Julian Sayin should be the Heisman favorite for his absurd consistency

Julian Sayin may not have one single "Heisman moment" this season. He hasn't had that dramatic, second-half, game-on-the-line do-or-die moment. He hasn't had one of those because he hasn't needed one of those. Ohio State has been so absurdly dominant this season that the opportunity for such moments hasn't arisen––not once.

That shouldn't detract from the fact that Sayin has absolutely earned the Heisman this year. The Heisman trophy defines its winner as an "outstanding college football player in the United States whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work." That is taken by most college football fans and pundits (and Heisman voters) to mean the country's "most outstanding player."

Now, college football is such a massive sport with so many players and so many teams that there are always multiple candidates that meet that description. So usually it takes some eye-popping statistics or highlight-reel moments to get the attention necessary to win over the Heisman voters. Sayin doesn't really have those defining moments. He does, however, have the statistics that jump off the page. In fact, a large part of why Sayin may not be the Heisman shoo-in that he should be is that fact that his stats are too good. Sayin is so good that his statistics go from being otherworldly to not actually believable.

First of all, Sayin's completion percentage is off the charts. At over 79%, Sayin is set to break the single-season percentage record by over 2%. (Maybe that will change when the College Football Playoff rolls around, but the Heisman is awarded before the postseason anyway.) From that fact alone, he is doing unprecedented things that are just so absurd they're not fully registering with media.

Similarly, Sayin isn't throwing for 300+ yards per game like we expect from Heisman-winning quarterbacks nowadays. But that's due to system and Ohio State's chosen offensive methodical efficiency this season. The fact is, Julian Sayin is leading an offensive that is scoring points at an unprecedented rate. Ohio State is not breaking efficiency records, but that's mostly on technicalities. The points per drive, when adjusted for field position, are putting up points at a pace not seen since Chip Kelly brought the spread option offense to Oregon.

Sayin hasn't earned this year's Heisman on the back of any individual eye-popping play. Or on an individual stat that jumps off the page in absurd fashion. Instead, he has earned the title of "most outstanding player" this year because every single game, play after play, Sayin is performing in outstanding fashion. He has made so few mistakes––big ones and even small ones. It's unheard-of in its consistency.

Consistency doesn't usually win awards or trophies. But Sayin is doing in a way that is making everyone take notice. And that itself is his "Heisman moment."

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Julian Sayin should be the Heisman favorite for his absurd consistency