Week six of the 2023 NCAA College Football season is over. The Inscriber Magazine will now take a look at the updated Heisman candidate rankings and there are some changes to it.
For the first time this season USC Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams looked human. He started off slow against the Arizona Wildcats and even faced a 17-0 deficit. While his numbers were not eye-popping he finished with five total touchdowns and 260 total yards.
On the 2023 season the leading Heisman candidate has thrown for 1,822 yards, 22 touchdowns and an interception.
Michael Penix Jr and the University of Washington were on a bye this week. So it seemed like dark horse candidate Cameron Ward would get an opportunity to creep up in the rankings. Yet that did not happen for him as he struggled against the UCLA Bruins’ defense. He completed 19 of 39 passes for 197 yards, a touchdown and he did throw two interceptions. He was also sacked three times.
So even though the University of Oregon was on a bye, Bo Nix moves ahead of Ward for third in the rankings.
Now this is where it gets interesting. The University of Oklahoma Sooners beat the No.3 ranked University of Texas Longhorns in dramatic fashion. The question is did Dillon Gabriel do enough to enter the third spot with two of the other quarterbacks on a bye? Simply put, no.
While it was an impressive win for the Sooners. He threw for 285 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball 14 times for 113 yards and a touchdown. While the combined yardage is impressive, an additional touchdown or two would have helped his cause.
Though some may disagree with that assessment which is fine.
One of the earlier Heisman candidates who dropped out of mentioning finally had his breakout game. University of North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye shredded the Syracuse Orange defense. He threw for 442 yards and three touchdowns.
Still for him, it appears it is too little too late. Overall in 2023 he has only thrown eight touchdown passes and has been picked off four times.
Even more difficult to enter the rankings is Lousiana State Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels. While he has put up Heisman numbers, losing twice already significantly hinders his chances even with his huge performance against a ranked Missouri Tigers team.
Daniels threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns and carried the football 15 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. Overall he has thrown for 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns and two interceptions. Also, he has ran for 422 yards and four touchdowns.