The Case for Keenum

Case Keenum.

If you’re a college football fan, chances are you’ve heard his name spit around every now and then. But that’s about it.

Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy.

If you’re a college football fan, you KNOW who they are. They are stars, the players who make up college football. Everyone knows who they are, big college football fan or not. But left in the dark is Case Keenum, QB for the Houston Cougars.

Leading the Cougars to four fourth quarter comebacks and an 8-1 record, Keenum has a 158.92 QB rating, has passed for 3,815 yards, and has thrown 28 touchdown passes. Those statistics are of an elite QB. At this rate, he should win the Heisman, but he likely will not. Why? Because he plays in Conference USA.

Before you get started on the weakness of that division, explain this: Keenum has completed 71 percent of his passes and averaged 412 yards a game against the three teams from the BCS leagues (Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Mississippi State). Against Southern Miss and Tulsa, the two best Conference USA opponents, he threw for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns. In the loss to UTEP, he threw for 536 yards and five touchdowns.

Keenum is on his way to leading the nation in total offense for a second straight season, and the Cougars lead the nation with 42.1 points per game.

It’s time to give Keenum some credit. Just because he plays in Conference USA, he’s worse than Tebow, Ingram, and McCoy comparing 2009 statistics? No. Keenum has proved himself, and it’s time to give him some recognition.

Keenum for 2009 Heisman.