Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch Dominates in Win Over Toledo

Sep 15, 2012; West Point, NY, USA; Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch looks to pass against Army Black Knights at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-US PRESSWIRE

When looking at this year’s Heisman Trophy race, obviously players like Johnny Manziel, Kenjon Barner, and Collin Klein are at the top of the list. But perhaps no player in the country this year has been more effective and meant more to his team than Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch.

Lynch, a dual-threat, junior QB from Chicago, is a one point loss at Iowa away from having his team undefeated and ready to take down a MAC title in 2012. On Wednesday night, after his school and fan base at NIU started up a little Heisman campain, Lynch had arguably his most dominant game of the season.

He threw for a personal-best 407 yards with three touchdowns, and he also ran for 162 yards. Aside from throwing for 400 yards, these are the types of things Lynch has been doing all season long. He is throwing the ball very well, completing nearly 64 percent of his passes for 2,582 yards and 22 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Not only that, but there’s only been one game this entire season where Lynch has rushed for less than 100 yards, and in that game, he had three rushing touchdowns (60 yards vs. Tennessee-Martin).

Lynch probably will not win the Heisman trophy, but it wouldn’t be a horrible tragedy for him to at least get invited to the ceremony. I don’t know of any other quarterback who is putting up the dual-threat numbers that he is, and his team is going to get in a pretty good bowl game because of his leadership and dominance.

Lynch isn’t the only one having success this season for the Huskies. His success has spread out to his teammates, specifically to senior wide receiver Martel Moore. Moore had his fifth 100-yard game last night against Toledo, catching seven passes for 153 yards and two scores. He is on pace to rack up more than 1,000 yards this season despite UNI being more of a running offense than anything. At 6’0″ 185 pounds, if Moore can run well at his pro day, he should be able to get drafted.

Either way, the dominance of Lynch helped his team to a 31-24 victory last night over Toledo, and the Huskies are now in line to take another MAC title. Lynch for Heisman? Maybe not, but he sure deserves to be in the conversation.