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3 reasons Baker Mayfield wins the Heisman Trophy

By Nathaniel Reeves

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 2: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 41-17 in the Big 12 Championship AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 2: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 41-17 in the Big 12 Championship AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners gestures to the crowd after Senior Day announcements before the game 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 gestures to the crowd after Senior Day announcements before the game 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) /

His efficiency numbers are off the charts

While Mayfield’s raw numbers are impressive enough on their own to win the Heisman Trophy, he trails Jackson in a few categories, including total yards. What clearly separates Mayfield from the rest of the pack is some of the best efficiency numbers we’ve ever seen from a college quarterback.

Mayfield’s resume is filled with incredible numbers this season, and a 71.0 completion percentage to lead the nation might be the most impressive of them all. The lowest completion percentage in any individual game this season for Mayfield was 63, and he averaged 11.8 yards per attempt for a combination of accuracy and explosive ability that no other quarterback in the nation came close to matching.

Collegiate passing efficiency rating measures a combination yardage, completion percentage, touchdowns and interceptions. With a rating of 203.8 this season, Mayfield was well ahead of UCF’s McKenzie Milton for the best mark in the nation and broke Sam Bradford’s record for career passing efficiency, at least for the moment.

While Mayfield ran more as a sophomore back in 2015, he still racked up 85 carries for 310 yards and five touchdowns. That gives Mayfield 46 total touchdowns to rank first in the nation, and he took care of the ball expertly with only five interceptions on the season.

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It’s difficult to compare a quarterback’s statistics to Love’s 1,973 rushing yards, no player in college football made a bigger impact than Mayfield. One of the most efficient seasons from a college quarterback in history deserves to be rewarded with the Heisman Trophy next weekend.

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