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Heisman Watch 2017: Is the race already over?

By Cody Williams

(Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to throw against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated West Virginia 59-31. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to throw against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated West Virginia 59-31. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

1. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

A substantial portion of quarterbacks in college football would love to have a line like 14-of-17 for 281 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 59-31 victory. That’s a nice game for four quarters on the way to a win. For Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield, though, that’s just the numbers you put up when you don’t even start the final home game of your career because you got a little carried away in beating down Kansas the previous week.

Okay, so maybe he was only out for two plays, but that doesn’t change the fact that he didn’t even play the whole game, had to have some mental strain for not starting and losing his captaincy, and still made light work of the West Virginia defense in the season finale.

Last season when Mayfield was a Heisman Trophy finalist, many people marveled over the efficiency that he played with as he completed 71 percent of his passes, threw only eight interceptions and averaged 11.08 yards per attempt. Well, he’s bettered those marks while hitting on 71.4 percent of his attempts with only five interceptions and averaging 11.84 yards per attempt. Moreover, he still has the Big 12 Championship and a bowl game to play and has already surpassed his yardage mark from last season and is just three touchdowns shy of his total from last year.

Next: Heisman Busts: 15 Heisman Trophy Winners Who Flopped

The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner, simply put, is Baker Mayfield. He would almost have to play historically bad while Love played monumentally great to not win the award. He’s been a monster for Lincoln Riley this season, and will almost undoubtedly be rewarded for doing so.

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