5 reasons Samaje Perine can win 2016 Heisman Trophy

1. Bob Stoops

While Mayfield is realistically more likely to win the Heisman than Perine for several reasons (quarterback, Air Raid, fourth in last year’s voting), one thing that Perine has going for him that actually hurts Mayfield’s chances are that they play on a Sooners team that will again feature an elite Bob Stoops defense.

A huge reason behind the Sooners’ success of the Stoops era in Norman has been the terrific play of its defenses. In the Big 12, many offenses run a spread attack that uses speed to offset a lack of size to win high-octane shootouts. While Oklahoma is now no different in Riley’s Air Raid, the Sooners still play real defense in a conference that frankly overlooks it.

Having an elite defense under Stoops gives the Sooners a great tactical advantage late in games. If they are up late in contests, Stoops will order Riley to milk the clock by pounding the rock with Perine in the Oklahoma backfield. This will take the ball out of Mayfield’s hands and place it into Perine’s to seal the deal for the Sooners.

The ability to play both up-tempo and ground-and-pound heavily favors Oklahoma in the Big 12. If Oklahoma keeps winning and it is Perine who seals the deal with great game-clinching runs, it could be he instead of Mayfield that brings yet another Heisman Trophy back to the Norman campus.

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