Know the iconic Heisman Trophy pose, the bronze figure with the outstretched arm?

Well, this week that could be Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa putting his competition for the Heisman even farther at arm’s length.

Metaphorically speaking, of course, since it is doubtful Tagovailoa, who has been a class act in his two seasons of college football, would actually strike the pose in public. At least before being awarded one.

The remarkable thing is that, to this point, he tops all the weekly Heisman polls while yet to appear in so much as one fourth quarter play all season.

Of course, to date, the unbeaten Crimson Tide (8-0) have only played one nationally ranked opponent, No. 25 Texas A&M, on an abuser-friendly schedule, with Alabama so far ahead that Tagovailoa watches the final, drama-lacking fourth quarters from the sideline.

The NCAA ranks Alabama’s schedule to this point as the 83rd toughest among 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, with its opponents having gone 29-28.

But the depth of the challenge changes in a big way Saturday, when the opponent is fourth-ranked Louisiana State (7-1) and the venue is Baton Rouge’s “Death Valley.”

The Tigers’ defensive oracle is Dave Aranda, the once-upon-a-time UH defensive coordinator who commands the highest salary of any assistant coach in college football — a four-year, $10 million contract. He masterminds the seventh-toughest FBS scoring defense (15.1 points per game) and nation’s leader in interceptions with 14 and has had an open date to strategize.

LSU and No. 21 Mississippi State loom as the only ranked opponents remaining on the Crimson Tide’s schedule. And, with rival Auburn, the biggest threats until the Dec. 1 Southeastern Conference championship game.

When Heisman voters receive their electronic ballots next month, they will want to have seen Tagovailoa having been tested since there are no carryover points awarded for the championship game last year.

The only knock on Tagovailoa’s candidacy curiously has been that he has been so close to perfection that he hasn’t had to prove himself with a game on the line all season.

That tends to happen when you complete 70 percent of your passes and have authored 25 touchdowns without an interception. In the process, he is on a path toward setting an NCAA record for passing efficiency.

The one time Tagovailoa has faced crunch-time pressure was in the biggest game a college player could encounter, overtime of the national championship game as a freshman, and we all know how that turned out 10 months ago.

It was a virtuoso performance that immediately stamped him, without so much as a start, as a Heisman contender for this season. Since then the Saint Louis School graduate has taken the opportunity and run — and, of course, passed — with it.

Even coming off an open date last week, Las Vegas oddsmaker Bovada still has Tagovailoa has the top (4/11 odds) pick to win the Heisman.

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray and Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins have remained as the closest competition for Tagovailoa so far. With Alabama and Tagovailoa enjoying an open date last week, Murray accounted for four touchdowns (three passing) and his odds improved to 10/3. Haskins improved to 9/1.

This will be the first and, perhaps, biggest stage to demonstrate that he deserves the most prestigious award in college athletics.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.