Heisman Trophy Watch: Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa lead race for college football’s top award

Quarterbacks have won the Heisman Trophy every year save three since the turn of the century, and appear poised to have one of their fraternal order claim college football’s top honor once again this season.

With three weeks of games in the books this season, the early favorites for the Heisman are former Alabama quarterback — now Oklahoma Sooner — Jalen Hurts and current Alabama thrower Tua Tagovailoa.

The next two strongest candidates are LSU QB Joe Burrow and Ohio State QB Justin Fields. If Hurts can outshine his fellow quarterbacks, and claim football’s most-hallowed hardware at the conclusion of the season, it will mark the first time in history one school has produced three consecutive Heisman winners.

UPDATED September 19, 2019

Led by Hurts’ 289 passing yards 150 rushing, Oklahoma made it look easy in the Rose Bowl, defeating UCLA 48-14. Hurts’ impressive stats in the air and on the ground have him as the top dog heading into week four.

2019 Statistical Overview

Tagovailoa threw for a career-best 444 yards in Alabama’s 47-23 win over South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. He now has eight games with four or more touchdown passes — breaking AJ McCarron’s previous record of seven.

2019 Statistical Overview

Burrow had another strong game for the third straight week in LSU’s win over Northwestern State, throwing for 373 yards and two touchdowns, before exiting in the third quarter. Burrow’s passing stats are astronomical this season — 75-of-90, 1,122 yards and 11 TDs.

2018 Statistical Overview

Fields finished with three TD passes in just over a half of play as Ohio State crushed Indiana on the road, 51-10. He threw for 199 yards and also rushed for a score.

2018 Statistical Overview

Distantly trailing the four frontrunners in the hunt for the Heisman are Memphis running back Darrell Henderson, Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew, and Clemson running back Travis Etienne.