Marcus Mariota: The Heisman
The first Oregon player, the first Polynesian, and the first player from Hawaii to win the Heisman Trophy. December 13, 2014.
2014 Heisman season
Passing: 254-of-372, 3,783 yards, 38 TDs, 2 INTs. Rushing: 669 yards, 14 TDs. Completion rate: 68.3%. Led the nation in TDs, passing efficiency, and total offense (4,452 yards).
Awards: Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Vote: 2,534 points. 90.92% of possible points (second highest in Heisman history). 788 of 891 first-place votes.
Heisman Finalists
Mariota's acceptance speech was famously humble. He held back tears and said: 'I am humbled to be standing here today. To Hawaii nei, thank you for teaching me humility and respect. Two aspects of my life that I will never change.' Then he turned to the Polynesian community: 'I hope and pray that this is only the beginning. Young Poly athletes everywhere, you should take this as motivation, and dream big and strive for greatness.' He was the first Oregon player and the first player born in Hawaii to win the Heisman. He gave the speech draped in leis. Reporters who covered him said he was 'next to unquotable after games' because he always redirected praise to teammates. The quiet ones always hit different.
Season by season
Career totals
131 career touchdowns (101 passing, 28 rushing, 2 receiving). Just 23 (12 INTs, 11 fumbles lost). TD-to-INT ratio: 8.4:1 (best in career history at the time).
Only player in FBS history to throw 30+ TD passes as a freshman, sophomore, and junior.
Key Games
Career Highlights
NFL
#2 overall pick, 2015 NFL Draft, Tennessee Titans. NFL journey: Titans (2015-2019), Las Vegas Raiders (2020-2021), Atlanta Falcons (2022), Philadelphia Eagles (2023), and the Washington Commanders, where he re-signed in March 2026 on a one-year deal as the veteran backup to Jayden Daniels. First Oregon player taken in the top 2 picks. First start: 4 TDs, perfect 158.3 passer rating vs Tampa Bay (first QB in NFL history to do that in a debut).
Frequently Asked Questions
Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy in 2014, Oregon's only Heisman winner. He received 90.92% of the vote, the second-highest percentage in Heisman history at the time. That season he had 53 total touchdowns and just 2 interceptions.
Mariota received 90.92% of first-place votes in the 2014 Heisman balloting. He won by one of the largest margins in history, receiving 2,534 total points. The margin was so dominant it was effectively unanimous.
Mariota had 131 career touchdowns at Oregon (101 passing, 28 rushing, 2 receiving). His 2014 season alone produced 53 total touchdowns with just 2 interceptions. His TD-to-INT ratio of 8.4:1 (best in career history at the time) remains among the best in college football history.
The Tennessee Titans selected Mariota with the #2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the highest-drafted Oregon player since Norm Van Brocklin in 1949. In his first NFL start, he threw 4 TDs with a perfect 158.3 passer rating against Tampa Bay.
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