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Let me start you off with a table full of numbers.
| Player | Pass Yd | Comp PCT | QBR | TD | INT | Rush Yd | Rush TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braxton Miller, OSU | 2,039 | 58.3 | 140.5 | 15 | 6 | 1,271 | 13 |
| Johnny Manziel, TA&M | 3,419 | 68.3 | 155.9 | 24 | 8 | 1,181 | 17 |
| Jordan Lynch, NIU | 2,750 | 63.6 | 157.3 | 23 | 4 | 1,611 | 16 |
| Denard Robinson, MICH | 1,319 | 53.6 | 127.4 | 9 | 9 | 1,166 | 7 |
| Trent Steelman, ARMY | 615 | 45.9 | 105.8 | 1 | 2 | 1,152 | 16 |
Now let me tell you what those numbers mean, which should answer the questions about why he is Heisman-worthy.
There have been five quarterbacks to cross the 1,000 rushing yard and 1,000 passing yard plateaus this season. There are two more (Nevada's Cody Fajardo and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez) who may still reach the rushing threshold, but for now let's focus on this group. In that pack, Jordan Lynch is in the top two in (what I think are) all seven of the most important offensive categories. Let's take a look at the competition, shall we?
First comes Army's Trent Steelman. He is, for now, tied with Lynch in rushing touchdowns, and is the only one with fewer INTs. That said, Lynch will pass him in TDs since Steelman is done playing at 2-9, and Trent got those rushing numbers because he plays in an offense where he was only asked to throw the ball eighty eight times all season. NEXT!
Then there's Denard Robinson. Former Heisman candidate himself, he joined this group but finished the season on such a down note that he started at running back for Michigan's last two games after he came back from an injury. NEXT!
His Big Ten compatriot, Braxton Miller, has had a much nicer season, passing (no pun intended) the 2,000 yard mark in the air, but he has also completed less than 60 percent of his passes this season and has struggled down the stretch. He is responsible for a full 1,000 yards less of offense and 11 fewer touchdowns, but he is considered a legitimate Heisman candidate. Challenge accepted.
Then there's Johnny "Football" Manziel. He is the only player to top Lynch in any of these categories, but overall they compare rather favorably. Manziel is responsible for only 240 yards and two touchdowns more than Lynch on the season, and Lynch actually has a better QB rating due to a lower interception total - and Manziel is considered a lock to get an invitation to New York. Challenge accepted.
To sum things up, the only real difference between Jordan Lynch and Heisman "front-runner" Johnny Manziel is that Manziel plays in the SEC, has slightly better numbers depending on how you slice them, and has beaten Alabama. Compare him to "legitimate" contender Braxton Miller and his numbers blow the opponent away. Lynch should absolutely be considered for Heisman and, given that, probably for MAC Player of the Year.