The race for the esteemed Heisman Trophy has taken an unexpected turn as we venture deeper into the college football season. Michigan’s young quarterback, JJ McCarthy, now leads the race, surprising many and adding a new layer of excitement to the Heisman Watch. His recent performances have not only propelled him into the spotlight, but also reshuffled the odds, making the competition more riveting as we approach the climax of the season.
The Heisman Trophy, a hallmark of individual excellence on the college football turf, continues to be a focal point of anticipation as the season unfolds. Week 8 brought forth performances that were both exhilarating and pivotal in the Heisman Trophy contention.
While JJ McCarthy’s ascension to the top spot has been nothing short of remarkable, other quarterbacks like Michael Penix Jr., Jayden Daniels, and Caleb Williams have also had their share of spotlight and scrutiny. The shifting dynamics have rekindled debates, and intensified the scrutiny on weekly performances of these promising athletes.
So let’s dive in and see what Week 8 meant for the 2023 Heisman Race.
JJ McCarthy (QB, Michigan)
The arm strength is CRAZY.@UMichFootball | #BigTenSaturdayNight pic.twitter.com/R39LhTIjFi
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 22, 2023
- Heisman Odds: +200
- Week 8 Stats: vs. Michigan State W 49-0; 21/27, 287 yds, 4 TDs
Just two short weeks ago, JJ McCarthy’s odds to win the Heisman Trophy stood at +3300 with sportsbooks. Now, with other challengers and their teams falling by the wayside, McCarthy has worked his way up to +200 favoritism.
While his individual stats may not compare favorably to others (has almost 800 fewer passing yards than Penix and 7 fewer TDs than Jayden Daniels), he has guided Michigan to an 8-0 record.
He was tremendous in the blowout win over rivals Michigan State in Week 8 throwing for four touchdowns. If he keeps up this accuracy coming down the stretch, he will be tough to catch. However, tougher tests await the Wolverines, with #10 Penn State and #3 Ohio State to come in their last four games.
Michael Penix Jr. (QB, Washington)
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. throws an early interception vs Arizona State. pic.twitter.com/geBhvYeGKA
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 22, 2023
- Heisman Odds: +325
- Week 8 Stats: vs. Arizona State W 15-7; 27/42, 275 yds, 2 INTs
Michael Penix has been sensational this season. He leads NCAA football in passing yards and is fourth in passing touchdowns. However, his odds have taken a tumble this week after his performance against Arizona State.
Penix failed to throw for a touchdown and threw two picks as the Huskies scraped by a mediocre Sun Devils team.
Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)
5 Takes It Himself | @JayD__5
📺 SEC Network pic.twitter.com/EjD78tn9Zb
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) October 22, 2023
- Heisman Odds: +400
- Week 8 Stats: vs. Army W 62-0; 11/15, 279 yds, 3 TDs; 5 rush yds, 1 rush TD
LSU’s Jayden Daniels, much like JJ McCarthy was listed at +3300 for the Heisman Trophy just a couple of weeks ago. But a little bit of recency bias has now helped him into the third favorite slot.
Daniels was exceptional against Army, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for one more in the 62-0 win. He now leads the country in touchdown passes thrown on the season.
It’s a close race at the top, with nobody pulling away in the race for the Heisman Trophy just yet.
Caleb Williams & Drake Maye Out of Contention?
Drake Maye is now a 50/1 shot for the Heisman after his UNC team failed to beat Virginia in one of the biggest upsets of the season. Maye had just started making his charge last week, and a victory this week could have seen him usurp JJ McCarthy as the favorite for the award.
He’s not the only one who has seemingly fallen away in the Heisman Race. Caleb Williams was favorite or second favorite for the Heisman Trophy for until after Week 7.
USC defeats to Notre Dame and Utah have seemingly ended his run at back-to-back Heismans. Questions about his performances against top opposition are now plaguing last year’s winner.
Is there a route back into contention for these two, or will somebody else sneak up on the rails in the last few weeks? Who knows, but we will have fun watching the college football season play out to see.
Heisman Trophy 2023 Winner Odds
Let’s take a look at the odds for the 2023 Heisman Trophy Winner, provided by BetOnline:
- J.J. McCarthy: +200
- Michael Penix Jr.: +325
- Jayden Daniels: +400
- Jordan Travis: +700
- Dillon Gabriel: +1200
- Bo Nix: +2200
- Marvin Harrison Jr.: +2500
- Carson Beck: +2800
- Drake Maye: +5000
- Caleb Williams: +7500
*Others are available at BetOnline.ag. Odds are correct at time of publication, but are subject to fluctuation.
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