Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston Battling For More Than Heisman
By Erik Lambert
Nov 1, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) reaches out to stiff arm Stanford Cardinal safety Kyle Olugbode at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
They haven’t even played each other yet in their college football careers but Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston are joined at the hip. It has nothing to do with stat comparison or anything like that. It’s how close they are coming to forging a sort of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird rivalry in football. Think about it.
Heisman
According to the most recently updated rankings on ESPN, Mariota ranks second in the nation among favorites to win the Heisman trophy. On the 2014 season he has 2,283 passing yards, 325 rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns. He just finished helping the Oregon Ducks bury their Pac-12 rival Stanford 45-16. Unless something major shifts he will be among the favorites to win the award.
Meanwhile Winston, who won it last year is lurking in the shadows. He just completed yet another epic comeback over Louisville from being down 21-0. For the game he finished with 401 yards and three touchdowns. For the season he has 2,279 yards with 19 touchdowns. The big difference at the moment is his nine interceptions. However, if he finishes the season strong it’s very possible he may challenge Mariota for the award.
National Championship
This same race is also playing out in the college football standings. Florida State ranks #1 in the nation as the reigning national champs and remain undefeated despite a series of close calls. With their win over Stanford and the loss of Ole Miss, Oregon figures to move up from #5 into the top four, putting them in position to be part of the inaugural playoff series for the national championship. Could one imagine those two offensive powerhouses locking horns in the final?
#1 Quarterback In 2015 NFL Draft
Then there is the long-term outlook. Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston also share one other thing in common. They are each considered 1st round picks for the upcoming 2015 NFL draft. Each is certainly fighting for the honor of being the first quarterback selected and no doubt a Heisman trophy and national championship would do wonders for their stocks. Thus the rivalry, however young and innocent could seriously start to grow as the year grows late.
Football fans would only be so lucky.