LOOK: Oklahoma puts Kyler Murray's stats next to Tua Tagovailoa's to lobby for Heisman
The two Heisman Trophy frontrunners are Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa and Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray.
While most non-FOX Sports employees consider Tagovailoa the heavy favorite to win the award, Murray’s numbers are also incredible this year.
As you can see below, Oklahoma tweeted out a comparison of Murray’s numbers to Tagovailoa’s as part of Murray’s Heisman bid:
#KylerKnowshttps://t.co/2Nq6617VAX pic.twitter.com/dxpbmzKxzo
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 21, 2018
Of course, the big number that isn’t included is attempts (or rating) as Tagovailoa has attempted far fewer passes than Murray and the high-flying Oklahoma offense.
Also, Murray has a loss on his resume, while Tagovailoa and the Tide are are undefeated. Who will win? That remains to be seen, but both are having fantastic seasons.
Another very important piece of information not included: quality of defenses faced.
Tua wins, hands down.
Oklahoma has played 5 SEC teams since 2014, went 4-1 and scored 193 points. Three of those teams were Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. Let’s not act like Kyler wouldn’t have put up the same numbers against any of the teams Alabama has played.
A very good point, OU can and does hold its own against SEC teams when the time arises , without having the #1 ranked recruiting class year in and year out.
Its nice if Murry wins it , if not , hey he is still the 4 million dollar man for Oakland and the highest paid player in the NCAA.
Awards are nice but they don’t pay the bills.
Totally agree, if Kyler could trade in the Heisman for a national championship, he’d do it in a second. The point of all this is, that almost everyone has just handed the trophy to Tua, and he’s more than deserving, but it’s way closer than anyone in the SEC wants to admit.
Hopefully voters understand the difference between playing in the Big 12 and the SEC. And possibly see Kyler has to play more than Tua because OU’s defense can’t stop anyone. If Tua had as many pass attempts at his yards per attempt, he’d have more yards. We just saw Oklahoma do what they’re doing this year, last season. We’ve never seen what Tua is doing at Alabama. If Bama remains undefeated, it’s Tua’s award.
I’d like to see Kyler’s stats for quarters 1-3 compared to Tua’s. Apples to apples. What would Tua have if he played all of every game? It’s hard to imagine but pretty clear that no one would be close. Manziel didn’t play full games in his Heisman year either, though not to the extent that Tua gets rest. But we’re always glad to see Jalen take the field, too…big fans of that quality young man for sure. RTR
Tua
131/194 (67.8%)
2,337 yards
27 Tds
1 INT
214.7 efficiency rating
Murray
134/189 (70.9%)
2,468 yards
28 Tds
5 INT
223.3 efficiency rating
While thats cute…theres alot of info that has been left off. Like how much time played…TD/Int.ratio….quality of Defense?
The question that decides the vote on this one; are K Murray’s numbers more due to the OU system or his talent?
Tua’s numbers are in stark contrast to what Jalen did with the same program. While Baker Mayfield’s season last year might just show that the OU program is built to increase stats.
What’s cute is most Bama fans are trying to push the narrative that if you take out the fourth quarter Tua is miles away. Yet, somehow, Kyler still has better stats, and more rushing yards than Bama’s Lead RB.
Not just the 4th quarter. There has been many games where Tua left after 1 drive in the 3rd. Other times there were games where he left before HALFTIME. Plus, if the Heisman was only about stats– how come so many other players do not win, even though they may lead the nation in whatever stat. Like why didnt Pat Mahomes win in 2016 when he threw for over 5,000 yards and 41 Td’s? The Heisman is for best player, one who elevates the team to another level. Without Tua, Bama still might make the playoff, but with Tua Bama is seemingly unstoppable. First time Bama has had an offense like this, EVER. Kyler stats are like that of Mayfield for last year. But Mayfield went into OSU and beat them at home. Heisman Moment type stuff. You can throw out stats night and day, but that’s the Oklahoma system. A very high powered offense, under any QB. Where is the Heisman moment for Kyler? Losing to Texas? Tua’s so far came after going down to Death Valley at night and beating a highly ranked, highly motivated LSU team who just killed UGA. But let’s talk stats if you wanna keep with that narrative. If Kyler Murray played an SEC schedule, he wouldn’t have all of those stats you like to throw out. Oklahoma has only played 1 teams who rank in the top 30 of total defense. That’s Army. Murray went 11/15 for 165 yards against ARMY. Tua has played 3 teams in the top 50 with 1 more in UGA upcoming. Kyler Murray is a great qb who should be in New York. But Tua gets the edge, and also gets to play against UGA in the SEC Championship game to better highlight his resume.
