Heisman Watch: Week 5

In a season in which many college football fans make their goodbyes to the Pac-12, it seems as if many of the leaders for the Heisman Trophy all come from the conference.

The Pac-12 is off to a great start this season, with four teams ranked inside of the top 10 in the AP Poll through week four, and two more in the top 20.

Many of these teams are led by quarterbacks who have great chances of winning the prestigious trophy.

The Leader: Caleb Williams- USC, Quarterback

After winning the trophy for the 2022 season, Caleb Williams was the heavy favorite to win the trophy again for the 2023 season, and well, not many people have changed their minds this season.

Williams has led the top-ten-ranked USC Trojans to a 4-0 record up to this point in the season and is not showing signs of slowing down.

Williams has thrown for 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns and has yet to throw an interception.

Williams and the Trojans have Colorado up next, but more importantly, they have a five-game stretch starting Oct. 14, in which they will face (currently ranked) No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 10 Utah, California, No. 7 Washington and cap off the tough stretch vs No. 9 Oregon.

If Williams can lead the Trojans through this stretch undefeated, he will have head-to-head victories over almost every contender for the trophy, and it would be difficult to see a scenario in which Williams doesn't repeat.

However, there is still a lot of football to play, and with a schedule like that, a lot can happen.

Next Up: Bo Nix- Oregon, Quarterback

One might think that Washington quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., would be the clear pick for the runner-up at the current moment, but something special is happening in Eugene, Ore.,, and that has everything to do with fifth-year senior quarterback Bo Nix.

Nix has led the Ducks to a 4-0 start to the season. This comes after Nix led them to a 10-3 record in his first season at Oregon, after transferring from Auburn.

While Nix’s stat line does not look all that special, 1169 yards, 11 touchdowns, 1 interception, 80.6 QBR, it's what the team is doing as a whole that is boosting Nix’s stock.

The Ducks are currently averaging 54 points per game, which is good for second in college football, just one point below USC, as well as 4.2 above third-best Washington.

While they don't play Notre Dame as USC does, Oregon does have Utah, Washington and a showdown versus USC on their schedule, and matchups against two more ranked, at the moment, Pac-12 opponents in Washington State and Oregon State.

Nix is in a very similar spot as Williams and could secure the Heisman Trophy for himself if he can lead Oregon through that tough stretch.

The Dark Horse: Cameron Ward- Washington State, Quarterback

The former Incarnate Word Quarterback is in his second season at Washington State, and his fourth season in college football.

Ward led the Cougars to a lackluster 7-6 record last season but is showing massive improvement this season.

The Cougars are sitting at 4-0 through week four, and 1-0 in conference play after last week's overtime win over Oregon State.

Ward is helping drive that success, as he has thrown for 1,390 yards, and 13 touchdowns in just four games, and has the 10th-best quarterback rating, or QBR, in all of college football.

Ward has also led the Cougars to not one, but two ranked victories this season over then-ranked No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 14 Oregon State. The Cougars are currently ranked No. 16, and if Ward and the Cougars continue their success, he is a name to watch down the road for the Heisman Trophy.

William James is a fourth-year print/digital journalism student. To contact him, please email wmj5101@psu.edu.