Post-Week 12 Heisman Trophy Watch: Melvin Gordon, Amari Cooper Rise

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

3. 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 Two Weeks Ago)

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 is simply the most efficient quarterback in college football. And he has by far the best numbers of any quarterback in the sport. A 37-to-2 touchdown to interception ratio is absolutely ridiculous.

A 67.1 percent completion rate is right there with it. And to average 5.9 yards per carry as a quarterback when sacks are taken into account in college and more than 10 yards per pass attempt as well is just flat-out insane.

Mariota has been nearly perfect on the year, and the only time Oregon has struggled under him the entire season was against Arizona and slightly against Washington State the week before, which was a time when they didn’t have three of their offensive linemen.

Since then, the Ducks have dominated, and fully healthy, he has racked up points in huge games against Michigan State, UCLA, and Utah. And now, with the Ducks in prime position to reach the College Football Playoff, we have to acknowledge what he’s done with those numbers.

He is as much of a Heisman Trophy candidate as anybody. But we don’t have him No. 1 just yet.

Next: No. 2 Ranked Heisman Trophy Candidate