Three finalists were named for the Heisman Trophy. Louisville’s Lamar Jackson and Stanford’s Bryce Love will join front-runner Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma.
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Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma, Lamar Jackson from Louisville and Bryce Love from Stanford are the three Heisman finalists that will be invited to New York City for the presentation of the Heisman Trophy on Saturday, Dec. 9.
Congrats to our 2017 #Heisman finalists: @Lj_era8 of @UofLFootball, @Blovee_20 of @StanfordFball & @baker_mayfield6 of @OU_Football. See you in New York, gentlemen! #Heisman2017 #HeismanWeek #MostPrestigiousAwardInSports pic.twitter.com/8YGXj3xMME
— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) December 5, 2017
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield, who has finished in the Top-4 the past two seasons in the voting, including third last year behind Jackson and then-Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, is expected to hoist the trophy this weekend after a season in which he led the Sooners to a Big 12 title and the College Football Playoff.
A senior, who started out his career at Texas Tech as a walk-on, threw for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns. He currently ranks second in both categories behind Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph (4,553) and Missouri’s Drew Lock (43). Bowl game stats count, meaning Mayfield will have a great chance to surpass both, especially if Oklahoma reaches the championship game.
Mayfield ranks first in quarterback rating, posting a 203.8. He is currently the NCAA leader for single-season QBR, setting the mark at 196.4 last year.
Earlier this year against Oklahoma State in the annual “Bedlam” game, Mayfield threw for 598 yards and five touchdowns. He had three games this year with four passing scores and eclipsed the 300-yard mark in seven to go along with his near 600-yard showing vs. the Cowboys.
Oklahoma faces Georgia in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Day from the Rose Bowl.
Lamar Jackson
Jackson, who scored 51 touchdowns last year passing and running, has 25 touchdowns through the air and another 17 on the ground this year. He has thrown for 3,489 yards, completing 60 percent of his passes, adding 1,443 yards rushing.
The junior quarterback helped Louisville to an 8-4 record and spot in the Taxslayer Bowl opposite Mississippi State. He had some of his best games in losses this season, throwing for over 300 yards against Clemson, NC State and Wake Forest.
Jackson also passed for 393 yards with three touchdowns in a win over North Carolina, adding 132 yards and three scores on the ground in the game. Ohio State’s Archie Griffin remains the only player to win multiple Heismans, accomplishing the feat in 1974 and 1975.
Bryce Love
Love, a junior, rushed for 1,973 yards despite missing a game and parts of a handful of others. He had at least 100 yards in 11 games, including a 25-carry, 301-yard performance in a win over Arizona State.
The speedy back also went for 263 yards the week before vs. Arizona State, giving him 564 yards and four touchdowns during a two-game stretch of the season.
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Love closed strong down the stretch after his injury, running for 166 yards against Washington, a game that helped the Cardinal win their division. He also had 101 yards vs. California, 125 vs. Notre Dame and had 125 more in a loss in the Pac-12 title game to USC.
Stanford takes on TCU in the Alamo Bowl later this month.