Originally published at: https://pistolsfiringblog.com/daily-bullets-dec-11-what-running-backs-have-to-do-to-get-to-nyc-why-b12-bowls-fell-the-way-they-did/
Pretty interesting to look at the OSU-A&M series – A&M leads with a 12-9 record since WWII. Bullets Rundown • What Chuba and the RBs have to do to be Heisman-worthy • Beware the Cowboy offense (for the bowl game) • Why the Big 12 bowls fell the way they did OSU Bullets • This was a great explanation of how a running back can put himself into contention (and specifically how Chuba Hubbard and Jonathan Taylor didn’t). …If you are a running back or wide receiver limited to rushing and receiving, you’d better post crazy numbers to win one of those three votes or be crazy good at more than just one thing. In Hubbard’s — not to mention, Taylor’s — case, 1,900 rushing yards did not qualify when voters saw (Joe) Burrow, (Justin) Fields and (Jalen) Hurts’ production. Also, Hubbard and Taylor weren’t exactly dual threats. Their receiving yardage numbers both fell shy of Burrow’s rushing output. [TulsaWorld] So here’s the thesis: when a quarterback can throw for thousands and run for 500-plus, it’s more impressive than a running back running for a bazillion yards… unless they can put an extra 500 yards on the stat sheet…
oSu has run 3 Heisman campaigns under Gundy. Weeden, Rudolph, and Hubbard. Weeden came the closest, won the Big 12 conference title, but lost the award to Baylor’s Griffin despite beating him 59-24 head to head. He also beat Luck, who finished second to Griffin. I would say the Heisman at oSu is a tough nut to crack. I would also say the campaigns oSu runs could use some improvements