Baker Mayfield gave the Heisman voters one last glimpse of his greatness in the Oklahoma Big 12 Championship win.
Last season as the month of December hit, there was no question that Louisville’s dynamic dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson would be taking home the Heisman Trophy. This year is pretty much the same, as despite some antics that have rubbed people the wrong way, Oklahoma signal-caller Baker Mayfield will be taking home the hardware come next Saturday in New York City.
Still, though, the fifth-year senior had the opportunity on Saturday to provide the Heisman voters with a closing argument as he and the Sooners took on TCU with a Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff berth on the line. It was one final chance to show everyone that there is no better player in the game of college football, and that the coveted bronze statue was as good as his next weekend.
On Saturday in Arlington, Texas, Mayfield provided everyone with one hell of a closing argument. The former Texas Tech walk-on finished the game 15-of-23 for 243 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also added in 65 yards on the ground with six carries, torching a very good Horned Frogs rushing defense as Oklahoma clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Some may not believe Mayfield had to provide a closing argument on Saturday, but in some ways, it was beneficial. The likely runner-up to the award, Stanford running back Bryce Love, put on quite the show himself in the Cardinal’s Pac-12 Championship Game loss on Friday night to USC. Pretty much on one leg, showing his toughness to the country as well, Love gashed the Trojans for 125 yards on 22 carries, pushing him near 2,000 yards for the season. While not likely Love would have passed Mayfield next weekend, he certainly made a good case on a rare national stage for Stanford.
But, there will be no worrying about Love or anyone else for that matter passing Baker Mayfield in the race to the Heisman Trophy.
Mayfield came back this season because he wanted to earn Oklahoma some championships. Saturday, he got them another conference one, and now they’ll be in position for the biggest team prize in the sport as they get ready for the College Football Playoff. But before they get there, Mayfield has to pick up a trophy for himself on Saturday in the Big Apple — a trophy he made his final case for this weekend in the Big 12 Championship Game.