2023 Heisman Watch: LSU QB Jayden Daniels is the clear favorite
Bo Nix entered conference championship week as the favorite to take home college football‘s most prestigious individual award. However, after Nix and the Oregon Ducks fell to Washington in Friday night’s Pac-12 championship game, there is a new, clear-cut leader to win the Heisman Trophy.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels didn’t play this weekend because the Tigers failed to make the SEC title game, but from a pure statistical standpoint, it’s hard to argue against the former Arizona State QB being awarded the Heisman.
Daniels concluded his regular season with 355 yards (235 passing, 120 rushing) and four touchdowns in LSU’s 42-30 win over Texas A&M last weekend. Meanwhile, Nix threw for 239 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in Oregon’s loss to Washington, while Michael Penix Jr. threw for 319 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Huskies.
One wildcard in the Heisman conversation is Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, who has had an outstanding second half of the season, including leading the Crimson Tide to a 27-24 upset win over No. 1 Georgia in Saturday’s SEC championship game. Did Alabama’s first-year starting QB do enough to earn an invitation to New York?
Let’s take a look at how the Heisman favorites performed during conference championship week, and how that could shake up the odds ahead of Dec. 4, when the finalists will be officially announced.
Nix had a golden chance to secure his spot as the Heisman favorite with a dominant showing and a win over Washington in Friday night’s Pac-12 championship game. Unfortunately for Nix, the Ducks fell short, 34-31. Nix finished the game 21-of-34 for 239 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. The senior signal-caller also added a team-high 69 yards on the ground. Oregon fell to 11-2 and will likely be left out of this year’s College Football Playoff. Through 13 games, Nix has completed 77.2% of his passes for 4,145 yards and 40 touchdowns, in addition to 228 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Next: TBD
2. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU: +140
“I think I made my case to get invited up there,” Daniels said when asked if he felt he did enough to get invited to New York for this year’s Heisman Trophy presentation. With a 9-3 record and a 6-2 mark in SEC play, Daniels and the Tigers did not play in a conference championship game this weekend. Daniels’ regular season concluded with a 42-30 win over Texas A&M, in which the senior passed for 235 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 120 yards on the ground. It marked the ninth game this season that Daniels has totaled at least four touchdowns. Through 12 games, Daniels has 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns through the air, in addition to 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing scores.
Next: TBD
3. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington: +1600
Penix needed to have a strong outing and lead Washington to a victory over Oregon in Friday night’s Pac-12 championship game in order to keep his Heisman Trophy chances alive. Mission accomplished. The talented lefty completed 27 of his 39 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown as the Huskies defeated Oregon, 34-31, securing the Pac-12 championship and likely a spot in the College Football Playoff. Penix’s numbers didn’t jump off the page like they have in several games this season, but he was efficient from start to finish and topped the 300-yard passing mark for his ninth time in 13 games.
Next: TBD
T4. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia: +15000
Beck’s first season as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback likely won’t end with a Heisman Trophy, but that shouldn’t take away from what was an outstanding 2023 campaign. Beck completed 21 of 29 passes for 243 yards and added a rushing score in Georgia’s 27-24 loss to Alabama. The loss snapped the Bulldogs’ 29-game winning streak and puts their spot in the College Football Playoff in limbo. In 13 games, Beck has completed 72.4% of his passes for 3,738 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Next: TBD
T4. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama: +15000
Did Milroe do enough on Saturday to win the Heisman Trophy? Alabama’s redshirt sophomore QB entered the weekend listed at +15000 to win the award. So, it was clear that the first-year starter had to have a memorable showing against Georgia in the SEC title game. Milroe didn’t play perfect, but in the end, he proved to be the best player on the field, throwing for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 29 yards on the ground in the 27-24 win. Most importantly, Milroe was at his best when the game was on the line. He completed all four of his pass attempts in a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, giving the Tide a 27-17 lead late in the game. He then added a 30-yard rush with 2:40 remaining and put the game away with a 9-yard run with under two minutes left. In addition to leading Alabama to a 12-1 mark, an SEC championship and snapping Georgia’s 29-game winning streak, Milroe has totaled 2,718 yards and 23 touchdowns through the air, and 468 yards and 12 scores on the ground.
Next: TBD
6. Ollie Gordon III, RB, Oklahoma State: +20000
Gordon’s final Big 12 game this season finished on a sour note as the talented sophomore running back was held to just 34 yards on 13 carries in Oklahoma State’s 49-21 loss to Texas in the Big 12 championship game. Gordon added four catches for 54 yards through the air, but it wasn’t enough against a Texas team that is in the mix for a College Football Playoff bid. The Cowboys’ do-it-all back finished the regular-season as the nation’s leading rusher with 1,614 yards.
Next: TBD
T7. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU: +25000
Nabers had a late-season surge which helped boost his Heisman stock. The talented LSU wide receiver finished the regular season with 86 catches for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns. He ranked first among all Division I players in receiving yards, and finished tied for second in touchdown receptions.
Next: TBD
T7. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan: +25000
McCarthy didn’t stuff the stat sheet Saturday night, but he didn’t need to in the Wolverines’ impressive 26-0 win over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game. The junior QB completed 22 of 30 passes for 147 yards as he helped guide the Wolverines to their third straight Big Ten title. With the victory, McCarthy and the Wolverines improved to 13-0 and likely secured a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Next: TBD
T7. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State: +25000
Harrison had a chance to boost his Heisman stock with a huge game and a victory over rival Michigan last week. The All-American wide receiver hauled in five catches for a game-high 118 yards and a touchdown, but unfortunately for the Buckeyes, it came in a 30-24 loss to the Wolverines. Harrison topped the 100-yard receiving mark in eight of OSU’s 12 games this season. He finished the regular season with 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdown catches.
Next: TBD
T7. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan: +25000
The Wolverines secured their third straight Big Ten championship crown on Saturday night, and Corum was a big reason why. The senior running back carried the ball 16 times for 52 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Michigan’s dominant 26-0 victory over Iowa in Indianapolis. Corum also added three catches for 10 yards as the Wolverines improved to 13-0. Through 13 games, Corum has totaled 1,028 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, which leads the country. Corum also has 55 career rushing touchdowns, which is tied with Anthony Thomas for the most in program history.
Next: TBD
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