Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, December 5, 2011

Turns out a Big Ten single-season record 38 touchdowns is enough to garner an invite to New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation. Wisconsin's Montee Ball was named one of five finalists for the most prestigious award in college sports Monday night, the announcement coming live on ESPN by former Ohio State star and 1995 Heisman winner Eddie George. Alabama's Trent Richardson, Baylor's Robert Griffin III, LSU's Tyrann Mathieu and Stanford's Andrew Luck join Ball in NYC.

"So happy and excited for Montee Ball going to NY," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema tweeted. "Well deserved and great publicity for our football family."

Ball ran for 1,759 yards and 32 TDs and added 255 yards and six scores through the air. The junior scored at least two TDs in every game and had quartet of four-TD games. Even more impressive, in the five games following Wisconsin's back-to-back heartbreaking losses to Michigan State and Ohio State, Ball averaged 181.2 rushing yards and totaled 17 TDs on his way to helping the Badgers win the Leaders Division crown and the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game.

The Heisman will be presented Saturday night on ESPN. Here's Montee Ball's tweet afterv he got the news:

http://twitter.com/#!/M_Ball28/status/143832833029443586