Joe Burrow, Justin Fields, Chase Young and Jalen Hurts are all headed to New York this week, taking part in the Heisman Trophy ceremony as the four finalists for the most prestigious individual award in sports. Jonathan Taylor will be staying in Madison.

Not everyone can be invited, but Taylor should’ve gotten the nod.

Individual awards are always based on subjectivity. Whether we like it or not, an honor such as the Heisman isn’t based purely on merit or worthiness. Exposure, team success and the “eye test” will always factor into this type of honor.

I don’t like it, but I understand it.

And perhaps it’s that understanding that makes it so difficult to understand why Taylor — who’s been one of the most successful and dominant running backs of this decade — didn’t receive the invitation to experience the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Wisconsin has had the success and the exposure, and the junior running back certainly passes the eye test.

Taylor rushed for 1,909 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, averaging nearly 6.3 yards per carry. With his help, the Badgers finished the season 10-3, winning the B1G West and making an appearance in the B1G Championship Game. Two of the Badgers’ losses came against No. 2 Ohio State. The junior added to his arsenal as a receiver, catching 24 passes for 209 yards and five scores.

Out of 13 games, Taylor hit the 100-yard mark 10 times and scored a touchdown in 11 games. He did it against six defenses that ranked in the top 50 nationally. He shredded Michigan’s defense for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor eviscerated Iowa, piling up 250 yards on 31 carries. He accounted for three touchdowns in the season finale against Minnesota, clinching the West title.

In the B1G Championship Game, Taylor rushed for 148 yards on 20 carries, the first player in 2019 to post over 100 rushing yards on the Ohio State defense.

Still not convinced Taylor deserved an invitation?

When you look at the numbers from some of the previous running backs who have won the Heisman Trophy, it seems even stranger that Taylor was omitted this year. Yes, I understand that the number of legitimate candidates for the award will vary from season to season. What’s deemed to be the most successful performance one year may not be true for the following season.

Nonetheless, it’s hard not to look at previous winners and Alabama running backs Derrick Henry (2015) and Mark Ingram (2009) and draw some comparisons. If anything, it’s further evidence that Taylor should’ve received more serious consideration to receive that exclusive invitation to New York.

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When you compare those three running backs, it doesn’t seem so blasphemous to ask that Taylor get the opportunity to receive some recognition for his success in Madison. After all, he has been putting up these kind of numbers for three seasons.

And that’s my other gripe, though I’m sure it won’t be popular. In three seasons at Wisconsin, Taylor has accumulated 6,080 rushing yards, scored 50 touchdowns on the ground while maintaining a 6.72 yards per carry average. In that time, Wisconsin has won 31 games and claimed two B1G West titles.

Couldn’t some big wig at the Downtown Athletic Club pull a few strings and invite Taylor based on his career totals? I know how sacred some media members view the exclusivity and prestige of the Heisman vote, but this deserved an exception.

Taylor has rushed for more than 1,900 yards in all three seasons, he’s had a double-digit touchdown total every year and Wisconsin has won an average of 10 games per season. Shouldn’t that count for something, even when the Heisman field is stacked?

I think we all know Burrow is leaving New York with the 25-pound, bronze Heisman Trophy on Saturday night. There’s no question he’s had an incredible season and is the reason why LSU is 13-0 and is headed to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

Fields, Young and Hurts are all worthy candidates, too. Each of those four individuals has had an outstanding season. But so did Taylor. He had three of those outstanding seasons, actually.

And he’s the only one who didn’t get to experience the Heisman ceremony.