Heisman Presentation Saturday

Oklahoma quarterback Jason White will head to New York City this weekend and find out if one bad outing will cost him the Heisman Trophy.

White, who threw two key interceptions in last week's Big 12 Conference championship game loss against Kansas State, is one of the four finalists for college football's most coveted award.

Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning, Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Michigan running back Chris Perry are the other finalists for the honor, which will be announced Saturday night at the Yale Club in New York City.

Oklahoma Award Winners | Jason White Bio

White returned from two major knee injuries this season and emerged as the nation's top-rated passer, completing 265-of-414 passes for 3,744 yards with a school-record 40 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

White appeared to the clear-cut favorite, but his performance against Kansas State could add to the suspense and make it a vote decided according to regional ties.

Three Oklahoma players have won the Heisman Trophy, but none since running back Billy Sims in 1978. A Sooners quarterback has yet to win the award. Running backs Steve Owens (1969) and Billy Vessels (1952) are the others.

Like White, Fitzgerald lost his final regular-season game as the Panthers suffered a 28-14 defeat to Miami that decided the Big East Conference title. However, the sophomore enjoyed a spectacular season, extending his NCAA record with at least one TD reception to 18 games. He caught 87 passes for 1,595 yards with 22 TDs.

"I don't think there will be anyone there on Saturday that doesn't want to win it," Fitzgerald said.

The only Pittsburgh player to capture the Heisman was running back Tony Dorsett in 1976.

Manning, who won the Johnny Unitas Award as top senior quarterback, led the Rebels to a share of the Southeastern Conference West Division title and their first Cotton Bowl appearance in 41 years.

Manning owns virtually every school passing record, some of which were previously held by his father, Archie. This season, he completed 253-of-410 passes for 3,341 yards with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Manning's brother, Peyton, was the Heisman runner-up to Michigan's Charles Woodson in 1997.

Perry rushed for 1,589 yards and 17 TDs on 315 carries for the Wolverines, who won the Big Ten Conference title and will face USC in the Rose Bowl. He rushed for 154 yards and two TDs in Michigan's 35-21 Big Ten-clinching victory over Ohio State.

Perry is looking to join Woodson, Desmond Howard and Tom Harmon as Michigan players who have won the Heisman Trophy.

No Mississippi player ever has won the award.

Last year's winner was Southern California quarterback Carson Palmer. His successor, Matt Leinart, is expected to receive some consideration in the voting after throwing for 3,229 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Each of the finalists took home trophies at the annual college football awards show on Thursday night. White won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback and Fitzgerald won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award as well as the Biletnikoff Award as top receiver. Manning won the Maxwell Award as most outstanding player and Perry won the Doak Walker Award as top junior or senior running back.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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