Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts was named a finalist for the 2019 Heisman Trophy, becoming the Sooners' fifth Heisman finalist in the last four years. Hurts is the Big 12's 21st finalist since its inception in 1996. The Conference has had a finalist in 16 of its 24 seasons with two in five seasons.
Hurts' selection marks OU's 11th such honor since Heisman finalists were first named in 1982, the most nationally. OU has also produced a nation-leading 10 Heisman finalists since 2000, which is four more than the school with the next most during the span (Alabama has six). The Sooners are the only program to produce five Heisman finalists in a four-year span.
The senior quarterback, who is also a finalist for the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award and Senior CLASS Award, leads the nation in yards per pass attempt (11.8; the FBS record is 11.6), yards per completion (16.4), points responsible for per game (23.7; tied) and touchdowns accounted for (51; tied), while ranking third in total offense (376.1 ypg) and passing efficiency rating (200.3; the single-season FBS record is 199.4). He also ranks fourth nationally in completion percentage (.718; OU record is .709 by Baker Mayfield in 2016), seventh in rushing touchdowns (18; second among QBs) and 10th in passing touchdowns (32). Hurts averages 279.5 passing yards and 96.5 rushing yards per contest.
The Houston, Texas, product is one of just two players nationally since at least 1996 to record 32-plus passing TDs and 18-plus rushing TDs in a season (Florida's Tim Tebow had 32 and 23, respectively, in 2007 when he won the Heisman Trophy). Hurts became only the third FBS player to register at least 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards by the 11th game of a season. Louisville's Lamar Jackson in 2016 and '17 and Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel in 2012 also accomplished the feat. Jackson (2016) and Manziel won the Heisman Trophy.
Hurts is the only FBS player since 1996 to post a passing efficiency rating of 245.0 or better five times in the same season (minimum 15 attempts), and the only player to do so more than three times. He is also the only FBS player with more than three games this season of two-plus rushing touchdowns and two-plus passing TDs (he has five such performances).
Hurts has compiled 4,889 yards of total offense (3,634 passing, 1,255 rushing) and is second among OU quarterbacks in single-season rushing yards and rushing touchdowns (Jack Mildren had 1,289 rushing yards and 20 rushing TDs in 1971). He is just four total TDs shy of the school record of 55 set by Sam Bradford in 2008.
Oklahoma is tied for the national lead with seven Heisman Trophy recipients. They were running backs Billy Vessels in 1952, Steve Owens in 1969 and Billy Sims in 1978, and White in 2003, Bradford in 2008, Mayfield in 2018 and Murray last year.
Only Notre Dame and Ohio State have produced as many Heisman Trophy winners as the Sooners, and OU is the only school to have different quarterbacks win the Heisman Trophy in consecutive seasons. Oklahoma has four Heisman Trophy winners in the last 15 years. Only three other schools (Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC) have produced four winners ever.