Peter Warrick knew he likely wouldn't win, but he wanted to be invited to the ceremony.

The five finalists announced Monday by the Downtown Athletic Club were: Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne, Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton, Purdue quarterback Drew Brees, Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington and Virginia Tech freshman quarterback Michael Vick.

Dayne, who broke former Texas running back Ricky Williams' year-old NCAA career rushing record and finished with 6,397 yards, is considered the favorite. Williams, the fifth overall pick in this year's NFL draft, won the Heisman Trophy last season after eclipsing Tony Dorsett's 22-year-old career rushing mark.

While Dayne is being recognized for his four-year career, he enjoyed an outstanding 1999 season, losing the rushing title to LaDainian Tomlinson of Texas Christian by just 16 yards. Dayne rushed for 1,834 yards and 19 touchdowns, helping the Badgers (9-2) clinch their second straight trip to the Rose Bowl.

Vick, the only freshman among the finalists, sparked No. 2 Virginia Tech to an 11-0 season and a berth in the national championship game against top-ranked Florida State in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4.

Vick, who could head into next year as the preseason favorite for the award, helped the Hokies complete their first unblemished season since 1918 by throwing three touchdown passes and running for a score in a 38-14 victory over Boston College on Nov. 26.

For the season, the elusive left-hander completed 90 of 153 passes for 1,840 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for 580 yards on 110 carries.

The highlight of Vick's season may have come at West Virginia on Nov. 6, when he completed a last-minute drive to lead the Hokies to a 22-20 victory over the Mountaineers. Included in the march was a 31-yard run that set up Shayne Graham's 44-yard field goal as time expired.

Pennington led the nation with 37 touchdown passes, two short of his total in 1997, when Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss starred for Marshall. Pennington, who completed 275 of 405 passes for 3,799 yards this season with only 11 interceptions, has thrown 115 touchdown passes in his career, including 100 as a Division 1-A quarterback.

He is fourth on all NCAA lists with 13,143 passing yards, and his 1,026 completions are five shy of the career record set earlier this season by Louisville's Chris Redman.

Last Friday, Pennington and No. 11 Marshall (12-0) capped a perfect regular season in storybook fashion, rallying from a 20-point halftime deficit to defeat Western Michigan 34-30 in the Mid-American championship game.

Marshall will face Brigham Young in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 27.

Brees, who announced early this season he would return to Purdue for his senior year, directed one of the nation's most potent offenses, completing 301 of 494 yards for 3,531 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Purdue (7-4) earned a spot in the Outback Bowl against Georgia on New Year's Day.

Hamilton was a dual threat for Georgia Tech (8-3), which will take on Miami in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1. He completed 203 of 305 passes for 3,060 yards and 29 touchdowns with 11 interceptions while rushing for 730 yards and six TDs on 156 carries.