On3 Week 14 Heisman Trophy Top-10 Poll
Rivalry week is in the rearview, and that means there’s only one week left until the college football season is done. That leaves us just a couple of days from having a clear picture of the Heisman Trophy race, along with who the conference champions will be.
Regardless, we can still paint a pretty good picture right now, following Week 13’s action. The best of the best certainly showed out.
On3 has gathered its national experts and polled them for their top 10 players in the Heisman Trophy race right now, creating a grading rubric that we can use to rank them. The player voted No. 1 will earn 10 points, while the player voted No. 2 will earn nine, etc. on down the line. Here’s how the voting shook out after last weekend’s clashes.
1) QB Jayden Daniels, LSU (30 points)
Jayden Daniels finished his Heisman campaign in grand fashion, as LSU took care of business against Texas A&M. The Tigers star passed for four touchdowns against the Aggies, and added 120 rushing yards on the day.
LSU finished the regular season with a 9-3 record, and will now focus on which bowl game they’ll be chosen to play in. Daniels will await the possibility of winning the Heisman, and potentially becoming a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
2) QB Bo Nix, Oregon (27)
When Bo Nix left Auburn, not many had him pegged as a future Heisman contender. However, the Oregon quarterback is squarely among the favorites for the trophy, as the regular season came to a close last weekend.
Nix put an exclamation point on a phenomenal season, completing 33-of-40 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns, adding a rushing touchdown as well against Oregon State. Unlike Daniels, Nix has another game to prove his worth, as he’s preparing for the Pac-12 title game this weekend.
3) QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington (23)
Michael Penix Jr. is in a similar boat as Bo Nix as the race for the Heisman rages on. He’s a transfer quarterback who’s been phenomenal at his new stop, and has another week to prove himself, ironically against Nix in the Pac-12 title game.
Penix got the best of Nix in their first encounter, but everything will be on the line when these two teams meet this weekend. The Heisman, the College Football Playoff and the honor of being drafted ahead of the other next April could all be impacted when Oregon and Washington clash for the second time.
4) WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (22)
Marvin Harrison Jr. couldn’t lead Ohio State to victory over Michigan in The Game in Week 13. Still, he played a huge role on Saturday, amassing five receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown against the Wolverines.
The College Football Playoff dream needs a ton of help, and it remains to be seen if Harrison Jr. will play in Ohio State’s bowl game. Nevertheless, his season was phenomenal, and he certainly merits the Heisman hype, even if he likely won’t win it.
5) QB Carson Beck, Georgia (17)
Carson Beck started his first season as the Georgia starting quarterback slow, but really picked it up over the last couple of weeks. While he doesn’t possess the highlight reel abilities of a Jayden Daniels, his accuracy and anticipation have helped the Bulldogs remain undefeated.
It looks like Georgia is headed to the College Football Playoff once again, regardless of what happens in Saturday’s SEC title showdown. Beck’s played a huge role in that success, passing for 22 touchdowns to just six interceptions.
6) QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama (14)
Over the last few weeks, Jalen Milroe has seen a meteoric rise in the Heisman rankings. It won’t be enough to get him the trophy, even if he called for it after a miraculous win over Auburn, but he’ll certainly be one of the favorites next season.
Ahead of the SEC title game, Milroe has amassed 21 passing touchdowns to just six interceptions, but his 12 rushing touchdowns put him on another level. The future is bright for the Crimson Tide leader.
7) WR Malik Nabers, LSU (11)
Someone had to catch all of those Jayden Daniels touchdowns. Malik Nabers was the beneficiary of some awesome quarterback play in Baton Rouge, as he amassed 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns on 86 receptions.
It may not win him the Heisman in a crowded race, but it’ll get him a ton of NFL attention. He’ll be one of the top players available come next April.
8) WR Rome Odunze, Washington (7)
Rome Odunze may be the unsung hero of Washington’s success. Without the star wide receiver and his connection with Michael Penix Jr., the Huskies certainly wouldn’t be where they are now.
On the season, Odunze has amassed 1,326 yards and 13 touchdowns on 73 receptions. The Huskies have a tremendous shot at the College Football Playoff, and the stud pass catcher is not going to be the reason it’s squandered, if it comes to that.
9) RB Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State (6)
Without Ollie Gordon, the Oklahoma State season wouldn’t have been nearly as successful as it’s been in 2023. The Cowboys are readying for the Big 12 title game this weekend, and hoping to send Texas to the SEC with a loss.
Gordon will be the player the Longhorns have their eyes on. His 1,580 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns may look like video game numbers, but he’s put the team on his back throughout the entire season.
10) DT T’Vondre Sweat, Texas (4)
T’Vondre Sweat has been the leader of the Texas defense all season long. Even when the Longhorns offense sputtered at times in 2023, Texas could count on Sweat and his teammates to have their back.
His 40 total tackles, 15 pass deflections, five sacks and one forced fumble have Texas among the potential teams in the College Football Playoff. It remains to be seen if it’s enough, but the Longhorns are focused on the Big 12 title game this weekend at the moment.
Honorable Mention
- RB Blake Corum, Michigan (3)
- QB Caleb Williams, USC (1)
Alas, there’s a ton of awesome talent in the college football world, but these players have separated themselves from the pack in 2023. Who will take home the hardware? There’s one more week left to find out. We can’t wait to see who contributes to their case over the next week.
On3’s Steve Samra contributed to this article.