Michigan State has never had a player win the Heisman Trophy. In fact, no Spartan has even finished among the top five vote-getters since Lorenzo White in 1987. Quarterback Connor Cook might be the program’s best chance to end the nearly 30-year drought and at least send someone to New York City in December.

Cook has grown from a shaky backup to building a legacy of helping Michigan State reach elite status in less than two years. He’s now comfortable in the spotlight, and if he can get the Spartans over the hump and into the playoffs this year he’s got a chance to be the school’s first Heisman winner.

Numbers he needs: The last five Heisman winners have all been quarterbacks. All five of them have averaged at least 300 yards of total offense per game. All five also accounted for at least 40 touchdowns. Unlike most of the recent winners, Cook isn’t going to be a game-changer in the running game. He’ll need to consistently throw for a few hundred yards and three or four scores per game. That won’t be easy with Michigan State’s penchant for running the ball.

Potential Heisman moment: Cook will have at least two chances to shine in the national spotlight this year with games against Oregon and at Ohio State. Against those two teams in 2014, Cook registered a 60.0 and a 69.9 in QBR score – significantly lower than his season average of 81.2. Not only will he need to be mistake free against the Ducks and the Buckeyes, but he’ll have to produce some big plays in what promises to be a pair of high-scoring showdowns.

The dream dies if: Michigan State loses to Ohio State. Cook’s chance might be able to survive a loss to Oregon because that game comes in the second week of the season. But losing to a divisional rival in November is a death sentence for Heisman hopes, especially on a team that should have a well-balanced attack in front of a veteran offensive line. For Cook to win the Heisman, Michigan State will need to playoff bound, and he’ll have to be the one responsible for getting them there.