Every Monday we take an updated look at the Heisman Trophy race, with our Heisman Trophy stock watch.
The goal of this article isn't just to list the favorites, but to share some guys who may be moving up the charts after a big Saturday in the sport. Before we get to this week's risers, here is the current top of the betting market - with odds
provided by DraftKings Sportsbook:
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington (+200)
Caleb Williams, QB, USC (+220)
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon (+600)
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma (+1200)
Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State (+1600)
Stock Up:
Dillon Gabriel (+1200): Dillon Gabriel proved he’s a real contender in this race this weekend. He had a great game against both through the air and on the ground, with 285 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and a 60.5% completion percentage, all while rushing for 113 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown on 14 carries. His big highlight was the drive he led at the end of the game for the game-winning touchdown, and overall eight different receivers caught at least one pass.
Meanwhile, his season stats may be even more impressive, as he's tossed for 1,878 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 72.3% completion percentage. He currently ranks sixth nationally in passing yards and is tied for third in touchdowns.
Gabriel’s stock is going to continue to rise the rest of the season, and it’s not a stretch to see him get an invite to New York. The Sooners have a bye this week, before returning to the field against UCF.
Jayden Daniels (+3500): Jayden Daniels is single-handedly the reason why LSU won on Saturday and is the biggest reason why they are 4-2 this season. Against Missouri Saturday he had 259 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and he had a 71.4% completion percentage. He also had 130 rushing yards on 15 carries and one rushing touchdown. Daniels was a massive difference-maker on Saturday.
On the season Daniels is just as impressive with 1,969 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 72.9 % completion percentage. Both his passing yards and touchdowns are second nationally.
Some would argue that Daniels isn't a Heisman candidate because of LSU's 4-2 record.
Please understand, LSU is 4-2 *only* because of the incredible play of their quarterback.
Brock Bowers (+3500): Bowers continues to rise in the Heisman rankings with his great play. He had seven receptions for 132 receiving yards with one receiving touchdown in Georgia’s blowout win over Kentucky, 51-13. He again was the main target for Georgia and made a good Kentucky defense look helpless trying to defend him.
Bowers is in the argument for the best player in all of college football right next to Caleb Williams. He had a stellar week these last three starts for the Bulldogs. In total, he has 37 receptions, 545 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns on the year. It’s looking like if any non-QB gets an invite to New York, it’ll be Bowers.
His Own Category:
Caleb Williams (+220): Caleb Williams is a human highlight reel, we all know that. But it was still a weird weekend for Williams and the USC Trojans because the offense struggled to get going against an upstart Arizona team.
Arizona deserves a lot of credit for how they played against USC this entire game. Williams was only 14/25 with 219 passing yards, and one touchdown. But he added 41 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns, and he ran in what would be the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime.
Once again, Williams had to be the hero because the USC defense let him down again by allowing 41 points and 506 total yards to an Arizona offense that was being ran by their backup quarterback, Noah Fifita. If you take Williams off this team, it’s very clear that USC is a 6-6 team at best, maybe even worse than that.
Williams’ total stats are insane when you look at them on paper. He has 1,822 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, one interception, and a 71.7 completion percentage. The Trojans’ Pac-12 Championship and Playoff hopes hinge on Williams, and it will be interesting to see just how far he can take them, and it starts this week with a road test against Notre Dame.
Stock Down:
Ray Davis (+12000): Davis entered himself into the fringes of the Heisman conversation after his incredible, 280-yard rushing performance against Florida two weeks ago.
Unfortunately, through no fault of his own, that buzz is all but gone after last Saturday, when he had just 15 carries for 59 rushing yards, with 3.9 yards per carry.
Again, it's not the running back's fault that Georgia's defensive front was insane on Saturday - but it probably all but eliminates him from serious Heisman contention.