Well into the college football season, there’s no denying that Joe Burrow continues to put together an impressive resume with the LSU Tigers. After transferring, the quarterback skyrocketed in popularity by winning the starting job and securing an 8-0 record. Now, the signal caller sits atop the Heisman Race while the rest of the competition plays catch up.
Torching highly touted SEC defenses each and every week, Burrow racked up 30 touchdowns to four interceptions alongside 2,805 yards of offense. The numbers have caught the attention of the reigning Heisman winner who holds a vote in the festivities toward the end of the year. Labeling Burrow as the favorite when asked by ESPN on Wednesday, Murray said, “Our guy [Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts] kind of took a hit with that loss. I think right now, if somebody had to win, it’d probably be Joe Burrow.”
Securing wins over No. 10 Florida and No. 11 Auburn have helped Burrow retain the top spot. However, a pairing with Tua Tagovailoa and the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide sit on the horizon. While others continue to chase the front-runner, Burrow could easily separate himself for good with a win in Tuscaloosa this weekend. But the opposite also rings true in this scenario.
Alabama is the perennial pick to win the SEC regardless of the level of competition. It’s largely due to the way Nick Saban recruits. Pulling in top players from across the country, one selling point is clearly the national championship. Competing each year on the national scene, prospects buy into that chance time and time again. With the talent on the roster, the Crimson Tide are no strangers to taking down Heisman candidates when the opportunity arises.
In a head-to-head battle, fans and Heisman voters alike will undoubtedly compare Burrow to Tagovailoa. The latter has proved to be consistent in the face of adversity which includes injury. Needing just 20 days to recover from ankle surgery, the Tide are relying on their signal caller to lead the charge into the highly anticipated matchup. Knowing Bama is the favorite for a reason here, the outcome of the contest could drastically swing odds into Tagovailoa’s favor.
There’s plenty at stake this week on the gridiron for the individuals looking for a bit of hardware toward the end of the season.