Top 5 Heisman Moments of 2014

As the play unfolds, you cannot help but think it: If this guy wins the Heisman Trophy, this is going to be the play that does it.

The term "Heisman moment" gets used a lot when describing big plays at key moments, but sometimes, it really does apply to the situation. This season has had plenty of these moments—and not just for the three finalists headed to New York for this year's award ceremony.

Here's our list of the five best Heisman moments of 2014. Think differently? Give us your take in the comments section.

5. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

The moment: Heisman pose after first career touchdown

We'll start with a little foreshadowing, compliments of the No. 1 overall recruit, per 247Sports, of the 2014 class.

Leonard Fournette came to LSU with plenty of hype and very high expectations—not just from experts but also himself. Before ever taking a college snap, Fournette told Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times back in August that being a "1,000-yard rusher, All-American, All-SEC and hopefully Heisman candidate" were his personal goals in 2014.

None of those things happened—though with 891 yards heading into a Music City Bowl matchup with Notre Dame, at least one is still possible—but Fournette showed the kind of progress over the season that makes all of his predictions very much in play for next season and beyond.

Fournette tried to get an early jump on his Heisman campaign, though, after scoring his first career touchdown. During a 56-0 win Sept. 6 against Sam Houston State, Fournette scored on a four-yard run late in the first quarter...then quickly went into the famed Heisman pose in front of dozens of cameras.

This did not go over well with coach Les Miles, who told reporters, per Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports [sic]: "I think that he needs to realize too that this is team."

4. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU

The moment: Throwing for seven touchdowns vs. Texas Tech

Had the list of attendees to the Heisman ceremony exceeded three, odds are Trevone Boykin would have been a good candidate for that fourth invitation. Far and away one of the most improved players of the season, the TCU quarterback had a breakout year that hardly anyone could have predicted based on how he performed in 2013.

The best example of this came in late October, when he threw for 433 yards and a school-record seven touchdowns in an 82-27 win over Texas Tech.

To put that in perspective, Boykin threw seven TD passes in all of 2013, when he spent time at quarterback, running back and receiver.

Boykin accounted for 4,356 yards and 39 touchdowns this season, including a 55-yard TD reception in the Horned Frogs' 55-3 win over Iowa State in the regular-season finale.

3. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

The moment: Dominating Auburn in Iron Bowl

Despite heading into the game with 90 receptions, 1,349 yards and 11 touchdowns—numbers that ranked at or near the top of Alabama's single-season bests—Amari Cooper wasn't considered big enough of a concern for rival Auburn to give him any special treatment during the Nov. 30 Iron Bowl.

"We just play him as any other person," Auburn defensive back Johnathan Ford told Brandon Marcello of AL.com.

The perceived run-of-the-mill Cooper responded by catching 13 passes for 224 yards and three TDs, almost single-handedly leading Alabama to its 55-44 win over the rival Tigers to clinch the SEC West Division.

Cooper was so dominant that Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin was able to predict at least one of his receiver's touchdowns before the ball even left quarterback Blake Sims' hands.

2. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

The moment: Setting single-game rushing record vs. Nebraska

He may have only held the record for one week, but that doesn't in any way lessen the significance of what Melvin Gordon did in just three quarters against Nebraska on Nov. 15.

In a clash of teams fighting for first place in the Big Ten's West Division, the Wisconsin junior running back was expected to play a huge role. He came into the game with more than 1,500 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns and was slowly creeping up the Heisman charts.

Then, he exploded for 408 yards and four TDs, toppling LaDainian Tomlinson's 15-year mark of 406 yards in only three quarters of action. Gordon's outburst helped Wisconsin rally from a 17-3 deficit to win, 59-24, with Gordon breaking the record on a 26-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter.

Sure, Oklahoma freshman Samaje Perine re-broke the record a week later, gaining 427 yards against Kansas, but Gordon had already enjoyed his Heisman moment, and no other player's performance could take that away from him.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

The moment: 46-yard scramble pass to Darren Carrington in Pac-12 Championship

When it comes to Marcus Mariota, who—short of some major accounting error—figures to be a landslide Heisman winner Saturday, it wasn't just one or two plays that made him far and away the best player in the country this season. Consistency, dependability and constant production is what has him on the brink of winning the award, rather than a few instances of flash and dash.

Don't believe us? Check out this video chronicling all 53 of the touchdowns (38 passing, 14 rushing, one receiving) he accounted for this season, and see if you still think otherwise.

But if we had to pick one, Mariota provided a definite Heisman moment during the third quarter of Oregon's dominant 51-13 win over Arizona last week in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Leading 30-7, after Arizona had finally scored to try and make a game of it, Mariota dropped back but quickly realized his pocket was collapsing. 

He scrambled around, avoiding tacklers before rolling right and throwing on the run to Darren Carrington for a 46-yard gain. On the next play, he hit Carrington for an 11-yard touchdown pass, his second passing TD to go with three rushing scores.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.