Op. Ed: Heisman race is West Va. QB's to lose

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Some say he’s RG3 squared. To others, West Virgina quarterback Geno Smith is the face of the new “air raid” quarterback, as the nation’s top rated passer.

Whatever the case, Smith is changing the college football landscape by putting up extraordinary numbers. On the season, Smith has completed 166-of-204 (81.3 percent completion rate) for 1,996 yards (399.2 per game) with 24 TDs, 0 INTs; and a 202.4 pass efficiency rating.

The nearest competitor, Texas’s David Ash, has a rating of 184.

With such gaudy numbers it’s clear that halfway through the season the Heisman Trophy is Smith’s to loose.

After Saturday's BCS top-five upsets, other Heisman contenders, like UGA's Aaron Murray and FSU’s EJ Manuel, can almost kiss their Heisman hopes goodbye. To compete at this point, any Heisman hopeful would need numbers to match Smith's or a team in BCS title contention.

On the field, Smith appears to be physically superior to his peers. His ability to escape the pocket in dangerous situations and elude defenders' tackles makes him a threat. Smith’s accuracy, arm strength, and mental toughness are unmatched, and may be the catalyst that has helped make this a one-man race.

West Virginia’s 48-45 road win against Texas Saturday almost seals the deal for Smith’s Heisman campaign, as he was 25-35 for 269 yards, with 4 TD’S and still no interceptions in the team's win over the Longhorns.

The Mountaineers are poised to become conference champions in their first year as a member of the Big 12. Next week, West Virginia takes on a stout defense in Texas Tech.

The real test for Smith will come just one week later on October 20 as the No. 5 ranked Mountaineers face a talented No. 6 ranked Kansas State team.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not reflect in any way those of FOX10 or Fox10tv.com.