2023 Heisman Watch: Caleb Williams, Bo Nix continue to shine

Five weeks into the 2023 college football season, the Heisman Trophy race appears to be taking shape, with several candidates establishing themselves as the clear leaders of the pack.

USC QB Caleb Williams continued his incredible start to the season, as the defending Heisman Trophy winner looks to become just the second player to win the award twice. Meanwhile, Oregon‘s Bo Nix had another outstanding performance as the Ducks improved to 5-0 on the season.

Let’s take a look at how the Heisman favorites performed in Week 5 and how that could shake up the odds next week.

1. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington: +360

One week after establishing himself as the new Heisman favorite, Penix and the Huskies found themselves in a battle with a feisty Arizona team on Saturday night. Penix completed 30 of 40 passes for 363 yards as the Huskies escaped Tucson with a 31-24 win. After throwing 16 total touchdowns in his first four games of the season, Penix did not throw a touchdown pass in the victory over the Wildcats. He did keep his streak of consecutive games with 300-plus passing yards alive though, as the talented left-hander has now thrown for 1,999 yards through five games.

Next: The Huskies host Oregon on Oct. 14.

2. Caleb Williams, QB, USC: +400

Williams continues to play his best on college football’s biggest stage. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner threw for 403 yards and tied a career-high with six touchdown passes as USC was able to hold off Shedeur Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes, 48-41, in front of a celebrity-packed crowd on Saturday. Williams spread the ball around, throwing TD passes to five different players. Through five games this season, Williams has thrown for 1,603 yards and 21 touchdowns, the latter of which leads all FBS quarterbacks.

Next: The Trojans take on Arizona on Oct. 7.

3. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas: +600

Ewers put together a perfect drive on the Longhorns’ opening possession, capped off by his 40-yard touchdown run. It was all Longhorns from that point on as Ewers helped guide Texas to a dominant 40-14 win over No. 24 Kansas on Saturday. The talented signal-caller completed 25 of 35 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 40 yards and a pair of scores on the ground. Ewers has been able to get it done this season with both his arm and legs, totaling 1,358 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air, and another five touchdowns on the ground.

Next: The Longhorns will take on Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown on Oct. 7.

4. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon: +1000

Another Saturday, another impressive showing by Nix, this one coming in the form of a 42-6 blowout win over Stanford. The do-it-all senior QB completed 27 of 32 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns in the win. All four of Nix’s TD passes came in the second half as the Ducks improved to 5-0 with the victory. Through five games, Nix is completing 80% of his passes for 1,459 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Next: The Ducks travel to Washington to take on the Huskies on Oct. 14.

5. Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State: +1200

Travis and the Seminoles had a bye this weekend.

Next: The Seminoles host Virginia Tech on Oct. 7.

6. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU: +1800

Daniels put together one of the most impressive statistical games of his career on Saturday, but unfortunately for he and the LSU Tigers, it came in a 55-49 loss to No. 20 Ole Miss. Daniels was outstanding with both his arm and his legs, throwing for 414 yards and four touchdowns, while also adding 99 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Three of Daniels’ touchdown passes went to Brian Thomas Jr., who finished with eight catches for 124 yards.

Next: The Tigers take on Missouri on Oct. 7.

7. Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame: +2200

Notre Dame escaped with a 21-14 win over No. 17 Duke on Saturday night, but it wasn’t Hartman’s best game in a Notre Dame uniform. The senior QB struggled, completing just 15 of his 30 passes for 222 yards and finishing without a touchdown pass. He did have a clutch 17-yard run late in the game, which extended Notre Dame’s drive and set up the game-winning score. After throwing 13 touchdown passes in the first four games of the season, Hartman has cooled off, with only one TD pass over his last two games. 

Next: The Fighting Irish battle Louisville on Oct. 7.

8. Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma: +2500

Gabriel was outstanding in the Sooners’ impressive 50-20 win over Iowa State on Saturday. The left-handed signal-caller completed 26 of 39 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 37 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Gabriel completed passes to 10 different pass-catchers, with Jalil Farooq leading the way with five catches for 81 yards. Gabriel has now topped the 300-yard passing mark in four games as Oklahoma improves to 5-0.

Next: The Sooners play Texas in the Red River Showdown on Oct. 7.

9. Kyle McCord, Ohio State: +2800

McCord and the Buckeyes had a bye this weekend

Next: The Buckeyes host Maryland on Oct. 7.

T10. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan: +3500

McCarthy and the Wolverines scored on their first three possessions and never looked back in a dominant 45-7 win over Nebraska on Saturday. The talented junior signal-caller played a near-perfect game, completing 12 of 16 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding a rushing TD. Both of McCarthy’s touchdown passes went to Roman Wilson, who now has eight touchdown catches on the season. Through five games, McCarthy is completing 79% of his passes for 1,071 yards and 10 TDs.

Next: The Wolverines take on Minnesota on Oct. 7.

T10. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State: +3500

After getting off to a slow start, Allar turned it on in the second half and helped lead the Nittany Lions to a dominant 41-13 win over Northwestern on Saturday. Allar completed 18 of 33 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a rushing TD. Allar has had at least two touchdowns in four of five games this season as Penn State is off to a 5-0 start for the third straight year.

Next: The Nittany Lions host UMass on Oct. 14.

T10. Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami, +3500

Van Dyke and the Hurricanes had a bye this weekend.

Next: The Hurricanes host Georgia Tech on Oct. 7.

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