Brian Kelly acknowledges the impact LSU's losses have on Jayden Daniels' Heisman chances

Following Week 10 of the college football season, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is at the top of the On3 Heisman Hot Board. This comes even after a loss on the road to Alabama where Daniels missed most of the fourth quarter in concussion protocol. He was outstanding in the first half and his overall season numbers stack up.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly was asked about Daniels potentially slipping in the Heisman Trophy race after another loss. He’s in favor of it being awarded to an individual player, no matter their team’s scenario. After all, the Heisman Trophy is supposed to be awarded to the most outstanding player in all of college football.

“I think there is a modicum of that in terms of how you view somebody’s individual award,” Kelly said on LSU’s team success. “It’s not a team award. It’s an individual award. Here’s the thing — the Heisman always has multiple candidates that are up for it. So, how do you begin to distinguish, if statistically, they’re all so close? You start to look at the tiebreakers.”

Usually, team success is an area Heisman Trophy voters look at. The last Heisman Trophy winner whose team finished with at least three regular-season losses was Lamar Jackson with Louisville in 2016. Before him, it was Baylor‘s Robert Griffin III in 2011.

Kelly understands LSU, as a whole, not having the best season could play a factor for Daniels. He may not necessarily agree with the idea but knows it’s out there.

“Some of the tiebreakers become how well the team is playing,” Kelly said during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. “That, whether it’s fair or not, becomes an influence. I think if you use the eye test and stats are what they are, it shouldn’t. But I think it’s natural that those things definitely come into play.”

LSU has three games remaining on their schedule but it’s unclear whether or not Daniels will be available. He went through concussion protocol in Tuscaloosa and is still dealing with the process leading into the Florida game. You would have to imagine playing against the Gators will be critical in Daniels’ case to be hoisting the trophy in New York City.

Winning out certainly will help. Following the Florida game, Georgia State and Texas A&M make their way over the Baton Rouge. If LSU can keep a three in the loss column while Daniels continues to perform well, he will certainly have the opportunity to be the program’s second Heisman winner in five seasons.