With one week to go, the Heisman Trophy has come down to one final game: Alabama versus Florida.
The top two contenders for the trophy are the Gators’ and Crimson Tide’s quarterbacks: Kyle Trask and Mac Jones.
Whichever one pulls out the win in the SEC Championship Game will all but assuredly walk away with the Heisman.
The frontrunners
After Saturday’s action, Jones remains ahead of Trask as the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman, though Trask is very much within striking distance.
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) hands off the ball to running back Najee Harris against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Michael Woods, AP
Mac Jones
QB — Alabama (10-0)
Most recent performance: vs. Arkansas on Dec. 12
Jones was largely not needed in Alabama’s blowout win over Arkansas. Jones completed 24 of 29 passes for a season-low 208 yards and zero touchdowns in the victory.
Season stats: Jones has thrown for over 3,000 yards (3,321), 27 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games played for the unbeaten Crimson Tide, who continue to roll over every opponent they face.
Cause for concern for Mac Jones Heisman backers?
— Bets Stats (@betsstats) December 12, 2020
Alabama leads Arkansas 45-3
Mac Jones has accounted for 0 Touchdowns @betthepigskin pic.twitter.com/e2hEc4Pb9f
Jones has been consistently great this season for Alabama, a fact that has kept him among the favorites to win the Heisman while others have bounced around him.
His consistency allowed him to have less-than-stellar outing against the Razorbacks — Alabama did not need him much at all — and remain the favorite to win the Heisman.
Jones has thrown four or more touchdowns in five games this year, has had three games in which he threw for 400-plus yards and he has a completion percentage of 75.7. He is ranked in the top 10 in almost every statistical category and is top five in total passing yards, touchdowns and quarterback rating.
Florida quarterback Kyle Trask throws a pass against LSU during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla.
John Raoux, AP
Kyle Trask
QB — Florida (8-2)
Most recent performance: vs. LSU on Dec. 12
Trask had arguably his worst performance of the year in the Gators’ 37-34 loss to LSU. While he completed 29 of 47 passes for 474 yard and two touchdowns — he also rushed for two scores — he threw a season-high two interceptions and fumbled.
Season stats: In 10 games played this season, Trask has thrown for 3,717 yards — the most by any quarterback in the country — an FBS-best 40 touchdowns and five interceptions. His QBR of 90.3 is fourth-best among all eligible quarterbacks.
Kyle Trask now has the record for the most pass TDs in a season for @gatorsfb 🐊👏 pic.twitter.com/ws0z4EYmoA
— ESPN (@espn) December 13, 2020
For the majority of the season, Trask steadily worked to gain ground on the frontrunners in the Heisman race. He entered the year with dismal odds and no one really expected much out of the Gators’ quarterback. After once holding down the title of frontrunner, Trask is back in familiar territory, needing to work his way to the top.
Through 10 games, Trask has been the most prolific passing quarterback in SEC history. He is the first player in conference history to throw for 30 touchdowns in a team’s first seven games, besting the record set by last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow.
Trask is the fifth player in SEC history to throw 40 or more touchdowns in a season — he is the first Gator to pull off the feat — and he is also the only quarterback in Florida history with three 400-yard passing games in a single season.
The hopefuls
The list of hopefuls remains at only four players this week, though the list has shuffled a bit in favor of an Alabama receiver.
Alabama punt returner DeVonta Smith (6) returns a punt for a touchdown against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Michael Woods, AP
DeVonta Smith
WR — Alabama (10-0)
Most recent performance: vs. Arkansas on Dec. 12
The Crimson Tide ran over the Razorbacks in the 52-3 victory, and as such Smith wasn’t needed and finished with only three receptions for 22 yards.
Season stats: In 10 games played for Alabama this season, Smith has recorded 83 receptions for 1,327 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Syracuse cornerback Kyle Strickland (22) pressures Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in South Bend, Ind.
Matt Cashore, AP
Ian Book
QB — Notre Dame (10-0)
Most recent performance: vs. Syracuse on Dec. 5
Book had arguably his best single-game performance of the season in the Fighting Irish’s win over the Orange. The California native completed 24 of 37 passes for 285 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while also rushing for 53 yards and two scores.
Season stats: Book has thrown for 2,382 yards, 15 touchdowns and two interceptions in 10 games played for Notre Dame this season. He has also rushed for 465 yards and eight touchdowns.
Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence runs for a touchdown against Virginia Tech during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Blacksburg, Va.
Matt Gentry, AP
Trevor Lawrence
QB — Clemson (9-1)
Most recent performance: vs. Virginia Tech on Dec. 5
Lawrence did what was necessary in Clemson’s dominant 45-10 win over the Hokies. Lawrence completed 12 of 22 passes for 195 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 41 yards and two scores.
Season stats: Lawrence has thrown for 2,431 yards, 20 touchdowns and three interceptions, while also rushing for 121 yards and six touchdowns in seven games played.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, left, scrambles against Michigan State’s Antjuan Simmons during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. Ohio State won 52-12.
Al Goldis, AP
Justin Fields
QB — Ohio State (5-0)
Most recent performance: vs. Michigan State on Dec. 5
Fields was great in the Buckeyes’ 52-12 win over the Spartans. The Georgia native completed 17 of 24 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns and finished with a quarterback rating of 95.7, but also rushed for 104 yards and two scores.
Season stats: Fields has thrown for 1,407 yards and 15 touchdowns, and also rushed for 239 yards and five touchdowns.
The long shots
The list of long shots grows smaller, as two players remain who deserve to be recognized for strong seasons.
Iowa State running back Breece Hall runs the ball against West Virginia during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Ames, Iowa.
Matthew Putney, Associated Press
Breece Hall
RB — Iowa State (8-2)
Most recent performance: vs. West Virginia on Dec. 5
Hall was once again as effective as needed in the Cyclones’ runaway win over the Mountaineers. Hall rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, while also grabbing three catches for 57 yards and a score.
Season stats: Hall has rushed for 1,357 yards this season, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He has 17 rushing touchdowns and two touchdown receptions. Hall has scored multiple times in seven of Iowa State’s 10 games this year.
BYU quarterback Zach Wilson looks for a receiver during the first half of the team’s NCAA college football game against San Diego State on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Provo, Utah.
George Frey, AP
Zach Wilson
QB — BYU (10-1)
Most recent performance: vs. San Diego State on Dec. 12
Once right on the edge of the frontrunners’ tier, Wilson now is a long shot to win the Heisman. Much of that has to do with his performance in BYU’s first loss of the season, against Coastal Carolina. Wilson bounced back in a big way in the Cougars’ win over San Diego State, completing 26 of 35 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns.
Season stats: Wilson has thrown for the sixth-most yards of any FBS quarterback this season (3,267), is tied for second with 30 touchdown passes, has only thrown three interceptions and has rushed for 242 yards and eight touchdowns.