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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Marcus Mariota, Amari Cooper, Melvin Gordon are Heisman Trophy finalists

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Alabama receiver Amari Cooper and record-breaking Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon are the finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

Mariota is considered the clear front-runner to win the 80th Heisman on Saturday night in New York. He would become the first Oregon player to earn college football’s most famous player of the year trophy.

Mariota and the second-seeded Ducks will face Florida State and last year’s Heisman winner, Jameis Winston, at the Rose Bowl in a College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1. Cooper helped Alabama earn the top seed in the playoff. The Crimson Tide plays Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Gordon leads the nation with 2,336 yards rushing and 179.7 yards per game. Gordon broke the single-game FBS rushing record with 408 yards against Nebraska, a record that only stood for a week.

Associated Press