Ad Disclosure
After a second straight loss — and a 3rd loss in 2 years to Utah — preseason Heisman Trophy favorite Caleb Williams is just about out of the running.
But a Pac-12 colleague, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., maintains his current favorite status despite a shaky game against Arizona State.
Here is a look at the current Heisman odds and how the current top 10 contenders performed in Week 8…
1) Michael Penix Jr., Washington Quarterback
Week 8 results: 15-7 win over Arizona State
Week 8 stats: 27/42 passing for 275 yards, 2 interception, 2 rushes, negative-1 yard
Overall stats: 182/257 passing for 2,576 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 11 rushes, 3 yards
One big number: Penix last had a 2-interception game in Week 5 last season.
Week 9 opponent: at Stanford
Michael Penix with 3 first half turnovers…
(h/t @AryePulli) pic.twitter.com/1tKKzRsDS2https://t.co/Nftw2PDyAz
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 22, 2023
2) J.J. McCarthy, Michigan Quarterback
Week 8 results: 49-0 win at Michigan State
Week 8 stats: 21/27 passing for 287 yards, 4 touchdowns, 3 rushes, 8 yards
Overall stats: 132/169 passing for 1,799 yards, 18 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 33 rushes, 168 yards, 3 touchdowns
One big number: McCarthy’s 287 yards were his highest this year.
Week 9 opponent: BYE
JJ McCarthy threw this into the tightest window possible. Loveland wasn't open and never uncovered. Insane throw. pic.twitter.com/C4BELzwCA4
— Rich (@richjmadrid) October 22, 2023
3) Jayden Daniels, LSU Quarterback
Week 8 results: 62-0 win over Army
Week 8 stats: 11/15 passing for 279 yards, 3 touchdowns, 5 rushes, 6 yards, 1 touchdown
Overall stats: 163/223 passing for 2,573 yards, 25 touchdowns, 3 interception, 91 rushes, 521 yards, 5 touchdowns
One big number: Daniels now has 3 touchdowns or more in 5 straight games.
Week 9 opponent: BYE
ANOTHER INCREDIBLE PLAY BY JAYDEN DANIELS ? pic.twitter.com/wxK06cvfrQ
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 22, 2023
4) Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma Quarterback
Week 8 results: 31-29 win over UCF
Week 8 stats: 25/38 passing for 253 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, 10 rushes, 22 yards
Overall stats: 166/233 passing for 2,131 yards, 19 touchdowns, 3 interception, 53 rushes, 230 yards, 5 touchdowns
One big number: Gabriel’s streak of 340-plus total yards was snapped at 3 games.
Week 9 opponent: At Kansas
Dillon Gabriel ? Nic Anderson = 6
Anderson’s 7th TD on 12 catches ? pic.twitter.com/P4ApqsQqVe
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) October 21, 2023
5) Jordan Travis, Florida State Quarterback
Week 8 results: 38-20 win over Duke
Week 8 stats: 27/36 passing for 268 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 10 rushes, 62 yards, 1 touchdown
Overall stats: 142/218 passing for 1,750 yards, 15 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 50 rushes, 176 yards, 5 touchdowns.
One big number: Travis’ 62 rushing yards were a season high.
Week 9 opponent: at Wake Forest
Idk how Jordan Travis fit that one in to Keon Coleman pic.twitter.com/cX6QrV2uLx
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) October 22, 2023
6) Drake Maye, North Carolina Quarterback
Week 8 results: 31-27 loss to Virginia
Week 8 stats: 24/48 passing for 347 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 6 rushes, 17 yards, 1 touchdowns
Overall stats: 170/260 passing for 2,249 yards, 14 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 68 rushes, 201 yards, 5 touchdowns
One big number: Maye’s first interception since Week 3 proved costly, sealing the Cavaliers’ upset.
Week 9 opponent: at Georgia Tech
Drake Maye just did THIS pic.twitter.com/8uZUIQIJIC
— BrycenNFL ? (@BrycenNFL) October 21, 2023
7) Carson Beck, Georgia Quarterback
Week 8 results: BYE
Week 8 stats: BYE
Overall stats: 173/235 passing for 2,147 yards, 12 touchdowns, 4 interception, 28 rushes, 50 yards, 3 touchdowns
One big number: Beck has 250 passing yards in every game this year.
Week 9 opponent: vs. Florida
8) Bo Nix, Oregon Quarterback
Week 8 results: 38-24 win over Washington State
Week 8 stats: 18/25 passing for 293 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interception, 2 rushes, 4 yards, 1 touchdowns
Overall stats: 182/232 passing for 2.089 yards, 19 touchdowns, 1 interception, 28 rushes, 105 yards, 2 touchdowns
One big number: Nix set an FBS record with his 54th career start.
Week 9 opponent: at Utah
Bo Nix with a perfect punt inside the 5. He can do it all ? pic.twitter.com/PBJaur6Qrs
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) October 21, 2023
9) Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State Wide Receiver
Week 8 results: 20-12 win over Penn State
Week 8 stats: 11 receptions, 162 yards, 1 touchdowns
Overall stats: 42 receptions, 766 yards, 6 touchdowns
One big number: Harrison topped 160 yards for the 3rd time this year.
Week 9 opponent: at Wisconsin
I don’t care what anyone says Gus Johnson has some of the best commentary ever
Marvin Harrison Jr. TD pic.twitter.com/NQtIXNURXR— Carrie Lynn (@OSUFAN4U2NV) October 21, 2023
10) Caleb Williams, USC Quarterback
Week 8 results: 34-32 loss to Utah
Week 8 stats: 24/34 passing for 256 yards, 10 rushes, 27 yards, 1 touchdown
Overall stats: 166/237 passing for 2,277 yards, 23 touchdowns, 4 interception, 61 rushes, 143 yards, 7 touchdowns
One big number: Williams suffered back-to-back losses for the 1st time.
Week 9 opponent: at Cal
No other quarterback in college football is making this throw, but Caleb Williams can. That’s the difference. pic.twitter.com/5w4uSGhQfu
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 22, 2023
Others to Watch:
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers
Michigan running back Blake Corum
Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei
Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe
Jon Gold has won multiple state and national awards covering college football. He is the Pac-12 columnist for Saturday Out West.
