The Heisman Criteria: The outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.
Big Game Performance
Manti Te’o:
- 1st (at any position) in interceptions against currently ranked teams, 1st against winning teams, 1st against BCS teams
- 3-0 vs Top 20
- Best statistical games against Stanford, Oklahoma and Michigan
Johnny Manziel:
- 1-2 vs top 20
- 0-2 against Florida and LSU with 0 touchdowns and 3 interceptions for a Passing Efficiency Rating of 103
- 7 TDs & 5 Ints against top 50 defenses
Individual Achievement
Manti Te’o:
- 7 interceptions are the most of any linebacker in at least the last 14 years, most on record
- Leads nation in takeaways (interceptions and fumbles recovered) with 9
- First linebacker on record with 7 interceptions and 100 tackles in the same year
Johnny Manziel:
- 43 total TDs | 33 TDs vs FBS Schools
- Only 7 of 43 (16%) total touchdowns recorded against top 50 defenses
- Just 18 TDs against 7 Ints passing vs FBS schools
- 4th in passing efficiency in the SEC
- Ranks 20th in total offense against currently ranked teams
- Performance against worst 7 defenses: 36 TDs vs. 3 Ints
- Performance against best 5 defenses: 7 TDs vs. 5 Ints
Team Results
Manti Te’o:
- Notre Dame completed its first undefeated regular season in 24 years
- Notre Dame is 2nd nationally in scoring defense (1st against FBS Schools), 1st in red zone defense
- Held 8 of its 12 opponents to their lowest totals of the year, and on average has held opponents 19.2 points below their scoring average
Johnny Manziel:
- Texas A&M has improved from 7-5 last year to 10-2 this year in its first SEC season
- Texas A&M is 1-2 against currently ranked opponents
- Texas A&M is 8-2 against FBS schools, 2 wins came against FCS schools (South Carolina State and Sam Houston State)
Leadership & Integrity
Manti Te’o:
- Manti will graduate early with a 3.3 GPA
- Acknowledged team leader with an unblemished disciplinary record
We anxiously look forward to the Heisman Announcement along with the rest of America, after you and your colleagues have made your decisions. We wish you the best regardless of your final choice, and we thank you very much for your time. Some of your colleague’s stories to consider:
- ESPN: Manti Te’o deserves the Heisman
- Fox Sports: Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o should be Heisman favorite
- Miami Herald: Manti Te’o, Notre Dame shining light onto greedy, tarnished sport
- LA Times: Manti Te’o is the heart of Notre Dame
- NY Daily News: Making the Heisman case for Irish LB
- Jim Rome: Manti Te’o Inspirational Story