by Kyle Golik
As we enter the final weeks of the 2023 regular season, no one has separated themselves for the Heisman Trophy. Michael Penix Jr. has been the strongest contender, guiding Washington to their first 10-0 season since their legendary 1991 national championship team. Penix leads the nation in passing yards with 3,533 and is in the Top 5 in touchdown passes (28) and QBR (85.1).
Penix’s Pacific Northwest rival Oregon’s Bo Nix is setting up a very compelling case with his pursuit to break former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones’ single-season completion percentage record, where Nix has a slim edge 77.7% to 77.4%. Outside of Nix’s record book pursuit, he has Oregon positioned for a rematch with Washington for the Pac-12 Championship in Las Vegas with the nation’s top-scoring offense at 46.3 points per game and statistically is in the Top 5 in yards (3,135), touchdown passes (29), QBR (87.3), and rating (184.7).
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is putting up repeat-worthy numbers with 40 touchdowns responsible for and in the Top 5 in passing yards, but with Southern California’s struggles, he won’t get the same looks.
Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. hasn’t had that DeVonta Smith or Desmond Howard-type season at the wide receiver position that could have distinguished himself amongst the crowded quarterback field, but he has still been unquestionably one of the best players in the country regardless of position.
This past Saturday night, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has been in the mix since Week 1, had a statement game that has turned a lot of heads.
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Against Florida Gators, Daniels became the first quarterback in NCAA history to pass for more than 350 yards and run for 200 or more in a 606 total yards output. Daniels finished with 372 yards passing with three touchdowns and rushed for 234 yards and two more scores, including a highlight 85-yard touchdown run.
While Florida isn’t accustomed to seeing athletes like Daniels have Heisman statements, it was an eerily similar situation back in the 2007 season when Tim Tebow had his Heisman statement on Veterans Day weekend.
Much like LSU of this season, the 2007 Florida team saw many of their goals dissipate in early season setbacks. The defending national champion Gators were poised to repeat, but after disappointing losses to Auburn, LSU, and Georgia, all that was left was pride for the Gators.
The Heisman race was crowded going into the final stretch after front-runner Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon suffered a torn ACL, opening up the field up.
The SEC, much like the Pac-12 today, had a bumper crop of elite players, with Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, and Tebow all vying for Heisman votes, along with Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan.
Tebow entered the game looking to not only distinguish himself in the Heisman race but also quell any notion that South Carolina was a worthy rival.
The first two matchups between Urban Meyer (Florida) and Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) were hotly contested affairs as Meyer was to legitimize his program over what is arguably the greatest Gator to ever play or coach in Gainesville.
It was indeed an electric night in Columbia, South Carolina, as Tebow had his signature Heisman moment. Tebow was a man on a mission — very similar to what Daniels did against Florida — and willed his Gators to a 51-31 win, accounting for all seven Gator touchdowns (5 rush, 2 pass) on 424 yards of total offense (304 pass, 120 rush).
Meyer, reflecting on Tebow’s epic performance, called it a “Heisman performance” then, upon seeing that Tebow scored all seven touchdowns, “Seven touchdowns. Wow. That’s pretty good.”
Daniels’ epic performance now has him right in the thick of things, especially with Washington’s Penix. His resume has him in the Top 10 in completion percentage and yards, and leads the nation in touchdown passes, rating, and QBR. Add in his dual-threat rushing ability, and Daniels should cross the 1,000-yard rushing barrier as he is just 82 yards short and has eight rushing touchdowns.
If Daniels can break the 1,000-yard barrier against Georgia Southern in LSU’s 11th game, he would become the fourth player to get 3,000 passing and 1,000 rushing yards in their team’s first 11 games, joining Johnny Manziel (2012 – Texas A&M), Lamar Jackson (2016, 2017 – Louisville), and Jalen Hurts (2019 – Oklahoma.) Of the three, Manziel and Jackson took home the Heisman Trophy.
After watching Daniels have that “Tebow Deja Vu” against Florida, Brian Kelly summed up Daniels’ Heisman odds best: “If he didn’t win it tonight, he’s got to be the leading candidate because what he did tonight unless the Heisman is just about popularity if you want to be the most popular, then fine, but he’s the best player in college football. He did something tonight that no one’s ever done. So, if that doesn’t make you the leading candidate, then maybe the Heisman is not really for the best player. Maybe it’s for the most popular player.”
