Even in what will be its 78th presentation, there is room to break new ground in the awarding of college football’s most prized piece of hardware, the Heisman Trophy.
Chances are the one who leaves the Best Buy Theater in Times Square Saturday with the bronze statue symbolic on college football’s most outstanding player will also own a significant piece of history.
The envelopes, please….
COLLIN KLEIN
Senior QB, Kansas State
6 feet 5, 226 lbs.
Stats: 2,490 yards passing, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Ran for 890 yards and 22 TDs
School Heisman history: No Wildcat has won the Heisman
Signature moment in 2012: Ran for four touchdowns and threw for three more to out-duel then-Heisman frontrunner Geno Smith at West Virginia
Best argument for: Guided the Wildcats to an 11-1 season
Hurdles: Faded down the stretch, notably against Baylor
Fun fact: At 6-5 would match tallest winners (Leon Hart, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart)
Vegas odds to win: 20-1
JOHNNY MANZIEL
Redshirt freshman QB, Texas A&M
6-1, 200
Stats: 3,419 yards passing, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Ran for 1,181 yards and 19 TDs
School Heisman history: Halfback John David Crow won the Heisman in 1957
Signature moment in 2012: Led upset of then-No. 1 Alabama, 29-24, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Claim on history: Would be the first freshman, redshirt or otherwise, to win the award
Best argument for: Improvisational skills and sizzle he brings to the game
Hurdles: Went 1-2 against toughest teams on the schedule: Alabama, Florida and Louisiana State. Freshman
Fun fact: Attended same summer camp at Oregon and almost became a Duck with Marcus Mariota
Vegas odds to win: 1-15
MANTI TE’O
Senior LB, Notre Dame
6-2, 255
Stats: Seven interceptions and 103 tackles
School Heisman history: Angelo Bertelli (1943), John Lujack (1947), Leon Hart (1949), John Lattner (1953), Paul Hornung (1956), John Huarte (1964) and Tim Brown (1987) all winners
Signature moment in 2012: Late interception against Oklahoma secured victory against the Sooners
Claim on history: Would be the first pure defender to win the award
Best argument for: Inspirational leader lifted Fighting Irish to unbeaten season and No. 1 ranking with solid, consistent play
Hurdles: Stereotype against a defender winning the award and difficulty quantifying defensive statistics
Fun fact: Hornung also wore No. 5 for Notre Dame when he won in 1956
Vegas odds to win: 15-4
