TCU QB Trevone Boykin Now a Heisman Dark Horse After 7-TD Performance

After tossing seven touchdown passes in an 82-27 drubbing of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, TCU Horned Frogs gunslinger Trevone Boykin has forcefully inserted himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation. 

Not only did Boykin throw a school record seven touchdowns—the same number he threw all of last season—against the Red Raiders, he also racked up 433 yards passing and ran for 28 yards. 

This season, the Horned Frogs have surprised everybody. They were ranked just seventh in the preseason Big 12 poll but now control their destiny to a Big 12 title and, possibly, a playoff berth. 

And it's thanks to Boykin, who is without a doubt the most improved player in college football. 

Jim Cowsert/Associated Press

It started in Week 1, when Boykin was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 320 yards and accounting for three total touchdowns against Samford. 

He's thrown for at least 250 yards in every game—his season low is 258 against Minnesota in Week 2, a 30-7 blowout where TCU got away from the passing game after taking control. Boykin made headway on the ground that game, though, rushing for a season-high 92 yards. 

But the Heisman voters buy into the philosophy of "what have you done for me lately?" 

Well, over the last two weeks against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, Boykin has thrown for 10 touchdowns and 843 yards. He's also thrown just one interception the last two games and just three all season. 

But the question is, how does Boykin stand up to the two bona fide Heisman candidates at quarterback in Oregon's Marcus Mariota and Mississippi State's Dak Prescott?

Here's how Boykin compares to the two in passing yards and touchdowns, total touchdowns, interceptions, record and wins against ranked teams. 

Name	Pass TDs	Total TDs	Pass yards	INT	Record	Wins vs. ranked teams
Trevone Boykin	21	24	2,306	3	6-1	2
Marcus Mariota	24	29	2,283	1	7-1	2
Dak Prescott	15	25	1,694	5	7-0	3

Boykin leads all three in passing yards and is tied with Mariota in wins against ranked opponents. He's close in virtually every category, so it's clear that he's in the same stratosphere as those guys. 

What's more impressive is that Boykin, while he's always been a great athlete, has been all but forgettable until this season. He wasn't even named the starter in the spring, per The Dallas Morning News.  

Now, for the time being, Boykin deserves an invite to New York City as a Heisman finalist. And if TCU comes out of nowhere and wins the Big 12, he could very well hoist up college football's greatest individual honor at season's end.