Heisman race tightening?

Murray gaining some favor in survey

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s iron grip on the Heisman Trophy might have loosened a bit over the last couple of weeks.

The Crimson Tide sophomore signal caller is still the leader in the weekly USA TODAY Network Heisman survey. Tagovailoa was named first this week by

14 of 16 official Heisman electors who work for the network and second by the other two.

But his completion rate has dipped to

67.9 percent after encounters with the more accomplished defenses of LSU and Mississippi State, and his passer rating of 207.68 now lags behind that of his closest pursuer.

That would be Kyler Murray, the Oklahoma quarterback who gained a second first-place mention in this week’s survey. He surpassed the 3,000yard mark for the season in the Sooners’ victory against Bedlam rival Oklahoma State, and his passer rating is 212.87 with 32 scoring throws and a 70.9 percent completion rate.

Murray’s final argument for the award might be that Oklahoma needs his production more than Alabama needs Tagovailoa’s, since the Crimson Tide can also rely on a lock-down defense.

A few more quarterbacks are still in the mix for the season’s home stretch. West Virginia’s Will Grier remains in

third place with nine points, including a second-place mention.

Gardner Minshew of Washington State is fourth with five points, while Dwayne Haskins of Ohio State received

a single point.

A couple of non-quarterbacks from Clemson, running back Travis Etienne and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, also earned mentions.