Tagovailoa Heisman favorite

Remains to be seen how SEC title game injury factors in votes

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t produced a so-called Heisman moment this season.

He didn’t have one in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Hurt and not quite himself, the Alabama quarterback was sidelined for the climactic final minutes of the top-ranked Crimson Tide’s comeback, 35-28 win Saturday over No. 6 Georgia in Atlanta.

So Tagovailoa, hampered by a high ankle sprain, didn’t produce a defining play or performance in the biggest game of a season that Alabama has mostly dominated.

To Tagovailoa’s teammates, that shouldn’t matter.

Though obviously somewhat biased, they may be right.

He was among the Heisman finalists announced Monday evening, along with Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray and Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

“Tua’s the best football player in the country,” Alabama tailback Damien Harris said after the title game. “I don’t think he needs a Heisman moment. That’s some made-up thing, criteria, that people have invented to try to get people an award if they necessarily deserve it or not.

“Tua’s the most deserving of the Heisman and I hope everybody sees it that way because what he’s done for our team, for our university, for our community, for our fans, for everybody, is just irreplaceable. I hope that everybody realizes that.”

Truth is, Tagovailoa started 2018 with a Heisman moment — just in a different season.

The second-half comeback and winning, 41-yard touchdown pass to Devonta Smith in overtime just happened to come at the end of last season in the national title game.

It gave the sophomore from Hawaii national name recognition and made him the betting favorite for the Heisman even before he started a game. He has lived up to the hype.

Tagovailoa delivered possibly the most dominating season of any quarterback at Alabama, which has never had a Heisman winner at the position. He was named AP’S SEC offensive player of the year on Monday and was a unanimous pick as the first-team quarterback.

Tagovailoa has led the Tide back to the playoffs and a matchup with Murray and Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 29.

It was a season of terrific performances when Alabama was so dominant that Tagovailoa threw

John Bazemore The Associated Press Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is taken off the field after the SEC title game Saturday. Some wonder if the injury will affect his Heisman Trophy chances.