This was supposed to be the year of the "Big 3" in regards to the Heisman Trophy. Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and reigning Heisman winner Sam Bradford. They were considered by most far and away the favorites. Now, Bradford is done, and Tebow and McCoy are struggling mightily. Additionally, nobody has really stepped into the void. This year, we're over half of the way through the season and nobody has stepped up as a solid, definitive Heisman favorite.

In lieu of great candidates, this year might be a case of the quarterback on the best team winning it. That would more or less be the case of Tebow or McCoy wins. Tony Pike had a chance, but now injuries have done away with him. As far as quarterbacks go, the two top guys might very well be Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen and Boise State's Kellen Moore, though not necessarily in that order. If Notre Dame wins out, which would be a more impressive deed than most thought before the season, maybe Clausen will win it. As for Moore, he has pretty much no chance since, you know, he plays in the WAC.

Other candidates include Alabama's Mark Ingram (a personal favorite), Clemson's C.J. Spiller, Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers, West Virginia's Noah Devine, and Jordan Shipley from Texas and Golden Tate from Notre Dame. Of course, winning a Heisman as a wide receiver is nigh impossible, what with their reliance on quarterbacks and all. As far as those running back candidates go, Ingram has the easiest road, since he has the best team. Does it make any sense? No, but that's the way it goes. Additionally, Dion Lewis from Pittsburgh has played outstanding but he's a freshman so he probably won't win.

A few defensive candidates came and went, but none of them have much of a chance now. If I had to vote right now, I'd probably go with Ingram, with Moore as the runner up. As for who will win it, I've got no idea. The Heisman race is definitively wide open. Almost any player can seize the lead the rest of the way. It's just a matter of which of the myriad candidates actually do that.