In this week's Big 12 Take Two, we debate whether Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who leads the nation in passing, is a legitimate Heisman candidate.

Take 1: Mitch Sherman -- No, he isn't

Mahomes’ numbers are more than Heisman-caliber. He’s a freak of nature, built like a linebacker, and breaks the mold of Texas Tech quarterbacks, who have posted huge passing without Mahomes’ dynamic athletic ability.

But if Texas Tech fails to support Mahomes with an average defense that allows the Red Raiders to reach 10 wins, he has no real shot at the Heisman -- even if he finishes as the first quarterback in NCAA history to throw for 6,000 yards.

Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes is averaging nearly 500 yards passing per game. Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal via AP

Heisman voters look at victories in assessing quarterbacks. The past 10 QBs to win the award -- from Oklahoma’s Jason White in 2003 to Marcus Mariota of Oregon in 2014 -- have directed teams that averaged 12 wins.

The only quarterback in that time to win the Heisman on a team that finished with fewer than 10 wins was Tim Tebow in 2007 for a 9-4 Florida team.

And nothing against Mahomes, but he’s not a cultural icon like Tebow.

A better comparison is Case Keenum, who led the nation in passing for a 10-4 Houston team in 2009 and finished eighth in the voting. Or Nick Florence of Baylor, the top passer nationally in 2012 on an 8-5 squad; he didn’t make the top 10 in the Heisman balloting. Neither did Tech’s Graham Harrell, who threw for 5,705 yards to lead the nation in 2007 on a 9-4 team.

I’ve got Lamar Jackson, Christian McCaffrey and J.T. Barrett ahead of Mahomes after three weeks. Unless Mahomes engineers a Big 12 title run, he likely won’t fit in December on my ballot, which has room for just three names.

There’s nothing more he can do -- other than perhaps play linebacker for Tech.

Take 2: Jake Trotter -- Yes, he is

Full disclosure, I had Mahomes in the top five of ESPN Heisman Watch ballot this week. And apparently, I wasn't alone.

Mitch makes some fair points, and generally, numbers alone aren't enough to vault a player into Heisman contention. Mahomes, however, isn't just putting up big numbers. He's putting up historical ones. After three games, Mahomes has thrown for 1,493 yards, which puts him on pace to set an FBS record. He leads the nation with 14 touchdown passes, has a sparking completion rate of 71.2 percent, which is eighth nationally, and he's only tossed two interceptions. Mahomes is also No. 2 in QBR, trailing only Heisman front-runner Lamar Jackson.

If Mahomes keeps up this statistical pace, my bet is that he'll make it to New York, which by default makes him a legitimate Heisman contender. Of course, if the Red Raiders go 6-6 or 7-5, he'll have very little chance of winning it.

But if Tech, which will be operating out of a Big 12 that is completely wide open, can get to 8-4 or 9-3, watch out. Robert Griffin III won the Heisman in 2011 with a 9-3 record. When the dust settles, his numbers could pale in comparison.