougars remain undefeated.

Right now he's the king of the Hypesman castle.