NEW YORK — Arkansas running back Darren McFadden was named a Heisman Trophy finalist on Wednesday, joining Ohio State's Troy Smith and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn on the list of three.
McFadden, a sophomore, rushed for a school record 1,558 yards in the 2006 football season.
His rushing total for 2006 led the SEC. He rushed for 14 touchdowns, threw three touchdown passes, caught a touchdown pass and returned one kickoff for another.
Smith is the odds on favorite to win the award Saturday night in New York. The senior quarterback entered the season with plenty of Heisman hype and then backed it up with brilliant play for the unbeaten Buckeyes.
Smith grabbed the lead in the Heisman race early this season. In Ohio State's first No. 1 vs. No. 2 game of the season, he threw for 269 yards and two scores against Texas in September. He was even better in the Buckeyes' second 1-2 game, throwing for 316 yards and four touchdowns in the regular-season finale against Michigan.
Smith is trying to become the sixth player from Ohio State to win the Heisman and first since running back Eddie George in 1995. It would be the seventh time a Buckeye came away with the award. Ohio State's Archie Griffin is the only two-time Heisman winner.
If Quinn pulls the upset, he'd be the eighth player from Notre Dame to win and would break a tie with USC as the school with the most. Tim Brown was the last Fighting Irish player, taking home the trophy in 1987.
Smith or Quinn could snap a string of three consecutive years when a junior has won the Heisman. USC quarterback Carson Palmer was the last senior to win it.
Last season, Reggie Bush was the third consecutive junior to win the award and third USC player in four years.
Regardless of who wins, it won't be a Southern California player for the first time in three years. Matt Leinart won it the year before Bush.
Quinn holds 30 Notre Dame records. He has thrown for 3,278 yards and only five interceptions this season, leading the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Sugar Bowl.