America: Alabama WR Amari Cooper Should Win Heisman Trophy Over Marcus Mariota, Melvin Gordon, After Leading Crimson Tide To Another SEC Championship and No.1 Seed in College Football Playoff

The people have spoken, and they chose Alabama WR Amari Cooper to win the Heisman Trophy, according to a new poll published by Sports Illustrated. Cooper narrowly edged out Oregon QB Marcus Mariota in the poll, in which both topped Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon in landslides.

The magazine reports the people's poll has correctly predicted the last three Heisman winners: Robert Griffin III of Baylor, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston of Florida State. Then the magazine makes it clear that Cooper doesn't get its vote; that goes to Mariota.

Cooper set the SEC record for single-season receptions during Alabama's rout of Missouri in the conference championship game, and led the Crimson Tide to the No.1 overall seed in this year's inaugural College Football Playoff.

Alabama faces No.4 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day, which will serve as the playoff's semifinal round.

All three Heisman finalists took home prestigious awards this week, according to USA Today. Mariota received the Maxwell Award, given to college football's player of the year, and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, for the country's best quarterback. Gordon won the Doak Walker Award, for the nation's best running back. Cooper took home the Biletnikoff Award, given to the top wide receiver.

Cooper made 115 receptions for 1656 yards, scoring 14 touchdowns. He emerged as the focal point of Alabama's new, Lane Kiffin-inspired passing attack, which almost single-handedly turned the SEC into a passing league this season. Cooper totaled 29 touchdowns in three years at Alabama.

He received 2,637 first-place votes in the people's poll, to Mariota's 2560, and 12,423 points overall. Mariota finished with 12,244 points in the poll. Gordon received the most second-place votes, to give him 11,114 points overall.