Heisman debate: Making the case for Tua Tagovailoa and for Kyler Murray
The Case for Kyler Murray
The case for Kyler Murray to win the 2018 Heisman Trophy may not be as cut-and-dry as the one for Tagovailoa, but that doesn’t make it less viable of a case. Sure, Murray and the Oklahoma Sooners have one loss on the season, something that Alabama doesn’t have working against them. If not for Murray, however, this Sooners team would be in a much worse spot.
Before we get into that, however, it’s worth noting that Murray’s counting stats are better than Tua’s across the board, save for the interception numbers. Murray has 3,674 yards passing, 37 passing touchdowns, 853 rushing yards and 11 rushing scores. Each of those numbers eclipse what the Crimson Tide sophomore has done to this point in the season, and they’ve done so with similar efficiency with Murray completing 70.6 percent of his passes and Tagovailoa 70.3 percent of his.
In truth though, the job that Murray has been tasked with as the leader of the Sooners offense has been a much grander one. Without the superstar quarterback at the helm, this team would be struggling to be .500, much less coming into the Big 12 Championship Game with a chance at making the College Football. The Oklahoma defense has been abysmal this season and Murray has essentially been tasked with carrying his team to wins — and he’s done so with aplomb.
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Sure, Murray may not have displayed the same level of dominance that Tua and the Crimson Tide have this season. After all, Murray has had to see the fourth quarter almost every week. But really, that should be to the junior quarterback’s credit. He’s had to play everything out because the team around him isn’t a juggernaut — they’re only a contender because of his presence.
That should speak volumes about Kyler Murray and what he means to Oklahoma and college football at large. And it should also be his trump card when considering him as the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner.