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Heisman Trophy watch week 12: Joe Burrow shines, Tua Tagovailoa hurt

By Nicholas Perlich

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 16: Running back Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers warms up before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 16: Running back Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers warms up before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the CFP National Championship against the Clemson Tigers presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the CFP National Championship against the Clemson Tigers presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

A look at how the Heisman Trophy race stacks up after twelve weeks of football as Joe Burrow shines again, while Tua Tagovailoa is done for the year.

Once again, there were plenty of great games and great individual performances for fans to enjoy during week 12 of the college football season. Multiple games had an impact on the race for the playoffs, but how did some of the action effect the standings for the Heisman Trophy. Here is how it stacks up after Week 12 as Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa are unfortunately no longer neck-and-neck:

Honorable Mentions

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Last week at Mississippi St.: 14-for18 (77.8%)| 256 yards| 2 TD| 0 INT| 2 rushes| -8 yards| 0 TD

Season Stats: 180-for-252 (71.4%)| 2,840 yards| 33 TD| 3 INT| 23 rushes| 17 yards| 2 TD

It was the injury heard around the world on Saturday when Tua Tagovailoa went down with a hip injury right before halftime. He ended up suffering a dislocated hip, but luckily it wasn’t quite as severe as initially feared. Tagovailoa underwent surgery on the hip earlier this week and reports indicate that he should be back throwing within six months.

While that effectively ends his season, that should allow him to be back on the field in 2020 whether it be for the NFL or back at Alabama. And while his season being over effectively ends his chances at winning the Heisman Trophy, his play when healthy this season deserves to still mentioned in this space.

In fact, despite basically missing two full games at this point, Tagovailoa is still fifth in all of college football in total touchdowns. While college football will obviously miss Tagovailoa’s great play, hopefully, he can fully recover and get back to the football field sooner rather than later.

JK Dobbins, RB, Ohio State

Last week at Rutgers: 17 att.| 89 yards| 5.2 ypa| 2 TD| 18 Long

Season Stats: 183 att.| 1,289 yards| 7.0 ypa| 13 TD| 68 Long| 14 receptions| 140 yards| 2 TD

JK Dobbins has been the definition of a workhorse back for the Buckeyes. However, the past two games have been such dominant performances by Ohio State that he hasn’t had his normal usage. While he has found the endzone twice in each of the past two weeks, Dobbins also failed to crack 100 yards rushing in those games as well.

Again, that shows more about Ohio State’s dominance than a slump by Dobbins. This week he figures to be a big part of the gameplan once again as the Buckeyes have one of their toughest tests of the season so far when they host ninth-ranked Penn State this weekend.

Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Last week vs. Arizona: 20-for-28 (71.4%)| 333 yards| 4 TD| 1 INT| 4 rushes| -16 yards| 0 TD

Season Stats: 220-for-316 (69.6%)| 2,662 yards| 28 TD| 3 INT| 36 rushes| -12 yards| 1 TD

Justin Herbert is admittingly a long shot to even get invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December. He and the Oregon team as a whole have been on an absolute tear winning nine straight after a loss to open the season.

That culminated in another solid performance for Herbert over the weekend by piling up over 300 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Herbert deserves to at least be mentioned as a Heisman candidate if he can keep Oregon in the playoff hunt with performances like that. He will have a tricky test this weekend against a tough Arizona State team.

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