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Heisman rankings – Week 6: Tua Tagovailoa making it look too easy

By Cody Williams

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 15: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 15: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 06: Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) heads to the end zone during the Big 12 Conference Red River Rivalry game against the Texas Longhorns on October 6, 2018 at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 06: Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) heads to the end zone during the Big 12 Conference Red River Rivalry game against the Texas Longhorns on October 6, 2018 at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

After last week, I moved Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray to the top of these rankings, thinking that, if he kept performing at the level he was, he had it in the bag. As it turns out, even a masterful performance wasn’t enough for him to keep hold of the No. 1 position. That’s partially due to the play of the new top guy, but also because of the Sooners and Murray getting upset by rival Texas on Saturday.

To be clear, the upset loss was hardly the fault of Murray. While he had two turnovers, the Sooners would’ve been mince meat if not for Murray’s heroics, which included 304 passing yards, 92 rushing yards and five total touchdowns. Because of his individual performance, he stays high, but despite it being an individual award, not getting a win in this rivalry game has to (at least mildly) be held against the two-sport star.

1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Throughout the 2018 season, I feel that I’ve had a rightful knock on the Heisman Trophy candidacy of Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. At a certain point, I felt like he was going to have to step up and actually play four quarters more than once this season for me to call him the leading candidate. However, he’s now done enough to make himself simply undeniable in this race.

dark. Next. CFB Projected top 25 after Week 6

Tua again went off this week in Bama’s crushing win over Arkansas, and again did so while barely looking like he broke a sweat. The sophomore threw just 13 passes, but completed 10 of them for 334 yards and four touchdowns. That now gives Tagovailoa 18 touchdowns passes, zero interceptions and two rushing touchdowns on the year. Yes, how he performs against LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn down the stretch will be critical.

As for now though, the award seems destined for his trophy case.

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