The numbers are as overwhelming as the performances that produced them: Nineteen touchdowns 1,834 yards, No. 1 all-time. Ron Dayne ran past 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams and into the record books as the all-time NCAA Division I-A rusher Saturday.
And while the rest of the crowd that expects a seat at the Downtown Athletic Club in December was impressive, their presence at the award ceremony will be little more than a formality.
Dayne left the rest of the Heisman field in his considerable wake with a monster game against Iowa. Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton, Virginia's Thomas Jones and Marshall's Chad Pennington all demonstrated their worth as finalists, but could not deliver a display capable of tipping the scales.
RON DAYNE -- WISCONSIN |
STATS |
1. |
Breaking it down: Set the NCAA I-A rushing record with his 11th 200-yard game of his career, tying a record held by Ricky Williams and Marcus Allen.
|
Opponent at Iowa
Season |
Car-Yds 27-216
303-1,834 |
TD 1
19
|
JOE HAMILTON -- GEORGIA TECH |
STATS |
2. |
Breaking it down: His 400-yard, five-TD performance was overshadowed by Dayne's record day. That's pretty much Hamilton's entire season in a nutshell.
|
Opponent vs. Clemson
Season |
Cmp-Att-Yds 22-30-322 Rush-Yds 19-88158-233-2,438 130-600 |
TD-INT 5-2
0
24-8 6 |
DREW BREES -- PURDUE |
STATS |
3. |
Breaking it down: During a bye week, announced that he plans on returning for his senior season ... surely as a Heisman favorite.
|
Opponent Idle
Season |
Cmp-Att-Yds
286-470-3,334 |
TD-INT
26*-11 *includes four rushing TDs, one receiving TD |
THOMAS JONES -- VIRGINIA |
STATS |
4. |
Breaking it down: Jones would be garnering all the running back support for the Heisman in any other season. He spiced up his performance against Buffalo with an 84-yard TD catch.
|
Opponent vs. Buffalo
Season |
Car-Yds 32-221 Rec-Yds 2-110
306-1,707 20-227 |
TD 2
17
|
CHAD PENNINGTON -- MARSHALL |
STATS |
5. |
Breaking it down: Became the fourth major-college QB to throw for 100 TDs in his career.
|
Opponent at Western Michigan
Season |
Cmp-Att-Yds 27-40-339
230-337-3,137 |
TD-INT 2-0
33*-9
*includes two rushing TDs |