USA TODAY International Edition
Murray overtakes Tagovailoa after Big 12 title
Tua Tagovailoa already has one memorable playoff performance to his credit for Alabama. He might soon have another, but he might not have a Heisman Trophy. Kyler Murray has taken the lead in the final USA TODAY Network Heisman survey, and he could be on the verge of becoming the second Oklahoma quarterback in two years to take home the statue.
The announcement comes Saturday in New York. Both will be there along with Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins. They were revealed as finalists Monday.
In the USA TODAY survey of reporters and editors with official ballots, Murray received a season-high 12 of 16 first-place mentions after concluding his regular season with a victory in the Big 12 championship game against Texas. He enters the College Football Playoff with 4,945 yards of total offense, 4,053 passing, and 51 total touchdowns. If he does indeed succeed Baker Mayfield as the Heisman recipient, those two would be the first back-to-back winners from the same school since Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush from Southern California, though the latter’s 2005 award was subsequently vacated.
Tagovailoa led the way most of the year and was still listed on all 16 surveys but saw his first-place votes dipped to a season-low four after struggling against Georgia and having to leave the game with an ankle injury. Haskins is solidly in third place after leading the Buckeyes to the Big Ten title.