Heisman Trophy now Baker Mayfield’s to lose
They were videogame numbers in Stillwater on Saturday: 24/36, 598 passing yards, five touchdowns to two interceptions.
That was the final state line for Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield who is now the clear favorite to win the 2017 Heisman Trophy.
Mayfield has now thrown for 3,226 yards this season, with 28 touchdowns to five interceptions. While he doesn’t even lead the Big 12 in touchdown passes (WVU’s Will Grier does), Mayfield is still top 5 in the country. Entering Saturday, Mayfield was the second-most efficient passer in the nation (195.6) to UCF’s Mckenzie Milton (199.7). The third-most efficient passer in the country was Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett, but a distant third at 176.2. Mason Rudolph was fourth. Also, Mayfield also only trails Milton in completion percentage.
Granted, Mayfield’s incredible day nearly came to a crashing halt when he threw an interception in the red zone up three with 2:59 remaining, but Oklahoma’s defense came up when it needed to most and now that interception will barely be remembered.
And in a game like Saturday’s 62-52 win over Oklahoma State, there wasn’t “one” Heisman moment for Mayfield, there were probably half a dozen, including multiple big hook ups to Marquise Brown.
What can Brown do for you?
How about: 9️⃣ receptions, 2️⃣6️⃣5️⃣ yards and 2️⃣ touchdowns.#BeatOSU pic.twitter.com/xDXB5VFs9u
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 4, 2017
Mayfield has now had two games with millions of eyes from coast to coast, and he’s dominated. Also, both games were on the road against two Top 15 teams in Ohio State and Oklahoma State. Here were the numbers: 984 yards passing, 13.9 yards per attempt, 8 TDs, 2 INTs. Most importantly: Two wins.
Just as important as Mayfield’s big day is what his contenders for the Heisman Trophy did on Saturday.
Penn State RB Saquon Barkley: 63 rushing yards, 0 TD (Loss to Michigan State)
Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett: 208 passing yards, 3 TD, 4 INT (Loss to Iowa)
Stanford RB Bryce Love: 69 rushing yards, 1 TD (Loss to Washington State)
Some people are trying to pump up Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate, who has burst onto the scene in recent weeks. Take it easy. Tate has rushed and thrown for over 100 yards over his last four games and the Wildcats have won four-straight games. But let’s relax on the sophomore quarterback, who still has much to prove.
With less than a month left in the season, the Heisman Trophy has become Baker Mayfield’s to lose. But don’t tell that to the Oklahoma quarterback, he insists he doesn’t care.
Mayfield said after the win over Oklahoma State, “I’m not worried about winning that. I’m worried about winning games.”
Well, the good news for him is that they will work hand in hand. The Sooners keep winning, Mayfield keeps rolling, and the Heisman Trophy will be heading back to Norman for the sixth time in history and the first time since Sam Bradford took the award home from New York City in 2008.
