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Heisman Watch: Did LSU loss doom Florida’s Kyle Trask?

Alabama’s Mac Jones will enter Saturday’s SEC championship against the Gators as the favorite.
 
Gators quarterback Kyle Trask's Heisman hopes took a hit with last week's loss to LSU.
Gators quarterback Kyle Trask's Heisman hopes took a hit with last week's loss to LSU. [ JOHN RAOUX | AP ]
Published Dec. 15, 2020

When the Gators lost a shocker at home to LSU on Saturday night, No. 11 Florida almost certainly threw away its shot at the College Football Playoff.

Did quarterback Kyle Trask’s Heisman Trophy chances end, too? If nothing else, they took a major hit. Alabama’s Mac Jones has jumped to a 1/3 favorite to win the award, according to BetOnline.ag. Trask fell from 5/4 to 5/2.

Related: Six random thoughts on Florida-Alabama in SEC championship game

As Trask’s Gators and Jones’ No. 1 Crimson Tide prepare to face off in Saturday’s SEC championship game in Atlanta, here’s our latest look at how UF’s star quarterback stacks up against the rest of the Heisman hopefuls:

Kyle Trask, Florida quarterback (10 games)

Kyle Trask rushed and passed for two touchdowns against the Tigers.
Kyle Trask rushed and passed for two touchdowns against the Tigers. [ JOHN RAOUX | AP ]

Touchdown passes: 40 (first nationally)

Interceptions: 5

Completion percentage: 70.2 (eighth)

Yards per attempt: 10.1 (ninth)

Passing efficiency: 187.86 (sixth)

Rushing: 46 carries, 50 yards, 2 TDs

Total yards per game: 376.7 (third)

Of note: Trask passed Danny Wuerffel for the most touchdowns in a single season in UF history on Saturday while adding his first two rushing touchdowns. But three turnovers in a loss this late in the season will be hard to overcome.

Mac Jones, Alabama quarterback (10 games)

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones had a quiet game last week against Arkansas.
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones had a quiet game last week against Arkansas. [ MICHAEL WOODS | AP ]

Touchdown passes: 27 (fifth)

Interceptions: 3

Completion percentage: 76.4 (second)

Yards per attempt: 11.7 (first)

Passing efficiency: 203.90 (first)

Rushing: 23 carries, minus-1 yard, 1 TD

Total yards per game: 332.0 (sixth)

Of note: Although he didn’t throw a touchdown pass against Arkansas, he completed almost 83 percent of his passes in a 52-3 blowout. The betting lines are correct; Jones has become the clear favorite.

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson quarterback (eight games)

Trevor Lawrence has a chance to avenge Clemson's only loss by beating Notre Dame on Saturday.
Trevor Lawrence has a chance to avenge Clemson's only loss by beating Notre Dame on Saturday. [ BART BOATWRIGHT/THE CLEMSON INSIDER | ACC Pool ]

Touchdown passes: 20 (T-14th)

Interceptions: 3

Completion percentage: 69.2 (12th)

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Yards per attempt: 9.7 (T-11th)

Passing efficiency: 174.88 (11th)

Rushing: 44 carries, 121 yards, 6 TDs

Total yards per game: 319.0 (11th)

Of note: Lawrence had last week off to prepare to face Notre Dame in the ACC championship. Perhaps an enormous performance in the Tigers’ revenge game against the Irish can vault the presumptive No. 1 overall draft pick into the race.

Related: Dan Mullen: Gators’ shoe toss was after football move, not a taunt

Justin Fields, Ohio State quarterback (five games)

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields probably doesn't have gaudy enough numbers to win the award.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields probably doesn't have gaudy enough numbers to win the award. [ JAY LAPRETE | AP ]

Touchdown passes: 15 (34th)

Interceptions: 3

Completion percentage: 78.1 (first)

Yards per attempt: 10.3 (eighth)

Passing efficiency: 196.12 (second)

Rushing: 55 carries, 239 yards, 5 TDs

Total yards per game: 329.2 (seventh)

Of note: Fields was also off last week due to the unfortunate cancellation of the rivalry game with Michigan. It’s hard to see him being more than a finalist, even if he lights up Northwestern in the Big Ten championship.

Zach Wilson, BYU quarterback (11 games)

BYU quarterback Zach Wilson won't be playing this weekend. That won't help his Heisman case.
BYU quarterback Zach Wilson won't be playing this weekend. That won't help his Heisman case. [ GEORGE FREY | AP ]

Touchdown passes: 30 (T-second)

Interceptions: 3

Completion percentage: 73.1 (fourth)

Yards per attempt: 10.9 (third)

Passing efficiency: 195.36 (third)

Rushing: 65 carries, 242 yards, 8 TDs

Total yards per game: 319.6 (10th)

Of note: Three touchdowns, 303 passing yards and no interceptions against San Diego State kept him relevant. But the Cougars’ absence this weekend will make him easy to overlook in the final slate of games before votes are cast.

DeVonta Smith, Alabama receiver (10 games)

DeVonta Smith scored his first punt return touchdown against Arkansas last week.
DeVonta Smith scored his first punt return touchdown against Arkansas last week. [ MICHAEL WOODS | AP ]

Receptions: 83 (second nationally)

Touchdown catches: 15 (second nationally)

Yards per catch: 16.0 (73rd nationally)

Yards per game: 132.7 (second nationally)

Of note: Smith only had three catches for 22 yards in the rout of Arkansas but still had a Heisman-worthy highlight — an 84-yard punt-return touchdown, which was the first of his college career. That moment boosted his shot at becoming the first receiver to win the Heisman since Michigan’s Desmond Howard (1991).

Kyle Pitts, Florida tight end (seven games)

Florida's Kyle Pitts is a shoo-in for the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. But winning the Heisman seems very unlikely.
Florida's Kyle Pitts is a shoo-in for the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. But winning the Heisman seems very unlikely. [ THOMAS GRANING | AP ]

Receptions: 36 (T-90th)

Touchdown catches: 11 (fourth)

Yards per catch: 17.8 (36th)

Yards per game: 91.6 (25th)

Of note: Pitts’ value was obvious by his absence in the LSU loss; the Gators weren’t themselves in the red zone without his 6-foot-6 frame. He expects to return from his injury and be 100 percent against ‘Bama.