It’s that time of the year.
The business of bowl season is about to pick up but that’s not the only thing on the itinerary. One of the most important awards will be handed out in New York City on Saturday night.
Ladies and gentlemen- it’s the 83rd Heisman Trophy presentation.
Three finalists are waiting to see if their name will be added to the “Heisman House.” Let’s take a look at who’s has a chance to walk away with the award.
Baker Mayfield – Oklahoma Quarterback
The Austin, Texas native is the likely frontrunner for the award. Needless to say, Mayfield has been one of the, if not the game’s most charismatic player this season. When he’s not planting flags in the middle of the field or trashing talking the other team and their fans, he’s put on a Heisman-worthy show.
The Sooners are 12-1, Big 12 champs and in the college football playoffs with Mayfield under center. The fifth-year senior threw for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns with another 310 yards and five scores on the ground in 2017. During the high-scoring shootout at Bedlam with Oklahoma State, Mayfield threw for 598 yards and five touchdowns, with another TD on the ground, in Oklahoma’s 62-52 win. In both games against a very good TCU defense, he had a total of 576 yards passing and seven touchdowns, four of those in the Big 12 championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
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Mayfield repeats as a finalist for the Heisman, finishing third in the vote last season. He’s looking to become the sixth Sooner Heisman winner and the first Heisman winner to begin his career as a “walk-on” athlete. Yes, he was a “walk-on.”
No. 2 Oklahoma will face No.3 Georgia at the Rose Bowl in the college playoff semifinal on Jan. 3.
Lamar Jackson – Louisville Quarterback
Jackson is the returning Heisman winner and two-time finalist. He’s hoping to become the first two-time Heisman winner since Archie Griffin in 1974-75.
The third-year junior is the very definition of a dual-threat quarterback, going for 4,932 yards of total offense and 42 touchdowns while guiding the Cardinals to an 8-4 record. Jackson threw for 3,489 yards and 25 touchdowns through the air while racking up 1,443 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. For his efforts, Jackson was named the ACC’s Player of the Year.
Louisville will play No. 23 Mississippi State at the TaxSlayer Bowl on De. 30.
Bryce Love – Stanford Running Back
The third-year junior already has an award on the self this season. After rushing for 1,973 yards and 17 touchdowns with an impressive 8.3 yards per carry in the regular season, Love won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back.
The nice stats came despite an ankle injury that caused him to miss one game. 586 yards of his rushing total came after his return.
The gold star game that helped cement Love on the college football map this season came in late September when he ran for 301 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Arizona State.
Love will be honored at the Doak Walker Banquet on Feb. 16, 2018 in Dallas. No.13 Stanford will play No. 15 TCU at the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.
The Heisman Memorial Trophy electorate, which selects the finalists and the Heisman winner, is comprised of 929 voters, including 870 media members and 58 former Heisman winners.
