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2019 Heisman Trophy finalists: Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Ohio State duo

By Patrick Schmidt

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Terrace Marshall Jr. #6 (not pictured) in the third quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Terrace Marshall Jr. #6 (not pictured) in the third quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Heisman FInalists
Heisman FInalists /

There is no debate about who will win the Heisman Trophy, but there is some drama about who will finish as the runner-up to Joe Burrow.

Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts and Chase Young will be on hand to watch Joe Burrow receive the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night after being named finalists on Monday evening.

Heisman credentials: Joe Burrow, LSU, quarterback

Burrow has had the Heisman won since he led LSU to a convincing win at then-No. 2 Alabama in early November. Since then, he’s only extended his lead over the field and he’s in position to threaten the Heisman record for most first-place votes and margin of victory.

After putting up pedestrian numbers last year in his first at LSU, Burrow is the most improved player in college football and shattered records along the way. After breaking nearly every meaningful LSU single-season passing record, Burrow set his sights on SEC records. Just as he does when he locks in on a receiver, he delivered and is the SEC record-holder for most touchdowns with 48, which also leads the FBS.

The record-breaking numbers don’t stop there for Burrow who also set an FBS record with a 77.9 completion percentage while averaging a staggering 10.7 yards per attempt.

Perhaps the most staggering statistic for Burrow is the six interceptions he’s thrown on 439 attempts. It’s why he had the second-best quarterback rating, behind only Tua Tagovailoa, with a 201.47 mark.

In short, Burrow has been incredible and if he can lead No. 1 LSU to the national championship next month, this could go down as the greatest single-season by a college quarterback.

The Heisman ceremony is Saturday at 7 p.m. and Burrow will receive his Trophy around 7:55.

Heisman credentials: Justin Fields, Ohio State, quarterback

Fields more than lived up to the hype that came with his arrival after transferring from Georgia after his freshman year. The former top recruit showed the dual-threat ability that was flashed in Athens, but fans got to see a much larger sample size as a Buckeye. Fields was third in the nation with 40 touchdown passes and only threw one interception all year. Remarkable. Fields also added 471 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. His 50 total touchdowns for the No. 2 team in the nation propelled the Buckeyes to another Big Ten championship and a Fiesta Bowl berth against Clemson.

Heisman credentials: Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma, quarterback

Hurts is the third quarterback finalist after leading Oklahoma to the Big 12 championship and a Peach Bowl berth vs. Burrow and LSU in the College Football Playoff semi-final. Hurts also gives Oklahoma a chance at a third straight Heisman after Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield won the previous two years. It’s not going to happen, but it’s clear the Oklahoma quarterback is a pipeline to the Heisman ceremony. Hurts was 10th in the nation with 32 touchdown passes, led the nation with 11.8 yards per attempt, fourth in completion percentage, sixth in yards and third in quarterback rating.

The passing stats only tell half the story for Hurts who also accounted for 1,255 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. And for good measure, Hurts caught a touchdown to give him a total of 51 combined touchdowns, the same total as Burrow and one behind Fields.

Heisman credentials: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

Chase Young is the rare defender to get an invitation to the Heisman ceremony. He’s the first defensive player since Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers in 2016 to be a finalist. Young led the nation with 16.5 sacks, despite a two-game suspension for breaking NCAA rules after he took a loan from a family friend and repaid the loan in full. He also finished tied for fourth with 21.5 tackles for loss and had six forced fumbles for the year. The two-game suspension stalled the momentum he had after his four-sack game vs. Wisconsin to challenge for the runner-up to Burrow and finishing without a sack vs. Michigan and Wisconsin in the last two games hurt his bid to make Heisman history.

You can watch the Heisman Trophy presentation on Saturday, Dec. 14 on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET.

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