Marcus Mariota First Oregon Duck to Win Heisman Trophy In Landslide Victory, Is His NCAA Career Over?

Looks like America was wrong. Just days after Sports Illustrated readers poll this week determined the Heisman Trophy should go to Alabama WR Amari Cooper, the real award winner was announced. Spoiler: it's not Cooper.

Oregon QB Marcus Mariota became the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Saturday to cap off what has been a dazzling career in the Ducks' always dazzling jerseys.

The junior tossed 38 touchdowns against just two interceptions in 13 games, leading Oregon to a 12-1 record (8-1 in conference) and the No.2 seed in the inaugural College Football Playoff.

The Ducks will take on No.3 Florida State, led by last year's Heisman winner, Jameis Winston, on New Year's Day in the Rose Bowl, which will serve as the semifinal round.

Winston was not a Heisman finalist this year after he saw his statistics dip. Instead, Cooper and Winsconsin RB Melvin Gordon stood in Mariota's way. Cooper set the SEC record for single season receptions and led Alabama to the College Football Playoff No.1 seed. Gordon led the nation in rushing yards with 2,336, and set the single-game rushing record with 408 against Nebraska in November (the record was broken a week later by Oklahoma's Samaje Perine).

And yet, Mariota won the Heisman in a landslide.

Mariota received 788 first place votes, while the other candidates garnered 103 combined, according to Sports Illustrated writer Andy Staples. 

Ten of Mariota's touchdowns came against teams ranked in the AP Top 25. He led the nation in yards per attempt with 10.1 and in QB Rating at 186.1. In three seasons Mariota threw for 10,115 yards and 101 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions. He is widely projected to be selected No.1 in the upcoming NFL Draft.

He is the first Oregon player to win the award.