Heisman Watch: Championship Week

In a season that has featured some incredible quarterback play and multiple weeks of a wide receiver potentially winning the award for only the fourth time ever, it has come down to Championship Weekend in a three-man race.

The Heisman Trophy Ceremony takes place on December 9th, where four finalists will head to New York City to get honored for their remarkable seasons. However, only one player can win.

The Pac-12 quarterback play has been otherworldly so it would be fitting for one of the top guys to win the Heisman.

Front-Runner: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

The Heisman Trophy will be decided on Friday night in Las Vegas when Oregon takes on Washington. All eyes will be on the quarterbacks, especially if Bo Nix can get his revenge on the Huskies.

Nix has broken out in his fifth season as a starting quarterback. He has firmly put the Ducks in prime position to assert themselves back into the College Football Playoff with a win over Washington.

Nix completed an absurd 78.6 percent of his passes, which would break Mac Jones’ 2020 record of 77.4 percent if the season ended today.

The Pinson, Alabama, native also leads the country in passing yards with 3,906 yards on the season, while only throwing two interceptions.

Nix has made every type of play in the book and can air it out with the best in the country. The fifth-year starter has been magnificent for Oregon in its final season in the Pac-12.

Close Second: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Penix Jr. is the other featured quarterback in the matchup Friday night in Vegas. In a winner-take-all situation in multiple ways, the southpaw will look to bounce back after an off week against rival Washington State.

In a 24-21 win over the Cougars, Penix Jr. threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns while throwing an interception, as well.

Despite the struggles, Penix’s ability to help the Huskies continue to win is what is keeping him in the conversation.

A massive game against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship and it may be the lefty’s name announced in New York City.

Third-Place: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Daniels may end up finishing in second place in voting for the Heisman Trophy. The numbers he put up this year can go against some of the best quarterback seasons in all of college football.

He threw for 3,812 and 40 touchdowns with only four interceptions. To add to that, he also ran for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. A 50-touchdown season is not common in college football.

However, what hurts Daniels is the fact LSU is 9-3 and ranked 13th in the country. A Heisman quarterback typically is part of a very successful team that likely goes to the playoff or just misses out on the College Football Playoff.

If both Pac-12 quarterbacks have down games, Daniels may just sneak back into being the favorite for the trophy, despite not playing on championship weekend.

Fourth-Place: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

There could be multiple players filling in this spot. Jalen Milroe or Carson Beck could be the fourth member of the night of the ceremony. However, there needs to be a fourth finalist. Harrison Jr. should be rewarded for his incredible season by earning a trip to the ceremony.

Having almost identical stats to his 2022 season, it was the eye test that stuck out for the junior receiver.

Harrison Jr. was essentially unguardable against any defense that went up against him. Any time the Buckeyes needed some sort of spark it was his high school quarterback, Kyle McCord finding Harrison Jr. for another big play.

Despite not playing on Championship weekend, there has not been a receiver this good in college football in years.

Andrew Deal is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email asd5765@psu.ed