Quote:The Huskies have now won 21 consecutive conference games and 22 consecutive games in the regular season. Lynch led them to last year's Orange Bowl against Florida State, eventually losing in what many people wrongly remember as a rout because of the final score, 31-10.

The part people don't mention: That was a seven-point game after three quarters.

NIU may have petered out at the end against Florida State last year, but it proved it could at least hang around with one of the nation's best teams. Currently, if it stays undefeated, it is locked in a battle with Fresno State for the right to (potentially) return to a BCS bowl.

If that is how things play out, it would almost seem criminal not to invite Lynch to New York for the Heisman presentation. His chances of winning might be slim, but he at least deserves to be treated as a legitimate candidate.