Remember this story in the Sporting News by Matt Hayes?

When the Heisman Trophy voting card comes in the mail, there are no specific procedures. You just vote. So naturally, I have my own idea of what makes a Heisman Trophy candidate, and it includes:

• Overall numbers.
• Performance in big games.
• Team championship.

I try to weigh all three equally, but performance in big games usually inches ahead when breaking ties. That said, here's this year's vote:

1. QB Colt Brennan, Sr., Hawaii. His numbers are impressive (more than 4,100 yards passing, 38 TD; 8 rush TD), and breaking an NCAA record every time he steps on the field helps, too.

But here's what matters: Four times this season Brennan led his team to come-from-behind wins in the fourth quarter. The last was against Washington -- with everything on the line -- when Brennan completed a staggering 42-of-50 p???? and threw five touchdown p???? that accounted for all of Hawaii's points.

If you don't think there was pressure in that Washington game, ask LSU if there was pressure in the Arkansas game with everything on the line. Or West Virginia with Pitt coming to town. Or Missouri against Oklahoma.

Hawaii was down 21-0 in the first quarter, and Brennan kept chipping away.

Just like when the Warriors were down 14 points with four minutes to play at San Jose State -- and Brennan was playing with a high ankle sprain.

I don't care that Hawaii's schedule was one of the weakest in the nation -- it's all relative, people. Florida's schedule is tough, but Florida has significantly better players than Hawaii and should be able to compete with anyone in the nation.

Hawaii's recruiting budget is $65,000; Florida's is $600,000. The Gators likely spent $65K alone recruiting Tebow.

Why penalize a player because he doesn't play in a BCS league?

2. QB Tim Tebow, So., Florida. If we're talking pure numbers, no one can match Tebow becoming the first player in college football history to rush for at least 20 touchdowns (22 total) and throw for at least 20 (29 total).

SN award winners

McFadden SN's player of the year

SN All-Americans

Past award winners

Heisman news:

Tebow tries to make Heisman history

Heisman favorites hold court in Big Apple

Let on-field stats determine who wins Heisman

SN awards:

McFadden player of the year

SN Radio:

Tim Tebow with Matt Spiegel That's insane.

No one affects the game like Tebow, who -- if he stays injury-free and continues to develop -- could become the greatest player in the history of the game. Even better than The Big 'Dawg Herschel Walker -- and that's really difficult for me to say.

The difference between Tebow and Brennan: Hawaii's conference championship and spot in a BCS bowl. It was that close.

3. RB Darren McFadden, Jr., Arkansas. McFadden made a late push with a huge game in the upset win at LSU. The question: where was he the rest of the season?

A lack of consistency eventually doomed his candidacy. As much as the LSU game helped him, his performance against Auburn (43 yards on 17 carries) in a primetime national television game was just as damaging.

My previous Heisman picks this decade

2006: QB Troy Smith, Ohio State
2005: QB Vince Young, Texas (winner: Reggie Bush, USC)
2004: QB Alex Smith, Utah (winner: Matt Leinart, USC)
2003: WR Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt (winner: Jason White, Oklahoma)
2002: QB Carson Palmer, USC
2001: QB Rex Grossman, Florida (winner: Eric Crouch, Nebraska)
2000: QB Josh Heupel, Oklahoma (winner: Chris Weinke, Florida State)