Heisman Trophy contenders: The Big Ten's Top 5 candidates in 2023

USC’s Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and is the betting favorite to become just the second two-time winner, joining only Ohio State’s Archie Griffin. 

Over the next week, we’ll look at the Top 5 candidates from each Power 5 conference (and Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman).  

We kickstarted the series with the SEC, and today we look at the Big Ten’s likeliest contenders. Both Michigan and Ohio State have a couple of potential candidates, while I mulled over two different options from Penn State, too. 

*** Note: It’s fun (and easy) to toss out pie-in-the-sky picks, but each list this week is at least attempting to identify potential candidates who have a somewhat-realistic case to contend for the award. So you won’t see any defensive players, as the Heisman Trophy voter pool refuses to even invite a guy like Will Anderson to the ceremony (reminder: Alabama’s pass rusher had 101 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks in 2021). 

You also won’t find me listing guys like KJ Jefferson or Jalon Daniels — two really good college QBs, but players who are on teams that aren’t expected to win a whole lot in 2o23. 

Last season, Caleb Williams became the first Heisman Trophy winner since Lamar Jackson in 2016 to not lead his team to the College Football Playoff. With few exceptions, this has become a QB award going to the guy on one of the country’s best teams. Maybe that will change this fall. I doubt it. 

The Big Ten’s Top 5 Heisman Trophy candidates in 2023

WR Marvin Harrison, Ohio State

Marvin Harrison is the best non-quarterback in all of college football, and the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner has the best shot to become just the second receiver this century (joining Alabama’s DeVonta Smith) to win the award this century. 

Harrison had 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, and he should have similar numbers this fall.  The unanimous All-American was the most valuable receiver in the country last season, per PFF. 

QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

J.J. McCarthy isn’t a Top 5 quarterback in all of college football in 2023, but when you’re the QB1 for a team that could go 12-0 in the regular season, you have a strong case at baseline as a Heisman Trophy candidate. 

McCarthy had a breakout performance against Ohio State last season (12 of 24 for 263 yards and three touchdowns), and if he helps the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes for a third-straight year en route to another Big Ten title, then he’s going to find himself on the shortlist of invitees to New York. 

The junior had 22 passing touchdowns in 2022, and with an even better-supporting cast this fall, his numbers could certainly improve with more experience and another season in Jim Harbaugh’s system.

RB Nick Singleton, Penn State

Could sophomore QB Drew Allar be the star for Penn State in 2023? Totally. But I’ll bank on another 5-star sophomore who already has a season’s worth of production proving he’s already one of the nation’s best players. 

As a 5-star freshman in 2022, Singleton more than lived up to the hype last season, averaging over 6.8 yards per carry. He had had multiple 50-yard+ touchdown runs, and finished the year with 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Singleton certainly qualifies as a long-shot candidate, but if the Nittany Lions do break through this fall and reach the Big Ten title, they’ll do so on the backs of a dominant defense and a nasty rushing attack. At worst, that gives him a chance. 

RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan 

Michigan tailback Blake Corum was a Heisman contender in 2022 before tearing his ACL against Ohio State, but his backup Donovan Edwards might have even more star potential — rushing for over 520 yards at 7.5 per carry in the three games without Corum. 

Edwards was hampered by an arm injury late last the season that limited his ability to contribute in the passing attack, but he is one of the best-receiving tailbacks in the country, too. 

With Michigan likely to be careful with Corum early and Edwards possessing home run ability, the junior tailback should have the requisite touches and stats to enter his name in the conversion come December. 

QB Kyle McCord, Ohio State

This is a bit of a bet on Ryan Day, Ohio State’s offensive machine and McCord grabbing a stranglehold of the starting job. 

McCord is the favorite to be CJ Stroud’s heir apparent and headlined by Marvin Harrison Jr., the veteran backup is surrounded by the best group of receivers in the nation this fall. 

While Ohio State has questions at offensive line, there’s enough other individual talent + Day’s play-calling designs to make any Ohio State QB1 an obvious Heisman Trophy candidate.