It was the second straight year that a quarterback from Oklahoma won college football's top award. In 2017, it was Baker Mayfield taking home the trophy; Mayfield has gone on to play in the National Football League, for the Cleveland Browns.

Murray had college football's highest quarterback rating, second-highest completion percentage, second-most passing touchdowns, and third-most passing yards. He threw for 4,053 yards, including 40 touchdowns. He was intercepted seven times and sacked 15 times. He led Oklahoma to a 12–1 record; their lone defeat was a 48–45 loss to Texas. Oklahoma will play Tagovailoa's Alabama team in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 29, with the winner advancing to the national championship game.

Murray was also drafted ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. If he makes it to the top level in baseball, he would be the third Heisman Trophy winner to do so. The others were these:

• Bo Jackson, who won the Heisman in 1985 while playing for Auburn and played professional baseball for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and California Angels
• Vic Janowicz, who won the Heisman in 1950 while playing for Ohio State and played in baseball's Major Leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Both of these athletes also played pro football, Jackson for the Los Angeles Raiders and Janowicz for the Washington Redskins. Jackson is the only pro athlete ever to be named an All-Star in both baseball and football.

Murray's win puts Oklahoma into a tie for most Heisman winners all-time, joining Notre Dame and Ohio State with seven. Ohio State was the last school to have back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners, with Archie Griffin winning in both years. (Griffin is still the only player to win the award twice.)

A list of Heisman Trophy winners