The College Football Playoff is just around the corner, and the Heisman Trophy race is heating up. Jayden Daniels, Marvin Harrison Jr., Bo Nix and Michael Penix have all solidified their spots as the four favorites to win the trophy after excellent play from each player down the stretch of the season.
The Heisman Trophy winner will be announced December 9th and each of these four has an impressive resume and a shot at taking home the honors of the nation’s best player. The four finalists were announced Monday afternoon and Jayden Daniels looks like the current favorite to take home the award.
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Each Heisman Trophy Finalst’s Resume
Jayden Daniels, LSU
Though his team managed the worst record, no player in the country posted more eye-popping stats than Jayden Daniels. The LSU Tigers quarterback was a dynamic athlete all season for his team, leading LSU to a 9-3 record and a bowl game birth. The Tigers currently rank 13th in the country, largely to Daniels’ efforts.
This season, Jayden Daniels completed 72% of his passes for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns. Daniels also led the Tigers in rushing, with an electric 1,134 yards on the ground and an additional 10 touchdowns.
Daniels solidified his spot as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy with back-to-back games with video game-like stat lines. In Week 11 versus Florida, Jayden Daniels torched the Gators for 606 total yards and five total touchdowns. The following week versus Georgia State, Daniels posted another masterpiece with 509 total yards and an absurd eight touchdowns.
LSU’s three losses are tough, but Daniels’ eye-popping numbers could prove to be the difference maker in a close Heisman Trophy race.
Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
No receiver in the country had more impact than ‘Maserati Marv’ this season. Ohio State’s superstar receiver exploded on the season last season, posting 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. Harrison has been regarded as one of the best receiver prospects in recent memory, drawing pro-comparisons to Randy Moss due to his ability and frame, standing at 6’3.
This season, Marvin Harrison Jr. followed up his electric sophomore year with a stellar junior season. This season, Harrison caught 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 15 total touchdowns despite the significant increase in attention from opposing defenses. Teams threw double-team looks and changes in scheme just to attempt to contain the pass-catcher.
Marvin Harrison Jr. helped the Ohio State Buckeyes to an 11-1 record and is widely regarded as the best receiver in College Football. The Buckeyes star posted eight 100-yard games, with five of those coming with 120 or more yards.
It isn’t often receivers win the Heisman Trophy. DeVonta Smith took home the honor in 2020, being the first receiver since 1991 to win the award. Could Marvin Harrison Jr. join the short list?
Bo Nix, Oregon
Oregon’s star quarterback has played about as close to perfect as you could get this season. Despite the two losses to Washington, the Oregon Ducks have played nearly perfect football thanks to their nearly perfect quarterback.
Bo Nix completed a mind-boggling 77% of his passes on 435 attempts for 4,145 yards and 46 total touchdowns with just three interceptions. Nix also boasted a QBR of 91.0 which ranks second in the entire country. Nix’s efficiency has been consistent all season long and no player in the nation has been more consistent than Oregon’s Heisman hopeful.
Nix led the Oregon Ducks to an 11-2 record and a Pac-12 Championship game birth. The Ducks made an NY6 bowl with Bo Nix at the helm, where they will play the Liberty Flames in the Fiesta Bowl.
Bo Nix has a great resume and has been by far the most consistently great quarterback in the country. Nix has likely done all he can for his Heisman Trophy case. We will see if Nix’s resume is enough to land him the Heisman Trophy.
Michael Penix, Washington
The longtime favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, Michael Penix has been a true gunslinger for the Washington Huskies all season. Penix led the Huskies to a 13-0 record and a Pac-12 Championship and most importantly, a College Football Playoff birth as the number two team.
Michael Penix led the country in passing yards with 4,218, completing 66% of his passes along the way, with 36 total touchdowns. Penix was the frontrunner to win the Heisman Trophy for a large stretch of the season. The Washington Husky quarterback has been a top quarterback in the country since he landed at UW.
Washington will take on 3rd-ranked Texas in the Sugar Bowl following their undefeated campaign with Penix at the helm. Michael Penix will look to lead his Washington Huskies to a College Football Playoff National Championship run.
Michael Penix has a very compelling case, being the only Heisman Trophy finalist to make the College Football Playoff. Penix will look to take home some hardware on Washington’s journey to the national championship.