Geno Smith's Heisman chances slipping away

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith went from having one of the all-time great starts to a college football season and looking like a runaway Heisman Trophy winner to being almost completely out of the race with just two bad games. Smith still has time, and he has a good opportunity to put up big numbers this weekend when the Mountaineers take on the TCU Horned Frogs, whose passing defense is ranked 60th nationally.

Smith still has a ridiculous 26 touchdowns to two interceptions to go along with 2,417 yards passing this season. After a bye last week, which followed the Mountaineers' two losses of the season, Smith has sort of fallen off the Heisman radar.

ESPN's David Ubben ranked Smith fifth on his Heisman Watch this week, a position that once seemed unthinkable. But Smith played poorly in two straight losses to Texas Tech and Kansas State. Both of Smith's picks came against the Collin Klein-led Wildcats, and Klein launched himself to the top of the Heisman race.

Smith and the No. 23 Mountaineers host TCU Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by FOX.