Heisman Trophy Watch Week 12: Trevone Boykin, Marcus Mariota Move Up

Nov 8, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs with the ball during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Oregon won 51-27. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

4. Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Oregon Ducks (9-1, 6-1 in Pac-12)

Last Game: 17-of-29 (58.6%) for 239 Yards, 18 Carries for 114 Yards (6.3 YPC), 4 Total Touchdowns (Defeated Utah Utes 51-27)

For 2014 Season: 186-of-277 (67.1%) for 2,780 Yards, 89 Carries for 524 Yards (5.9 YPC), 37 Total Touchdowns, 2 Interceptions

Marcus Mariota has been putting up huge numbers all year, and they’ve always been enough to keep him in the Heisman race. But on Saturday against Utah, for the second time this year to prove it wasn’t a fluke, he showed that he can play well under pressure, which is a huge reason we are moving him up our Heisman rankings.

Mariota put on clinics against Utah and Michigan State when he was most needed with Oregon, and it’s enough for us to possibly nullify that loss to Arizona. This guy’s numbers are simply too incredibly efficient for us to view him otherwise. Oregon’s consistent ability to hang 40 to 50 points on good teams is a result of him.

The only reason we don’t have Mariota ranked higher is because he is in the Pac-12, and going up against Pac-12 defenses is like going up against Pillows usually. But Utah is not one of those pillow Pac-12 defenses. They are an exception, and Mariota still torched them. That’s enough for us to keep him in our Heisman Trophy Top 5.

Next: No. 3 Ranked Heisman Trophy Candidate