Unfortunate John Mateer injury clears runway for Dante Moore Heisman surge

At Big Noon Kickoff two games ago on Fox, Heisman winner Mark Ingram asked Dante Moore to strike the Heisman pose.

Moore wouldn't do it. "I'm too humble," he said. Though making it to New York and claiming the trophy are far, far down his checklist, Moore has a spectacular opportunity to move up the Heisman leaderboard in the next three weeks.

Week Four leader John Mateer of Oklahoma injured his wrist Saturday in a win over Auburn. He faces surgery Wednesday and could be out a month.

While true college football fans don't celebrate an injury to any player, let alone one of the game's most incandescent stars, Mateer's misfortune opens up the field for college football's most coveted individual award.

Moore has upcoming quarterback duels with Drew Allar and Fernando Mendoza, at Penn State Saturday night in prime time on NBC, another marquee matchup against Fernando Mendoza and No. 11 Indiana after a bye week on October 11.

If he wins both of those and outshines two of the country's most high-profile quarterbacks, Moore could make a big move.

The early weeks of the Heisman race are not so much about winning it as they are not being eliminated. Preseason favorites Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier and Jeremiyah Love all took nosedives on the odds board after subpar performances or slow starts by their teams.

Moore faces a huge challenge this weekend playing on the road in a raucous environment against one of the country's toughest, most physical defenses. If he shows the same kind of calm and decision-making that he's demonstrated in his first four starts while leading his team to two more wins, he surges to the top of the Heisman conversation.

In the battle for the Stiff-Arm Trophy, it's all about that buzz. Last year Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter made it a two-man race with big numbers and highlight film performances. Moore has an opportunity to do the same, but he has to shine under some very harsh lights.

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