Paul Finebaum evaluates Heisman stock of Caleb Williams, Bo Nix after losses

It was a tough Saturday for two of the top Heisman contenders. USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Oregon QB Bo Nix both had their teams suffer their first losses of the season over the weekend.

Williams struggled during USC’s 48-20 loss to Notre Dame, while Nix played well but not quite well enough in a 36-33 loss to Washington.

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum joined SportsCenter on Monday and was asked if Williams and Nix are still Heisman contenders. He gave two very different answers, starting with Nix.

“I think [he is] still fine for this reason – he has a lot of big games left,” Finebaum said of Bo Nix. “And he has the potential for a championship game, perhaps against Washington, on the final weekend of the season where he could make a lot of influence on the Heisman race. So I think he’s still in good shape.”

Nix put up impressive stats against the Huskies, passing for 337 yards and two touchdowns, without an interception, in the loss.

The same can’t be said for Caleb Williams against Notre Dame. The reigning Heisman winner had only 199 passing yards and threw three picks against the Irish, as USC suffered its first loss of the season.

Because Williams played poorly in the spotlight game, Finebaum believes it will be tough for him to get back in the Heisman race.

“That is a big ‘not fine.’ Caleb Williams was the prohibitive favorite going into the season, but that was an awful time to have his worst game,” Finebaum said. “I think he literally goes off the board for the time being. There’s just too many other great candidates. We mentioned Nix, Jayden Daniels from LSU, [Michael] Penix from Washington. I don’t see Caleb Williams getting back in the race.”

Paul Finebaum reacts to Dan Lanning’s decisions in loss to Washington

The Oregon-Washington game was just a few minutes away from having a much different ending for Bo Nix and the Ducks.

Oregon was leading 33-29 with 2:16 remaining when head coach Dan Lanning made the decision to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Washington 42.

The gamble ended up not paying off as Bo Nix threw an incomplete pass and Washington drove down for the game-winning score.

Paul Finebaum reacted to Lanning’s decision during ‘The Matt Barrie Show’ on Sunday.

“I think if you look at it in total, you understand and appreciate his aggressiveness – and he almost pulled it off. But the sum total of it was extremely negative,” Finebaum said.

“I, frankly, didn’t object to his last call – just try to win the game right here. Too many coaches play games. A three-yard reception? The game’s over,” said Finebaum. “But it was more the call earlier. He just looked like he was just way too reckless.”