The Next Winner of the Heisman Trophy

Troy Smith the Ohio State quarterback is such a heavy favorite to take the Heisman Trophy that the competition could be one of the biggest landslides in the award's history.
The other two candidates are Notre Dame’s quarterback Brady Quinn and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. But it'll be a shocker if Smith doesn't become the sixth Ohio State player to win the Heisman. Since Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago won the first Heisman in 1935, 14 players have won the bronze statue by a margin of more than 1,000 points.
Southern California tailback O.J. Simpson set the standard for uneven Heisman Trophy victories in 1968, receiving 1,750 points more than the runner-up, Purdue running back Leroy Keyes. Then there were 1,200 Heisman voters but the number of voters decreased to 923 in 1988, so simple mathematics makes it difficult for anyone to touch that mark. A first-place vote is worth three points, a second-place vote two and a third one.
Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward came closest to Simpson's mark when he won the '93 award by 1,622 points over Tennessee's Heath Shuler. Two years before, Michigan's Desmond Howard was a 1,574-point winner over Florida State's Casey Weldon.
Smith would be the first senior to win the Heisman since USC quarterback Carson Palmer did it in 2002, breaking a streak of three straight junior winners. Being a senior also means that Smith won't have a chance to match Ohio State's Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman winner. But as the first quarterback in 70 years to lead Ohio State to three consecutive victories over Michigan, Smith already ranks with Griffin as one of the best and most beloved Buckeyes.
About the Author
Ally White is a top senior copy writer on sportsbook action for http://www.instantactionsports.com
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