Question of the day: Who’s going to win the Heisman Trophy this season?

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Reporters from around Tribune Co. tackle the question of the day, then you get a chance to chime in and tell them why they’re wrong.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times

Given that only one player has ever won two Heisman Trophies, I’m not sure the injury to reigning champion Mark Ingram of Alabama really changes the set-up for the season. Ingram was a perfect-storm winner to begin with: right guy, right team, right year. This year sets up for junior Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who is coming off a brilliant Rose Bowl and enters the season on a team that can win the national title. Pryor also has a huge showcase game at the end, against Michigan. I would say it’s Pryor’s to lose. A slip-up opens the way for someone like Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore or Oregon State tailback Jacquizz Rodgers. When all else fails, go with the best player on the best team in the end. That would exclude anyone from Notre Dame, right? The days of a player winning on a losing team (Paul Hornung, 1956) have gone the way of single-bar face masks.

Updated at 10:11 a.m.:

Desmond Conner, Hartford Courant

Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State. And you could see the wonderfully athletic dual-threat quarterback emerging as a Heisman favorite in 2010 based on the way he finished his sophomore season in 2009.

Pryor rushed for 779 yards, threw for 2,094 yards and 18 touchdowns in leading the Buckeyes to the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl.

He had 11 picks, but when he needed to, down the stretch, he was much more consistent. Most of his interceptions were in the first half of the season.

Inconsistency has dogged him much of his short career, but he led the Buckeyes to six wins in a row to end the season. He played a key role in leading Ohio State to the Rose Bowl win, where he outplayed Oregon’s Jeremiah Masoli, touted as one of the nation’s best dual-threat QBs. Pryor threw for 266 yards and rushed for 72.

The Buckeyes have some outstanding talent on offense too, which should take some of the pressure off Pryor this season. This kid was mentioned as a possible Heisman candidate before he even put on an Ohio State uniform.

This year he is a legitimate candidate. He’s certainly the most versatile one.

Updated at 11:14 a.m.

Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune

The only Pitt player to run for more yards in a season than Tony Dorsett is Dion Lewis.

And last year at this time, he was competing for a starting job. His 1,799-yard freshman season was the launching pad for Lewis’ career.

He had more yards and the same number of touchdowns (17) than reigning Heisman winner Mark Ingram, who could be knocked out of the running if his knee injury lingers.

Lewis could bring another Heisman Trophy to match Dorsett’s at Pittsburgh in 1976 if that’s the case.