Unitas wears a stache

Gardner Minshew learned two things on the national award front. The Heisman Trophy is going elsewhere. And the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is going to Minshew.

The Mississippi Mustache failed to make the three-man finals for the Heisman on Monday, but none of those finalists had been eligible for the Unitas, which is earmarked for the best senior or fourth-year junior quarterback on line to graduate with their class.

It was a savory consolation prize for Minshew, who wasn't even sure he'd be a starter when he arrived at Washington State as a graduate transfer last May.

Minshew, the inspiration for the Cougar fan base's 2018 mustache craze, had seemingly been on course for an invitation to the Heisman ceremony in New York on Saturday. But his stock slipped when he threw two interceptions and no touchdown passes in the Cougars' 28-15 loss to Washington during a Pullman snowstorm Nov. 23.

That opened the door for sophomore Dwayne Haskins of Ohio State, who later passed for 499 yard and five touchdowns in a win over Northwestern last week and wound up making the Heisman finals.

The more obvious recipients of New York invitations Monday were sophomore Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama and junior Kyler Murray of Oklahoma, two quarterbacks apparently locked in the tightest race in years for the prestigious award. As many as five finalists may be selected, depending on the vote distribution, but only three were named this year.

Minshew leads the nation in passing yards and completions per game, as well as total offense, while ranking third in completion percentage. But several of his rivals for national awards are playing for teams rated higher in the national pecking order.

The Cougars (10-2) were tabbed No. 13 on Sunday in the final College Football Playoff rankings, which left them ineligible for bowl games on New Year's Day or beyond. They accepted an invitation from the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, where they'll face Iowa State (8-4) at 6 p.m. PST on Dec. 28.

In the Unitas competition, Minshew may have been helped by his back story as a career journeyman from Brandon, Miss., who used smarts, charisma and a whimsical mustache to galvanize a WSU team mourning the death of quarterback Tyler Hilinski in January. Criteria for the Unitas include character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities and athletic accomplishments.

The other finalists were Will Grier of West Virginia, Drew Lock of Missouri, McKenzie Milton of Central Florida and Shea Patterson of Michigan.

Minshew ranks sixth in the final ESPN Heisman poll, with the top five being Murray, Tagovailoa, Haskins, Grier and Memphis running back Darrell Henderson.

If the 928 Heisman voters agreed (voting ended Monday and will be announced Saturday), Minshew will finish higher in the race than any Cougar except Ryan Leaf, who was third in 1997. Others who have cracked the top 10 in recent decades are Timm Rosenbach, seventh in 1988; Jason Gesser, seventh in 2002; Drew Bledsoe, eighth in 1992; Jack Thompson, ninth in 1977; Jerome Harrison, ninth in 2005; and Rueben Mayes, 10th in 1984.

Minshew is also a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.

ACADEMIC HONORS - WSU defensive lineman Taylor Comfort made the first unit of the Pac-12 All-Academic team Monday, and 11 other Cougars were also honored.

Included on the second unit were Clay Markoff, Nick Begg, Karson Block and Peyton Pelluer. Getting honorable mention were Brandon Arconado, Tristan Brock, Jack Crane, Cole Dubots, Travell Harris, Liam Ryan and Trey Tinsley.

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Dale Grummert may be contacted at daleg@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2290.