For the past few weeks, the Heisman Trophy finalists race has narrowed down to just three finalists: Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, and Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
All have played well this season, and prior to the SEC Championship game, most college football fans thought Tagovailoa needed to have a huge game to seal his Heisman case. Despite putting on a show against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, throwing for 350 yards, and six total touchdowns, Tagovailoa's SEC title game was one to forget after he left with an ankle injury.
Despite an incredible season that backs up his case, here are 13 more reasons Tua Tagovailoa should become the 81st player to win the Heisman Trophy
1. Faced Better Defenses Than Murray and Haskins
Tagovailoa and the Crimson Tide had to face Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee, all of which are top 50 defenses in college football.
2. Who Needs the Fourth Quarter?
While many in the college football world will gripe that Tagovailoa never had a signature "Heisman Moment" this season, the SEC Network's Peter Burns pointed out that his moment is not having to play the fourth quarter almost at all this season.
3. An Undefeated Regular Season
This time last year, Alabama and coach Nick Saban were waiting for their fate in the College Football Playoff after losing to Auburn. This season, they controlled their own fate by going undefeated and guaranteeing them the No. 1 spot in the playoff thanks to Tua's play all season long and are positioned for another National Championship appearance.
4. No. 1 in Yards Per Completion
Every time this kid throws the ball, he averages 16.85 yards per completion, which leads all quarterbacks in college football.
5. Only Four INTs All Season
Coming into the Georgia game, he had only thrown two interceptions in the regular season, and Tagovailoa's interceptions numbers are STILL fewer than Murray (7) and Haskins (8).
6. Led Alabama to the No. 1 Offense in the SEC
Alabama has broken several SEC scoring records this season and was the No. 1 offense in the conference this year averaging 527.6 yards per game.
7. Alabama Goes as Tagovailoa Does
Tagovailoa is responsible for 252 points this season, which is fourth-most in the nation and is the most in the Southeastern Conference.
8. He's Battled Injury All Year
After struggling with a knee sprain during the middle of the year, and what we witnessed in the SEC Championship game, Tua has dealt with injuries throughout the season, yet he still managed to put up incredible numbers.
9. He's Had Several Heisman Moments. Just Pick One.
Despite claims that No. 13 doesn't have a Heisman moment, he has had quite a few. How about his 44-yard touchdown run against LSU that sealed the victory for Alabama? What about putting up six touchdowns in the Iron Bowl, which was a game-record? We can go back to his 397 total yards and five touchdowns he hung on Texas A&M's defense if that's not enough...
10. Broken Several Alabama Passing Records
He's already set the single season record for touchdown passes and needs only 135 to break Blake Sims' record for one year. Keep in mind, this is the school who produced Hall of Famers Joe Namath, Bart Starr and Kenny Stabler and Tagovailoa passed them all.
11. Named the AP's SEC Offensive Player of the Year
For all his accomplishments this season, the Associated Press named him the SEC's Offensive Player of the Year, which shouldn't really be a shock to anyone. Tagovailoa has thrown for over 3,000 yards, scored 42 total touchdowns heading into the College Football Playoff.
12. He'll Be an All-American
See above as to why he will also be named an All-American this year.
13. Tua Epitomizes Who a Heisman Is
Tagovailoa not only makes magic on the field, but he does it off the field as well. You've never heard him berating an opponent, fighting his teammates, talking bad about his coaches, getting into fights at bars or grab his crotch to taunt an opponent (see Baker Mayfield).
The sophomore quarterback deserves to be the Heisman winner, and there are way more than 13 reasons why he should get the award.
