TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Reigning Heisman winner Jameis Winston is not a finalist for this year's award.
When the Heisman trust announced Monday the finalists, the Florida State quarterback's name was not called. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon and Alabama receiver Amari Cooper are the candidates heading to New York.
So Winston will not join former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin as the only players to win the Heisman Trophy twice.
Mariota and the second-seeded Ducks will face Florida State and Winston at the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1.
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher and Winston were not made available for comment after the announcement.
Voters may have been put off by Winston's off-field distractions. He completed a university hearing last week to determine whether he violated any or all of four sections of the student code of conduct stemming from a sexual assault allegation. Finalists are determined by percentage of votes received from 929 media members and former winners.
Mariota is considered the clear the 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.
