Baker Mayfield Says He Will Cast Heisman Trophy Vote for Kyler Murray

Baker Mayfield is staying loyal to Oklahoma when it comes to his Heisman Trophy ballot.

The Cleveland Browns quarterback told reporters Sunday he plans on voting for Kyler Murray to win college football's top individual honor:

"You take him out from OU, and they're not in the playoffs. Best player in the country. Fifty touchdowns responsible for. To me, after being around him, it might be easy for me to say that, how special of a player he is, but to me, it's obvious. It's nothing against Tua (Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa). Absolutely not. I think he's had an incredible year, but I think it showed for itself yesterday."   

Mayfield is the reigning Heisman winner, and all past victors receive votes. Murray and Mayfield would be the first players from the same school to win the Heisman in consecutive years since USC's Matt Leinart (2004) and Reggie Bush (2005), though Bush later vacated his trophy.              

Heisman finalists are announced Monday. Murray, Tua Tagovailoa and Dwayne Haskins are considered the three favorites.

Tagovailoa was the runaway favorite for most of the season before his campaign slowed down of late. He struggled in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia before leaving with an ankle injury, opening the door for Jalen Hurts to lead a comeback. 

The argument against Tagovailoa, which Mayfield makes, is that Alabama is talented enough to be in the national title hunt without him.

That's not the case for Oklahoma, which made the playoffs—despite a shaky defense—thanks to Murray's spectacular play. Murray has thrown for 4,053 yards and 40 touchdowns against seven interceptions while adding another 892 yards and 11 scores on the ground. 

Haskins set Big Ten records throwing for 4,580 yards and 47 touchdowns against eight picks. The sophomore doesn't get the job done much with his feet but has been the nation's most prolific Power Five passer, including a 396-yard, six-touchdown effort to lead the Buckeyes over Michigan.