SMQ: Stanford finishes runner-up in Heisman voting for sixth time in history

5 runner-up finishes

• SCHOOLS (1): Oklahoma
• MOST HEISMAN WINS: Oklahoma, 6
• SCHOOLS THAT HAVEN’T WON (0)
• MOST TOP-3 FINISHES: Oklahoma, 16

Had Bryce Love given Stanford its second Heisman Trophy, or Lamar Jackson joined Archie Griffin as the only back-to-back winner of the award, we’d be talking about Oklahoma as the biggest runner-up. Entering the festivities on Saturday night, both the Sooners and the Cardinal had finished in second place on five occasions.

Instead of a sixth runner-up finish, Oklahoma took home its sixth stiffarm trophy. With the first full season putting together a passing efficiency rating over 200 points, Baker Mayfield was a lock to claim the award in 2017. In the process, he avoided the fate of former Sooners stars like Adrian Peterson and Josh Heupel. Others who have come close include Billy Sims, who fell to Charles White in his attempt to repeat as a Heisman winner.

Back in 1954, Kurt Burris was one of the rare offensive linemen to finish second in Heisman voting. Eighteen years later, Greg Pruitt put together a second straight top-three season but couldn’t seal the deal over Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers. But while they still put together memorable seasons, they would have been more significant with a victory instead of a runner-up ballot in Heisman voting.

In his first season as a head coach, Sooners leader Lincoln Riley can now claim a Heisman winner on his resume. Now Mayfield will try to become the third Heisman winner in the past five years to also play on the national championship team.