After tossing four touchdown passes in Alabama’s 41-0 victory over Mississippi State on Halloween, it felt like this year’s Heisman Trophy race was Mac Jones’ to lose.
It still feels that way for most people; however, another quarterback from the Southeastern Conference is surging. Kyle Trask, a redshirt senior from Manvel, Texas, is having a special season at the University of Florida.
Despite the Gators being a one-loss team, he is leading one of the best offenses in college football.
Trask is coming off his second six-touchdown performance of the year versus Arkansas, in guiding the Gators to a 63-35 win at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. He has completed 70.1 percent (148 of 211) of his passes for 2,171 yards with 28 touchdowns (leads the nation) to three interceptions.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder carries a passer rating of 197.5, a total quarterback rating of 93.9 and a raw quarterback rating of 90.8. He has Florida ranked sixth in the nation for scoring offense (45.8 ppg) and 12th for total offense (511.7 ypg).
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Jones has proven doubters wrong about him, but Gator fans, media pundits, odds makers and even former legendary coach, Steve Spurrier (1966 Heisman winner) are campaigning Trask for the Heisman.
According to an article from Sports Illustrated, Spurrier said Trask is having ‘a Joe Burrow kind of year.’
Name a better QB than Kyle Trask
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) November 15, 2020
Can we just give this to Kyle Trask? pic.twitter.com/GHaBQzKqFD
— Brian Fox, Jr. (@ChompTalkBrian) November 15, 2020
Kyle Trask is ridiculous. Five first half touchdown passes. I don’t know how he isn’t the Heisman favorite right now.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) November 15, 2020
Breaking:
Kyle Trask is the new betting favorite to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy.
Updated odds (BetOnline):
Kyle Trask +175
Mac Jones +200
Justin Fields +275
Trevor Lawrence +325
Zach Wilson +2800
Kellen Mond +6600— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) November 16, 2020
Although he is starting to garner some attention as the new Heisman favorite, Trask is battling a signal caller who is both undefeated and has more passing yards (2,196), a higher completion percentage (78.5), a better passer rating (210.3) and a higher total QBR (95.6) than he does.
Jones, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., has the Crimson Tide boasting the second-highest scoring offense (47.2 ppg) in the nation and the fifth-best total offense (555.2 ypg). He has led the Tide to one more 40-point game than Trask has done with the Gators (five to four), while both have totaled at least one 60-point output.
When it comes to the SEC, Alabama’s mark in points per game leads the conference.
He has been resting the last two weeks, but Jones returns to action on Saturday versus Kentucky.
RELATED: Alabama maintains No. 1 ranking in AP Poll after two off weeks
It will be an opportunity for him to affirm himself as the No. 1 Heisman candidate, if he has lost the lead. Alabama and Florida are on a collision course to meet each other in the SEC Championship Game.
Should the race remain close at that point, the title showdown will determine the Heisman winner. Trask is good, but can Jones fend him off to win the coveted honor?
He desires to be the first Alabama quarterback to earn the Heisman Memorial Trophy.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
