Notre Dame's Manti Te'o looks for big performance vs. Oklahoma to cement Heisman campaign

It is often difficult for a defensive player to even draw a mention in the Heisman Trophy discussion, but Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o appears to be gaining plenty of momentum in the race as the Irish continue to pull off wins.

The 21-year-old Te'o has reeled off double-digit tackle numbers in each of his last three games, and is the unquestioned leader of a dominant defensive unit that is currently giving up a meager 9.4 points per game. But with his only realistic chance for a Heisman nod ultimately tied to whether his Irish can run the table or not, some pundits, including J.J. Stankevitz of CSN Chicago, believe that Te'o may need to put in another superstar-level effort against the Sooners this Saturday.

Oklahoma's high-powered offensive attack could be the toughest test Brian Kelly's team has seen this year, and another complete domination on the defensive side of the ball from Te'o and company amy give him an inside track to be invited to New York as a finalist. Fans and Heisman voters alike will be watching from around the country on Saturday to see if Notre Dame can keep its torrid streak going, offering up a prime chance for the fourth-year linebacker to steal the show on the field.