This isn’t the race to control Congress, though it could get just as ugly.

This is the race for the Heisman Trophy, and pitches already are popping up in forms that resemble movie theater teaser posters

Florida State’s among the early aggressors, with its recent push for quarterback Christian Ponder. The school sent out an e-mail last week with a Ponder logo (CP7) and a date - 7.7.10 - for when the project might officially get rolling.

So before my mailbox gets filled up with campaign info, fliers and posters of schools’ headliners, I want to set the record straight of where I think the race stands right now.

Here are my top five Heisman candidates and some other “darkhorse” players to think about before jerseys are put on and fans dust off their replica helmets on top of the TV.

1. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama: He won the Heisman hardware last year and the crazy thing is the junior still has a lot of room to improve. Alabama has the bulls eye on its back now, and Ingram can use the national attention to stay ahead in this trophy race as long as he puts up the numbers.

2009 stats: 1,658 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns.

2. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State: College football preview magazines are filled with features on this guy, so the attention is there. Add in the fact that the Buckeyes could be a national title contender and you’ve got the recipe for Pryor to be invited to the Heisman presentation if he can back up the hype on the field. The junior led Ohio State in rushing last year, and if he can improve his passing game, he’ll be in my top five at the end of the season.

2009 stats: 2,094 passing yards, 18 TDs, 11 INTs; 779 rushing yds, 7 TDs.

3. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas: The junior came out of nowhere last season to break school passing records. The microscope is on him now, as NFL experts have him high on draft boards already, and head coach Bobby Petrino thinks this guy can be even better this season. His Heisman fate will rest on his ability to play well in places other than home.

2009 stats: 3,624 passing yards, 30 TDs, 7 INTs.

4. Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh: I liked this guy for most of last season, and he ended up breaking Pitt’s freshman rushing……