Rivalry Week did not disappoint. From an instant classic on the Plains of Auburn to a third consecutive win for Michigan in The Game, the big names made the biggest plays last weekend. For the second straight week, there’s a significant shuffle in our Top Five from last week’s rankings. And as an added bonus, there’s a tie at the top of our Heisman Rankings Week Thirteen.
2023 LWOCFB Heisman Rankings Week Thirteen
The lead pack of three remains the same. It’s hard to see a scenario where Bo Nix, Michael Penix, Jr., and Jayden Daniels aren’t the Manhatten Trio in two weekends. What remains to be seen is who stands up at the end among the three. With two of the three playing in a Conference Championship Game, it’s a decided advantage to get one last performance, and potentially one last Heisman moment, the day before Heisman ballots are due. Here’s how we stand in our penultimate poll.
Here are the top five Heisman Rankings Week Thirteen from our panel of 16 voters.
1. (t) Bo Nix, Oregon (69) [Previous: 1 (62)]
Oregon’s Bo Nix continued his march towards Manhatten with another stellar performance against Oregon State. Nix was 33-for-40 (82.5%) for 367 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks dismissed the 16th-ranked Beavers 31-7. Nix was the star of the show with an incredible across-the-body touchdown throw in the first half that put Oregon State’s upset hopes on ice.
Nix is in line to set the all-time college football record for completion in a season, currently at 78.6%. In addition to setting an all-time college football mark, he now leads the nation in passing yards (3,906), is second nationally in passing touchdowns (37) and passer rating (189.92), and only has two interceptions all season. That’s going to be a hard stat line for voters to pass up when it comes time to hit that submit button.
Now Nix gets a rematch with Michael Penix, Jr. and his Washington Huskies in what promises to be the most consequential game of the College Football season. With Nix and Penix this close and Jayden Daniels did for the season, the winner of this game could make a last-minute claim to the Heisman. The winner will also be the Pac-12 Champion and almost assuredly lock up a spot in the College Football Playoff. It’s the stuff of college football dreams.
1. (t) Jayden Daniels, LSU (69) [Previous: (2) (56)]
LSU’s Jayden Daniels continued his improbable run up our poll with a 42-30 win against hapless Texas A&M on Saturday. Daniels and the Tigers needed three fourth-quarter touchdowns to escape with the win. The Tigers quarterback went 18-for-24 (75%) with 235 passing yards and four touchdowns. Daniels also added 120 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Daniels leads the nation in touchdowns (40) and rating (208.10) in an offense designed for big passing numbers. His defense has forced LSU’s offensive hand all season as well, something the voters might consider in a Heisman race this tight.
The worst part of Daniels is that he won’t get another chance to impress the voters this weekend, as Nix and Penix both will. Having the last possession might win the day for either of the West Coast stand-outs while Daniels has to watch from the sidelines.
3. Michael Penix, Jr., Washington (48) [Previous: 3 (46)]
Michael Penix, Jr.‘s Huskies survived a game Washington State upset attempt with a last-minute field goal to win the Apple Cup 24-21. Penix continued his late-season cooling off with an 18-for-33, 204 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception performance. While Penix hasn’t put up the best numbers over the last three weeks, he still leads the undefeated, third-ranked team in the nation.
He’s also second nationally in passing yards (3,899) and fourth in passing touchdowns (32). Most importantly, he — just like Nix — has one last chance to impress the voters this weekend. Another stellar performance against Nix and Oregon could be enough to leap-frog both Daniels and Nix.
If you’re not watching the Pac-12 Championship game this Friday, then what are you really doing with your life?
4. Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State (17) [Previous: 4 (21)]
Marvin Harrison, Jr. heads up a small second pack behind the leaders. He was, yet again, the lone bright spot for Ohio State in their soul-crushing 30-24 loss against Michigan. Harrison had 5 catches for 118 yards and one touchdown in the Big House on Saturday. But it wasn’t enough for the Buckeyes to avoid a third-straight loss to the Wolverines.
Harrison is second nationally in touchdown receptions (14) and ninth nationally in receiving yards (1,211). While those numbers are good, and he plays for a national brand, Harrison probably isn’t in line for a trip to Manhattan.
5. Jalen Milroe, Alabama (16) [Previous: NR (5)]
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe rides a miracle 4th-and-goal-from-the-31-only-in-the-Iron-Bowl touchdown throw to replace Georgia’s Carson Beck in the fifth and final spot in our poll. Milroe’s numbers aren’t going to stack up against any of the other quarterbacks nationally — he’s third nationally in passer rating (179.62), but doesn’t show up in the top ten of any other major passing category.
At this point, Milroe is far closer to our sixth-best vote-getter than our third-place vote-getter. It’s got to feel good for Milroe, though after getting benched for a few drives earlier this season. Is it any surprise to anyone that Alabama is making noise in both the Heisman race and the College Football Playoff picture, even after a slow start to the season? It shouldn’t — that’s for sure.
Others Receiving Heisman Rankings Week Thirteen Votes:
Carson Beck, Georgia (7), Malik Nabors, LSU (6), Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State (5), Jordan Travis, FSU (2), Blake Corum, Michigan (2), Malik Washington, Virginia (1).
