Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) avoids Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Bennett (53) in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
ARLINGTON, Texas — Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota wasn’t in the mood to discuss his legacy and future Monday night, and rightfully so.
He put together a great season, but much if it felt hollow following the Ducks’ 42-20 loss to Ohio State in the first College Football Playoff national championship game.
“I don’t care about legacies,” Mariota said. “That’s other people’s opinions. My main focus was to be a great teammate. That’s all I hoped to accomplish.”
Mariota, a redshirt junior, must decide by Thursday whether he will forgo his senior season to enter the NFL. He is projected to be one of the first picks, if not No. 1 overall.
Failing a win short of the title may factor into whether he returns.
“Obviously, it hurts,” Mariota said. “I’m sure it weighs in a little bit, but there’s a lot of other things that have to play into that decision.
“There’s starting grad school, coming back another year to improve, there’s a lot of other things that could bring me back. It’s just not specifically this loss.”
Oregon coach Mark Helfrich didn’t fight back the emotion when asked about what Mariota meant to the program and the university.
“I love this guy and will forever,” Helfrich said. “Absolutely couldn’t be luckier to coach him and be around him every day.”
Mariota was attempting to become the 15th player to win the Heisman Trophy and national title in the same season.
Should he leave Oregon, the Hawaiian will finish with 10,796 passing yards with 105 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions in three years. The Ducks won 35 games with Mariota under center.
He became the first player in Pac-12 history to produce more than 5,000 yards of total offense in a single season, amassing 5,224 yards in 2014-15. Mariota threw a touchdown pass in all 41 of his career games, but what may be his last collegiate throw was a interception on the game’s final play.
“We fought through a lot of stuff and just ended up short tonight,” Mariota said, “but it shouldn’t take away from what we were able to do this year.”
Mariota completed 24 of 37 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns with the one interception Monday.