What’s cute RedDirt is the loss to Texas Kyler has that Oklahoma and you failed to put in those stats. If the Top 4 win out Oklahoma is NOT in the CFP. At least Bama controls their own destiny.
Kyler Murray couldn’t carry Tua’s jock.
Life long Bama boy here and pretty sure, and hope that, Tua gets it. But it’s my understanding is that the award now goes to a person who’s team wouldn’t be the same without them. Yes Tua had given Bama a HUGE advantage, but OU wouldn’t be in the top 25 without Murray. He is their team, even though they play no real defenses. But i feel that Tua is still a far better player.
Tua turns Bama from a really good team into one of the best cf teams of all time. He’s had an amazing impact on this team. It will be a total rip-off if he doesn’t win the Heisman.
What about the fourth quarter that Tua hardly ever needed to play in ?
Quarters 1-3
Tua
131/194 (67.8%)
2,337 yards
27 Tds
1 INT
214.7 efficiency rating
Murray
134/189 (70.9%)
2,468 yards
28 Tds
5 INT
223.3 efficiency rating
Hey Dirt: Here is one you will never understand, Tua plays half a game and puts up scores equal or very close to Murray’s. He needs 40% percent less time to equal the score, before you factor in the quality of Defenses faced. Your boy is rode HARD and put up wet every game. Tua is out for a light gallop and rested against way better defenses than Tyler has seen since he left the SEC. That is why Tua deserves the trophy.
Murray also played multiple games only the first half of the game. Never stepped foot on the field in second half. Got the job done in 2 quarters playing the cupcake teams like Bama has all year. Didn’t need the 3rd quarter to do it.
How about that L to Texas?
I’d love to see the Alabama math where you got 40%(!). Lmao.
The equalizer is passing attempts, which are nearly equal.
The last Alabama Heisman winner lostmto Ol’ Miss, let’s not act like a team loss with a historically bad defense is real debate fodder. You’re all digging a little too far into the pockets for these garbage justifications.
Kyler also has more rushing yards than Bama’s top rusher. Convenient that gets left out.
Convenient that you leave that L to Texas out.
I haven’t actually. This isn’t a team award. What the hell is so hard to understand about that? If that mattered then Watson should have won the award instead of Henry in 2015 that lost to Ol’ Miss. Kyler had 400 yards of offense and 4 touchdowns in that loss by a last second field goal, OUs terrible defense gave up.
The Big 12 doesn’t play defense. It’s basically Arena football where you spend 60 minutes game time running up and down the field at will and have to score 50, 60 or maybe 70 ppg just to win.
As to the non-relevant statements about the SEC vs the Big 12, it could be the SEC vs any other conference, just because the SEC is #1 does not mean a Player of another conference cannot win , does anyone remember who won last year ?
Bottom line is I don’t believe Tua could do at OU what Murry has to do to win, Tua has a larger better supporting cast than Murry and I just don’t believe he could keep a team afloat like Murry has to.
This is tough to call for either QB. I feel like if you put any QB that has a good arm, can read a defense and has some mobility on Oklahoma’s OR Alabama’s rosters you would get the same results.
Both teams have lots of skilled pass catchers that can burn a defense. All it takes is for a capable QB to get the ball to them. Not like these guys are playing QB at Vandy, Michigan St, or Wisconsin etc where the skill positions are lacking.
Tua gets to earn his “Heisman” Monday. He’s won 15 consecutive games for Bama. Let’s make it 16. He has yet to be tested.