Three Heisman Trophy Finalists Announced

In recent years, the Cardinal had three more second-place finishers: Toby Gerhart (who lost to Alabama’s Mark Ingram) in 2009, Andrew Luck (to Auburn’s Cam Newton) in 2010 and Luck again (to Baylor’s Robert Griffin III) in 2011. He ran for 189 yards and a touchdown on 44 carries in Alabama’s SEC championship game victory over Florida on Saturday.

The main thing that McCaffrey’s got going against him is that he’s only a sophomore – otherwise, he broke the NCAA record for all-purpose yards (Barry Sanders, 3,250) in a win over USC on Saturday. He threw for 3,512 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

With the way Derrick Henry played against Florida, I just don’t see who else can win the Heisman Trophy.

And in the fourth quarter, which began with the Crimson Tide clinging to a 19-13 lead, Kiffin let his workhorse carry the load even more frequently, even though the Tigers knew it was coming. Considering he is not even a year removed from ACL surgery, Watson’s perseverance and strength that he displayed all season will likely be factors that voters take into consideration.

McCaffrey has 1,847 rushing yards with eight touchdowns on 5.8 yards per carry average.

The two star running backs with very different styles and the dual-threat quarterback of the No. 1 team in the country are headed for NY after being named Heisman finalists Monday night.

The official Heisman ballots are in, but now it’s time to cast your vote in our annual People’s Heisman poll.

Now that the three finalists have been announced, Alabama running back Derrick Henry has emerged as the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy award.

The Heisman Trophy goes to the most outstanding college football player each year.

Henry is the nation’s leader in rushing yards with 1,986 and rushing touchdowns with 23.

Bourret said Watson is the first Clemson player to ever be named a finalist for the prestigious award. Alabama is 12-1 this season and earned the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff.

East Carolina’s Justin Hardy won the award a year ago.

His accomplishments is on par with his leadership, UA coach Nick Saban said.

Historical significance is hard to gauge in the present tense, but in the years to come, as we’re granted the clarity and perspective that only time can provide, I’m certain McCaffrey’s 2015 season will be considered a measuring stick by which other outstanding seasons are judged.

Watson and Clemson will play Big 12 champion Oklahoma and Alabama will face Big Ten Champion Michigan State in the semifinal round of the College Football Playoffs on December 31. Henry’s size helped him to handle the pounding that came with carrying the ball more than any Power 5 running back in the nation.