The 2018 Heisman finalists were unveiled on Monday evening. Not surprisingly, Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins were all invited to New York. Conspicuously absent, however, was Gardner Minshew.
Introducing your 2018 Heisman finalists! pic.twitter.com/UxOREanZgd
— ESPN (@espn) December 3, 2018
The senior from Washington State had a phenomenal campaign. He passed for 4,477 yards with 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions, completing 70.6 percent of his passes leading the Cougars to a 10-2 record on the season.
Unfortunately, recency bias might have played a role in his absence here. His final game against Washington was the worst of his year, and Wazzu was eliminated from both the Pac-12 title game, along with the playoff with the loss.
Still, many folks believe Minshew deserved to be included among the finalists this year in New York.
No love for the Pac 12 again w/Gardner Minshew left out of the Heisman ceremony. Not a single player on his offense will be drafted and he dominated anyways. https://t.co/H5Ez8sChF4
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) December 3, 2018
The Heisman Trophy ceremony is a BORING television show. They should send a minimum of 5 players to NYC every year.
Would have loved to see Gardner Minshew and McKenzie Milton there.
Both have phenomenal seasons and would be great stories to tell during the telecast
— Tim Murray (@1TimMurray) December 3, 2018
No Minshew among Heisman finalists. Would it have hurt to nominate four? Bummed for him. He deserves it…the other guys maybe had better seasons, but nobody did more to elevate a program beyond preseason expectations than Gardner did.
— Dr. Brittney Slutnugget 🇵🇸 (@SlowpitchBitch) December 3, 2018
Wow, Minshew left out of Heisman finalists……
— Matt Hirsch (@Maffew_Hursh) December 3, 2018
Take Minshew off Wazzu’s squad, and they are 2-10. I didn’t see anything special from the 2 top Heisman pageant candidates could’ve plugged D’eriq King or Minshew on either of those squads, & had same results.
— Nate (@n8vtxn37) December 3, 2018
3 great finalists, but I wish the Heisman Ballots would expand from 3 names to 5. Minshew, Henderson, Milton, Etiene all come to mind as worthy finalists, but it’s hard to garner enough votes when the ballots only allow you to write down 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. https://t.co/m2KWwhnPEp
— Greg McElroy (@GregMcElroy) December 3, 2018
For what it’s worth, oddsmakers have made their choice on who will win this Saturday, and it’s not Tagovailoa.