Making the case

A look at the top three Heisman Trophy candidates and their case for the award:

KYLER MURRAY, OKLAHOMA Murray led the FBS in yards per attempt (11.9) and ESPN’s passer efficiency rating. He was second in completion percentage (70.9 percent) and in passing touchdowns (40), adding 11 on the ground. He had a brilliant 65-yard run on the first drive of Oklahoma’s penultimate game versus West Virginia. The Sooners went 12-1, again, and won the Big 12, again, and will go to the playoff, again.

TUA TAGOVAILOA, ALABAMA Second in passer efficiency and yards per attempt. Third in touchdowns — he threw 37 touchdown passes against four interceptions, which is the kind of thing Tom Brady does. Although his Alabama coaches likely lived in constant fear that he would get injured, he still managed five touchdowns on the ground. Other important numbers are 13 and 0 — as in, Alabama went 13-0.

DWAYNE HASKINS, OHIO STATE By far the most touchdowns in the FBS, with 47 (next is Murray, with 40), and that is not counting four more on the ground. One of just six eligible quarterbacks with a completion rate above 70 percent. Like Oklahoma, Ohio State went 12-1 and won its conference. Haskins’ signature game came in the season’s most important, the 62-39 win over Michigan — against whose fantastic defense Haskins threw for 396 yards, 6 touchdowns and no interceptions.