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Heisman Watch, Week 3: Michael Penix, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel lead the way on a dud-filled day
By Jon Gold
Published:
On a day of duds, only a few Heisman hopefuls led the way.
Might we see a shakeup in the odds because of it? Maybe so.
Here is a look at the current Heisman odds and how the current top 10 contenders performed in Week 3…
1) Caleb Williams, USC Quarterback
Week 3 results: BYE
Week 3 stats: BYE
Overall stats: 55/70 for 878 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 12 rushes, 61 yards, 1 touchdown
One big number: Williams’ passer rating a quarter of the way through the season is an astounding 240.3.
Week 4 opponent: at Arizona State
2) Quinn Ewers, Texas Quarterback
Week 3 results: 31-10 over Wyoming
Week 3 stats: 11/21 passing for 131 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 2 rushes, negative-5 yards, 1 touchdown
Overall stats: 54/89 passing for 740 yards, 6 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 13 rushes, 18 yards, 2 touchdown
One big number: Ewers and the Longhorns struggled in the 1st half — just one 1st-half drive went for more than 20 yards.
Week 4 opponent: at Baylor
Get it done! ? pic.twitter.com/YPcJAcNyAm
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 17, 2023
3) Jordan Travis, Florida State Quarterback
Week 3 results: 31-29 win at Boston College
Week 3 stats: 15/24 passing for 212 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 4 rushes, 38 yards
Overall stats: 53/84 passing for 729 yards, 8 touchdowns, 1 interception, 17 rushes, 96 yards, 1 touchdown
One big number: The Seminoles nearly blew a 31-10 late 3rd-quarter lead before hanging on for the win.
Week 4 opponent: at Clemson
Jordan Travis DIME on the run to Lawrance Toafili pic.twitter.com/n5qfINgGJA
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) September 16, 2023
4) Michael Penix Jr., Washington Quarterback
Week 3 results: 41-7 win at Michigan State
Week 3 stats: 27/35 passing for 473 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Overall stats: 84/113 passing for 1,332 yards, 12 touchdowns, 1 interceptions, 4 rushes, 9 yards
One big number: Penix went 20-of-25 for 375 yards and 4 touchdowns in the 1st half.
Week 4 opponent: vs. Cal
27/35
473 yards
4 TDSMichael Penix Jr. had a day today ? pic.twitter.com/c0NXCS8SR4
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) September 17, 2023
5) J.J. McCarthy, Michigan Quarterback
Week 3 results: 31-6 over Bowling Green
Week 3 stats: 8/13 passing for 143 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 4 rushes, 36 yards
Overall stats: 56/68 passing for 701 yards, 7 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 7 rushes, 35 yards
One big number: McCarthy threw 3 picks for the first time in his collegiate career.
Week 4 opponent: vs. Rutgers
JJ McCarthy 50 yard touch down pass to Cornelius Johnson – WOW!
Michigan leads Bowling Green 31-6 with 6 min left in 3Q
— James T. Yoder (@JamesYoder) September 17, 2023
6) Sam Hartman, Notre Dame Quarterback
Week 3 results: 41-17 win over Central Michigan
Week 3 stats: 16/26 passing for 330 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 3 rushes, 6 yards, 1 rushing touchdown
Overall stats: 64/90 passing for 1061 yards, 13 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 12 rushes, negative-7 yards, 2 rushing touchdown
One big number: Hartman’s 3-score game against the Chippewas was the 23rd of his career and 3rd this season.
Week 4 opponent: vs. Ohio State
You couldn’t run down the field and directly put the ball in Chris Tyree’s hands in a better spot than Sam Hartman did on a throw from ~50 yards away.
Man oh man the Notre Dame quarterback throws a damn good deep ball. pic.twitter.com/3R0U9ORPyY
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) September 16, 2023
7) Bo Nix, Oregon Quarterback
Week 3 results: 55-10 vs. Hawai’i
Week 3 stats: 21/27 passing for 247 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 2 rushes, 14 yards
Overall stats: 76/98 passing for 893 yards, 8 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 11 rushes, 60 yards
One big number: On his final drive — the 1st of the 2nd half — Nix went 5-of-7 for 60 yards and a score.
Week 4 opponent: vs. Colorado
Bo Nix throws a beautiful dime for the Oregon touchdown ?
Ducks up 17-0 against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors with with less than 5 minutes left in the 1st quarter.pic.twitter.com/jjuZpXnR5E
— College Football On ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsCFB) September 17, 2023
8) Drew Allar, Penn State Quarterback
Week 3 results: 30-17 win at Illinois
Week 3 stats: 16/33 passing for 208 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 6 rushes, 24 yards
Overall stats: 59/88 passing for 737 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 15 rushes, 52 yards, 1 touchdown
One big number: Allar was inconsistent against Illinois, failing to complete more than 3 passes in a row.
Week 4 opponent: vs. Iowa
What a sequence from Drew Allar. pic.twitter.com/1Zt53Ggncz
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) September 16, 2023
9) Shedeur Sanders, Colorado Quarterback
Week 3 results: 43-35 (2OT) win over Colorado State
Week 3 stats: 38/47 for 348 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interceptions, 9 rushes, 3 yards
Overall stats: 107/136 for 1251 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, 1 interceptions, 25 rushes, negative-59 yards, 1 touchdown
One big number: Sanders was just 13-of-16 for 64 yards at the half before exploding late in the game.
Week 4 opponent: at Oregon
Shedeur Sanders to Jimmy Horn jr for TD ?? pic.twitter.com/kRAbOpVwze
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) September 17, 2023
10) Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma Quarterback
Week 3 results: 66-17 win at Tulsa
Week 3 stats: 28/31 for 421 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 interception
Overall stats: 66/80 for 905 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 1 interception, 10 rushes, 35 yards, 1 rushing touchdown
One big number: Gabriel nearly doubled his season passing yardage total with his big day.
Week 4 opponent: at Cincinnati
Here’s the Gabriel ➡️ Anthony ? on OU’s first play.@andrel_jr | @_dillongabriel_ | #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/jvPRRphCSo
— ???????? ??. ??? ????? (@soonergridiron) September 16, 2023
Others to Watch:
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels
Miami quarterback Tyler van Dyke
Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton
Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter
Jon Gold has won multiple state and national awards covering college football. He is the Pac-12 columnist for Saturday Out West.
