THE WINNER IS ...We'll find out who wins the Heisman today. Here's who it <I>should</I> be.

The Heisman Trophy ballot sat on the kitchen counter all week and every glimpse forced recollection of the moment. Fourth quarter in Fayetteville, Ark., South Carolina's season on the line and looking promising after the Gamecocks have sustained an onslaught of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, rallied from a 28-10 deficit and just cut the Razorbacks' lead to six.

Then McFadden, all 6-2 and 215 pounds of him, scored untouched on an 80-yard dash around the right side to highlight a 321-yard night. Arkansas took a 48-36 lead and the game was over.

There are many ways to evaluate Heisman Trophy candidates, including personal witness. All of the methods have flaws.

For instance, my third choice is the most valuable player in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the guy who did more to make an average team into a bowl participant than anyone else: Virginia defensive lineman Chris Long.

Pure subjectivity.

But an analysis of the two Southeastern Conference players who will finish atop the Heisman voting when the award is presented tonight offers a chance to compare McFadden and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow against seven common opponents.

They faced LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, Kentucky, South Carolina, Mississippi and Troy.

In comparing the hybrid passer who set touchdown rushing records and the uniquely talented tailback good at throwing touchdown passes, what better way than game-by-game vs. the same teams?

LSU

--McFadden: 32 carries for 206 yards and three TDs (one in overtime) and a TD pass in

--Arkansas' 50-48 triple-overtime upset. Oh, and three kick returns for 49 yards.

--Tebow: 12-for-26 for 158 yards with an interception and two TD passes, 16 carries for 67 yards and one TD in a 28-24 loss.

--Edge: McFadden.

Tennessee

--McFadden: 22 carries for 117 yards, three catches for 17 yards, two kick returns for 39 yards in a 34-13 loss.

--Tebow: 14-for-19 for 299 yards with one interception and two TD passes, 18 carries for 61 yards and two TDs in a 59-20 win.

--Edge: Tebow.

Auburn

McFadden: 17 carries for 43 yards, one catch for five yards, one kick return for 29 yards in a 9-7 loss.

Tebow: 20-for-27 for 201 yards with one interception and one TD, 19 carries for 75 yards with one TD in a 20-17 loss.

Edge: Tebow.

Kentucky

McFadden: 29 carries for 173 yards and one TD, two catches for 10 yards, one kick return for 25 yards in a 42-29 loss.

Tebow: 18-for-26 for 256 yards with no interceptions and four TDs, 20 carries for 78 yards and one TD in a 45-37 win.

Edge: Tebow.

South Carolina

McFadden: 34 carries for 321 yards and one TD, one TD pass, one catch for four yards, two kick returns for 30 yards in a 48-36 win.

Tebow: 22-for-32 for 304 yards with one interception and two touchdowns, 26 carries for 120 yards and five TDs in a 51-31 win.

Edge: Too close to call, too dominant for anyone to finish second.

Mississippi

--McFadden: 22 carries for 110 yards, two catches for 10 yards in a 44-8 win.

--Tebow: 20-for-34 for 261 yards with no interceptions and two touchdowns, 27 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-24 win.

--Edge: Tebow.

Troy

--McFadden: 24 carries for 151 yards and one TD, one TD pass, two catches for 30 yards, one kick return for 19 yards in a 46-26 win.

--Tebow: 18-for-25 for 236 yards with no interceptions and three TD passes, 17 carries for 93 yards and two TDS in a 59-31 win.

--Edge: Tebow.

--Final common opponent tally: Tebow wins, 5-1-1.

Who cares if he's only a sophomore? Tebow is the first major college player to throw for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in the same season and, more importantly, he routs a very worthy McFadden in this unusually numerous common-foe comparison.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com