So far through 10 weeks of college football, we’ve seen hopefuls come and go, not only in the college football playoff outlook but also in the Heisman watch. There’s been a rise in some quarterbacks that had been written off and forgotten and some of the favorites have taken a step backward. So without further adieu let’s take a look at the College Football Heisman update.
Rising Stock:
There are a few people that come to mind when talking about those who have their stock rising. First off would have to be Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. After an embarrassing loss in week one to the Georgia Bulldogs, the Ducks have turned their season around. Nix is currently ahead of the likes of CJ Stroud and Bryce Young in passing yards sitting at 2,495 and is 14th in the nation in touchdown passes with 22. Nix who is now a four-year starter between Auburn and Oregon is having his best season since he was a Freshman and has been incredibly accurate throwing the ball and has the second-best completion percentage in the nation. If Nix can finish his season off strong and beat the two ranked teams left on the schedule Oregon may be in contention for a birth in the College Football Playoffs.
Stetson Bennett also deserves to at least be in the conversation after the performance he had against Tennessee this past week. While he may not have eye-popping stats he’s been solid and is doing enough to keep the Dawgs winnings. He’s 14th in the nation in passing and doesn’t turn the ball over only throwing three interceptions so far this season. So long as Georgia finishes the regular season as SEC East champions they again could be playing for a National Championship and Bennett is a big reason why.
Taking a Step Back:
Bryce Young had the second-best odds to win the Heisman per BetMGM sportsbook in the summer. However, due to not only an injury but some inconsistencies after his return and a loss to the Vols in Tenessee he’s seen his odds fall drastically. He and teammate Will Anderson were the talk of the College Football world early in the season and the Tide just hasn’t been itself and neither has Young. He currently sits outside of the top 30 in the nation in passing and outside the top 20 in passing touchdowns. Without some miraculous comeback at the end of this season, it looks like Bryce Young’s invite to New York was lost in the mail.
Hendon Hooker was probably a favorite less than a couple of weeks ago now but has taken a major step backward. After beating Alabama in Neyland and then embarrassing Kentucky a week ago Hooker looked pedestrian against Georgia. He completed 23 of his 33 attempts for 195 and an interception. Whether it was the hype getting to Hooker or the moment was just too big he didn’t look like his clutch self.
The Dark Horses:
Michael Penix somehow still isn’t hearing his name being mentioned in the Heisman race and quite frankly it’s absurd. Maybe it’s because he plays for a PAC-12 school, or maybe it’s because the Huskies are unranked either way he needs to be in New York. Penix leads the nation in passing and is 13th in touchdowns all while leading Washington to a 7-2 record. If Washington makes a push here at the end of the season Penix deserves to be in the conversation.
The Conclusion:
After 10 weeks of College Football, we’ve seen a lot of good and bad football. But if the season ended today here are the finalists for one of the most prestigious trophies in sports.
- CJ Stroud – OSU
- Hendon Hooker – TEN
- Bo Nix – ORE
- Michael Penix – WSH
- Drake Maye – UNC
- Bryce Young – ALA