They did it again.
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray won college football’s most prestigious individual award Saturday night, edging Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa by less than 300 votes to win the Heisman Trophy.
The close finish sets up a big showdown between the two as both players look to lead their teams to victory against each one another in the College Football Playoff at the end of the month.
The No. 4 Sooners will play No. 1 Alabama in the Orange Bowl semifinal on Dec. 29. The bowl matchup will just the seventh time ever that the Heisman winner and the runner-up will face off against one another. The last time that happened was in 2006 during a Rose Bowl game between Texas (QB Vince Young) and USC (RB Reggie Bush).
Heisman vote count. pic.twitter.com/ONN3yozKHJ
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) December 9, 2018
The 2018 Heisman results by region… pic.twitter.com/tsudTJO92w
— Fan Insider (@FanInsider_) December 9, 2018
Oklahoma also made history as the university became just the first program to have back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners. Murray, stepped into the starting job at Oklahoma held by last year’s Heisman winner and first overall NFL draft pick, Baker Mayfield.
“This is crazy,” Murray said in his acceptance speech. “This is an honor, something that I’ll never forget. Something that I’ll always cherish for the rest of my life.”
Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield Goes From Walk-on To 2017 Heisman Trophy Winner
The vote was close as Murray was named on 92 percent of the Heisman ballots, the third most of all time. Tagovailoa received 1,871 points, which were the most ever for a runner-up in the 84-year history of the Heisman.
Murray, picked up right where Mayfield left off last year as the junior quarterback threw for more than 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns this season.
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