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Heisman Watch, Week 9: Top candidates avoid road landmines — mostly

Published: Oct 29, 2023 · 4:35 AM EDT

Week 9 had a chance to be very bleak as all 8 Heisman contenders who played on Saturday were on the road.

And for a pair of teams it was indeed scary as Oklahoma and North Carolina both succumbed, doing great damage to the Heisman bids of both Dillon Gabriel and Drake Maye.

Here is a look at the current Heisman odds and how the current top 10 contenders performed in Week 9…

1. Michael Penix Jr., Washington Quarterback

Week 9 results: 42-33 win at Stanford

Week 9 stats: 21/38 passing for 369 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, 1 rush, negative-12 yards

Overall stats: 203/295 passing for 2,945 yards, 24 touchdowns, 6 interception, 12 rushes, negative-9 yards

One big number: Penix rebounded from his 2 least prolific games of the year to top 350 yards for the 5th time this year.

Week 10 opponent: At USC

WASHINGTON HUSKIES LONGGGG TOUCHDOWN ?

Michael Penix Jr to Ja’Lynn Polk ?

93 Yards To The HOUSE ? pic.twitter.com/tYtByF3ETU

— Sports ON Tap Seattle (@SeattleONTap) October 29, 2023

2. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan Quarterback

Week 9 results: BYE

Week 9 stats: BYE

Overall stats: 132/169 passing for 1,799 yards, 18 touchdowns, 3 interception, 33 rushes, 168 yards, 3 touchdowns

One big number: McCarthy is completing passes at a terrific 78.1 percent clip.

Week 10 opponent: vs. Purdue

3. Jayden Daniels, LSU Quarterback

Week 9 results: BYE

Week 9 stats: BYE

Overall stats: 163/223 passing for 2,573 yards, 25 touchdowns, 3 interception, 91 rushes, 521 yards, 5 touchdowns

One big number: A big showing against the Crimson Tide in Week 10 could be a resume-builder for Daniels.

Week 10 opponent: At Alabama

4. Bo Nix, Oregon Quarterback

Week 9 results: 35-6 win at Utah

Week 9 stats: 24/31 passing for 248 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 4 rushes, 8 yards, 1 touchdown

Overall stats: 206/263 passing for 2,337 yards, 21 touchdowns, 1 interceptions, 32 rushes, 113 yards, 3 touchdowns

One big number: After rushing for 14 scores last year, Saturday’s was just his 3rd this year.

Week 10 opponent: vs. Cal

This was dropped but it was such a pretty throw from Bo Nix pic.twitter.com/hEH4hDH0Bv

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 28, 2023

5. Jordan Travis, Florida State Quarterback

Week 9 results: 41-16 win at Wake Forest

Week 9 stats: 22/35 passing for 359 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 7 rushes, 29 yards, 1 touchdown

Overall stats: 164/253 passing for 2,109 yards, 18 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 57 rushes, 205 yards, 6 touchdowns

One big number: Travis’ 359 yards were a season high.

Week 10 opponent: At Pitt

Jordan Travis drops it perfectly to Kyle Morlock, who snags his second catch of the day — a 32-yarder to set up #FSU on the 6-yard line

Travis: 359 yards, 3 TDs (41 rushing, 1 TD) pic.twitter.com/HsQFzGqwXf

— Tomahawk Nation (@TomahawkNation) October 28, 2023

6. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State Wide Receiver

Week 9 results: 24-10 win at Wisconsin

Week 9 stats: 6 receptions for 123 yards, 2 touchdowns

Overall stats: 48 receptions for 889 yards, 8 touchdowns

One big number: Dude just keeps producing — 4 straight 100-yard games, that is.

Week 10 opponent: At Rutgers

Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best player in the nation pic.twitter.com/0f9HX0HDbT

— McNeil (@Reflog_18) October 29, 2023

7. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma Quarterback

Week 9 results: 38-33 loss at Kansas

Week 9 stats: 14/19 passing for 171 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception, 14 rushes, 64 yards, 3 touchdowns

Overall stats: 180/252 passing for 2,302 yards, 19 touchdowns, 4 interception, 67 rushes, 294 yards, 8 touchdowns

One big number: Gabriel’s 3 rushing scores were a season high but he had diminishing passing yards for the 4th straight game.

Week 10 opponent: At Oklahoma State

Tough TD run by Dillon Gabriel at the goal line. Oklahoma retakes the lead with 5 minutes left. pic.twitter.com/t2jlYs0vRS

— Max Olson (@max_olson) October 28, 2023

8. Carson Beck, Georgia Quarterback

Week 9 results: 43-20 win at Florida

Week 9 stats: 19/28 passing for 315 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 5 rushes, 10 yards

Overall stats: 192/263 passing for 2,462 yards, 14 touchdowns, 4 interception, 33 rushes, 60 yards, 3 touchdowns

One big number: Beck has turned on the jets — Saturday marked his 4th time in 5 games with 300 passing yards.

Week 10 opponent: vs. Missouri

https://twitter.com/adamnbeast/status/1718400262644125904

9. Drake Maye, North Carolina Quarterback

Week 9 results: 46-42 loss at Georgia Tech

Week 9 stats: 17/25 passing for 310 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 10 rushes, 58 yards, 1 touchdown

Overall stats: 187/285 passing for 2,559 yards, 16 touchdowns, 5 interception, 78 rushes, 259 yards, 6 touchdowns

One big number: UNC’s ACC title hopes took a big hit, but not because of Maye, who topped 350 total yards for the 4th time this year.

Week 10 opponent: vs. Campbell

Drake Maye continuously shows his arm talent when fitting throw into tight nfl-level windows. pic.twitter.com/F826NXaer6

— Full-Time Dame ? (@DP_NFL) October 29, 2023

10. Caleb Williams, USC Quarterback

Week 9 results: 50-49 win at Cal

Week 9 stats: 23/40 passing for 369 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 13 rushes, negative-13 yards, 2 touchdowns

Overall stats: 189/287 passing for 2,646 yards, 25 touchdowns, 4 interception, 74 rushes, 130 yards, 9 touchdowns

One big number: The tall tales of the heroic Williams continue — Saturday was his 7th game this year with at least 4 total scores.

Week 10 opponent: vs. Washington

Throws like this put Caleb Williams in a whole different tier as a prospect.

Not easy to find a gunslinger with top-tier touch. Next level stuff.pic.twitter.com/KKSVgZG3tI

— Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) October 28, 2023