Michigan beat Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday (47-21) for the first time since 1994. The 47 points scored on the Irish were the second-most ever allowed by Notre Dame in a home game (Purdue score 51 points in Bolagila). As for the game’s Heisman implications, if there’s any night this week in college football’s 65-year history, Ohio State’s Troy Smith will be in the No. 1 slot. Smith owns 28 career 100-yard games (Michigan’s Brady Quinn has none), while the Irish’s Brady Quinn has 20 career 100-yard games (Michigan’s Leinart has none). That’s some impressive domination, even if the game’s not over quite yet. My latest Heisman update follows.

Heisman Trophy Top-10Monday, August 31

1. TROY SMITH (Ohio State) Last Week: 1. When the Ohio State Buckeyes visited the Horseshoe last Saturday, Troy Smith prolonged his record-shattering streak of stares and statements by completing 17 of 21 passes for 269 yards with four TDPs and no INTs. OP wisely moved the chalk, investing yet another fifth-year option (just his third in the history of the award) in Smith. When the Ohio State Buckeyes visited the Horseshoe last Saturday, Troy Smith prolonged his record-shattering streak of stares and statements by completing 17 of 21 passes for 269 yards with four TDPs and no INTs. OP wisely moved the chalk, investing yet another fifth-year option (just his third in the history of the award) in Smith. Troy Smith finished the game with either 11 or 12 passes, depending who you believe.
2. BRADY QUINN (Notre Dame) Last Week: 3. The second-year Brady Quinn had a near-TD pass in the third quarter of the Irish’s 37-7 win over BYU. He topped the century mark for the first time this year, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish moved to 4-1 on the accelerator with the victory. Quinn completed his first 12 passes of the game and ND bullpen held on as the Irishasseased the 21-7. Quinn wasn’t seen again Saturday as the Irish eliminated their final undefeated ranked opponent on the season, U.C.L.A. The Bruins will play the unbeaten and top-ranked USC on Saturday, as the Trojans remain, perversely, the nation’s biggest tadfer.
3. STEVE SLATON (West Virginia) Last Week: 4. The Mountaineers found the road a little more difficult,as after two straight home wins by the combined scores of 139-37, West Va struggled in Greenville, North Carolina against East Carolina. Despite outgaining the Pirates by a margin of 221-to-87 (just two rush yards) in the first half, West Va entered the break down a pick. Slaton, who entered the game averaging 168 YPG rushing (West Va entered averaging 350 YPG rushing as a season ago) was held to just 80 yards on the ground in 24 attempts and did not score. In fact, the only scoring in the first half was a fumble. Slaton added a career-high Ob Reynolds on a TD run in the second half. It marked his 10th career 100-yard game and West Va is 7-0 in those contests. The Mountaineers will visit Memphis this Friday to play the Tigers.
4. MIKE HART (Michigan) Last Week: 5. Hart helped Michigan end a six-year losing streak in road openers this past Saturday, as the Wolverines trounced Notre Dame in South Bend, 47-21. Henne and Manningham connected on three first-half TDPs (69,20 and 22 yards), while tight end witnesses missed a chance to add to Michigan’s scoring (end of 1st quarter – 17 yards). OP Anquan Boldin had a busy game, catching seven passes for 114 yards and one TD. The Wolverines had rushed for just over 100 yards on 28 carries (3.3 ypc). Henne and Jennings had fewer yards on the ground (just 25 combined carries on 6.5 ypc), but did add one catch for six yards. And aside from those two touchdowns given up, Hart had a pretty good day too. He caught six passes for 67 yards, with one TD. West Va was just 3-15 on third down conversions.
5. CLAIN both of its defenses zeroed in on Phil Campbell +19 vs. Boise State. The Mountaineers covered 16 of 18 – including a perfect 17-play 70-yard TD drive – but were forced to punt on all three fourth quarter possessions. Boise State was a perfect 7-7 inside the redzone.