Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield, who could become the first quarterback in NCAA history to post a 200 efficiency rating in a single season, is certainly the most touted competitor in next Monday's Rose Bowl.
Yet Georgia's Jake Fromm is hardly the hapless counterpart scheduled to arrive today in California.
While Mayfield traveled the path of Texas Tech walk-on to Heisman Trophy winner, Fromm was thrust into action as a true freshman after Georgia's first eight offensive snaps of a 31-10 opening triumph over Appalachian State on Sept. 2. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder from Warner Robins, Ga., then led the Bulldogs to their first-ever win at Notre Dame, a sweep of Southeastern Conference Eastern Division rivals Florida and Tennessee by a combined 83-7 and the program's first league championship in 12 seasons.
The SEC freshman of the year's story might not be an ESPN "30-for-30" any time soon, though his teammates certainly wouldn't mind watching and reliving it.
"Everybody has been impressed with how Jake carried himself as the quarterback this season," Bulldogs senior running back Sony Michel said. "He's done a tremendous job. I'm excited for him, because he's just going to keep learning."
While Baker heads to Pasadena having completed 262 of 369 passes (71 percent) for 4,340 yards with 41 touchdowns and five interceptions - an efficiency rating of 203.8 - Fromm will counter with plenty of competent numbers. He has completed 145 of 230 passes (63 percent) for 2,173 yards, with 21 touchdowns and five interceptions for a rating of 168.2.
That Mayfield leads the nation in efficiency isn't surprising given that he did so last season. That Fromm ranks sixth nationally and helped deliver a league title was on nobody's radar at the beginning of the year, when sophomore Jacob Eason was readying for a big season under second-year coach Kirby Smart and second-year offensive coordinator Jim Chaney.
"You always dream for big things, and I'm thankful that God put me in this situation," Fromm said. "He never made anything too big for me, and I'm thankful it was in his plan for Georgia to win an SEC championship."
The Bulldogs never blinked when Fromm replaced an injured Eason in the opener, as Fromm completed 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown against App State. They built a 31-0 lead in cruising to the first of their 12 overall victories and their 11 double-digit triumphs.
Georgia's lone close win came in Fromm's first career start, the 20-19 prevailing at Notre Dame on Sept. 9. The Bulldogs trailed 13-10 after the first half, when his final pass was intercepted, but he completed three of four throws for 45 yards in a fourth-quarter drive that culminated with Rodrigo Blankenship's deciding field goal from 30 yards out.
"After the Notre Dame game, I felt like I was settled," Fromm said. "I felt, 'I'm here, and I know what I'm doing.' These guys around me have made it so easy for me. I'm just thankful to be on the field with these guys."
On Georgia's first offensive play from scrimmage in its next big game, the Top 25 showdown against Mississippi State on Sept. 23, Fromm handed off to Nick Chubb, who flipped the ball back to his quarterback. Fromm then found Terry Godwin behind the MSU secondary for a 59-yard touchdown strike that set the tone for a 31-3 rout.
Fromm struggled through a 13-of-28 outing Nov. 11 in the 40-17 loss at Auburn - "We left some big plays on the field," he said - but was a more precise 16-of-22 in the 28-7 defeat of the Tigers in the SEC title game.
The historic Notre Dame Stadium forever will be remembered as the site of Fromm's first big win. Perhaps the historic Rose Bowl Stadium will simply be his next one.
"It's kind of crazy, because a lot came to me really fast," he said, "but my coaches and teammates around me really helped slow it down for me. I've taken it day by day, but they've made it easy for me."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.