The numbers are as overwhelming as the performances that produced them: Nineteen touchdowns 1,834 yards, No. 1 all-time. Ron Dayne ran past 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams and into the record books as the all-time NCAA Division I-A rusher Saturday. 
And while the rest of the crowd that expects a seat at the Downtown Athletic Club in December was impressive, their presence at the award ceremony will be little more than a formality.
Dayne left the rest of the Heisman field in his considerable wake with a monster game against Iowa. Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton, Virginia's Thomas Jones and Marshall's Chad Pennington all demonstrated their worth as finalists, but could not deliver a display capable of tipping the scales.
 
| RON DAYNE -- WISCONSIN | 
STATS | 
| 1. | 
Breaking it down: Set the NCAA I-A rushing record with his 11th 200-yard game of his career, tying a record held by Ricky Williams and Marcus Allen. 
 | 
Opponent at Iowa 
 
Season   | 
Car-Yds 27-216
  303-1,834   | 
TD 1
  19
  | 
| JOE HAMILTON -- GEORGIA TECH | 
STATS | 
| 2. | 
Breaking it down: His 400-yard, five-TD performance was overshadowed by Dayne's record day. That's pretty much Hamilton's entire season in a nutshell.  
 | 
Opponent vs. Clemson 
 
 
 
Season   | 
Cmp-Att-Yds 22-30-322 Rush-Yds 19-88158-233-2,438 130-600 | 
TD-INT 5-2
  0
  24-8 6 | 
| DREW BREES -- PURDUE | 
STATS | 
| 3. | 
Breaking it down: During a bye week, announced that he plans on returning for his senior season ... surely as a Heisman favorite. 
 | 
Opponent Idle 
 
 
Season   | 
Cmp-Att-Yds  
 
  286-470-3,334   | 
TD-INT  
 
  26*-11 *includes four rushing TDs, one receiving  TD | 
| THOMAS JONES -- VIRGINIA | 
STATS | 
| 4. | 
Breaking it down: Jones would be garnering all the running back support for the Heisman in any other season. He spiced up his performance against Buffalo with an 84-yard TD catch. 
 | 
Opponent vs. Buffalo 
 
 
 
Season   | 
Car-Yds 32-221 Rec-Yds 2-110
  306-1,707 20-227 | 
TD 2
 
 
  17
  | 
| CHAD PENNINGTON -- MARSHALL | 
STATS | 
| 5. | 
Breaking it down: Became the fourth major-college QB to throw for 100 TDs in his career. 
 | 
Opponent at Western Michigan 
Season   | 
Cmp-Att-Yds 27-40-339
  230-337-3,137   | 
TD-INT 2-0
  33*-9
  *includes two rushing TDs |