Jalen Hurts first-half struggles vs. Texas could cost him the Heisman Trophy

Jalen Hurts has been outstanding this year but he hasn’t been perfect and that distinction could be what costs him the Heisman Trophy.

Oklahoma is going for the hat trick of Heisman winners with Jalen Hurts looking to become the third straight Sooners quarterback to take home the trophy. He got off to a blistering start when he showed off the rushing ability he did so at Alabama but adding an arm that was able to hit CeeDee Lamb and Charleston Rambo for big gains in Lincoln Riley’s offense.

But Hurts slide to third in the Heisman odds this week, trailing Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow after the numbers started to tick slightly down. Hurts may slide even further after playing Texas.

Hurts had a lost fumble in the red zone then threw an interception in the end zone in the first half vs. the rival Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry. This is the game Hurts needed to be perfect to make a big Heisman statement with the nation watching.

There is still plenty of time for Hurts to make up for the turnovers in this game with an entire second half yet to play. Not to mention, the remainder of the Oklahoma schedule that will feature plenty of defenses for Hurts to torch with his arm and his legs.

However, the Heisman competition he’s facing may not allow him to make up ground.

Tagovailoa has been perfect this year and that’s why he’s the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman. Then again, the same was said for him at this time last year until he was hit by nagging injuries at the end of the year that sapped his production and allowed Kyler Murray to close the gap at the finish line.

The same scenario could play out again this year, but there is more competition so far this year with Burrow, Justin Fields and Jonathan Taylor firmly entrenched in the Heisman conversation.

Hurts isn’t out of it entirely, but he needs to be perfect the rest of the way and hope the other leading candidates start struggling and/or have their teams lose. If that doesn’t happen, Oklahoma’s Heisman streak will end.

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