Heisman Trophy contenders: The Pac-12's Top 5 candidates in 2023, headlined by Caleb Williams

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 then we looked at the Big Ten’s likeliest contenders, as well as the ACC (plus Notre Dame)’s potential candidates. 

What about the conference that took home the award last season? Not only is Williams back, but both Oregon and Washington has QBs that figure to be in the mix all fall. 

*** 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 Pac-12 Top 5 Heisman Trophy candidates in 2023

QB Caleb Williams, USC

Caleb Williams may have the best on-ramp opportunity to launch a back-to-back Heisman Trophy campaign in close to 50 years. 

USC is projected to win the Pac-12. Check. The Trojans return three of their top four wideouts and added Arizona’s Dorian Singer, who had 1,105 yards in 2022 — second-most in the league. Check. The junior quarterback will be in his third season in Lincoln Riley’s system. Check. Caleb Williams is an all-world talent. Check. 

If Williams replicates anywhere near last season’s production (47 touchdowns, over 4,900 total yards) and USC makes the College Football Playoff then he seems like a destined repeat winner.

QB Michael Penix, Washington

Michael Penix actually led the Pac-12 in total offense in 2022 — and it was almost exclusively off the southpaw’s arm. The former Indiana quarterback had just 92 rushing yards all season, but his 4,641 passing yards were the most nationally. 

Penix has thrived in Kalen DeBoer’s system and the Huskies return both their 1,000-yard wideouts (Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillian). 

After a surprising 11-2 season in 2022, if Penix can lead the Huskies to their first conference championship since 2016 then he has a strong chance to find his way to New York City.  

QB Bo Nix, Oregon

Bo Nix revived his career in Eugene, going from SEC also-ran to one of the most productive quarterbacks in the country at Oregon in 2022. 

Nix threw for over, 3,500 yards, averaged 8.8 yards per attempt (second-only to Caleb Williams), had 44 total touchdowns and completed 72% of his passes. 

Kenny Dillingham is now the head coach at Arizona State, but Nix is going to still put up gaudy stats in Will Stein’s offense. With a Week 2 non-conference game at Texas Tech and then two major home games in November (vs. USC and Oregon State), Nix has several opportunities to make a statement with national audiences tuning in.

QB Cam Rising, Utah

Cam Rising is absolutely a long-shot candidate, especially considering it’s no slam dunk he starts Week 1 as he continues to rehab his ACL injury from Rose Bowl.

But Rising checks a lot of boxes as a preseason candidate: He’s led the Utes to two straight Pac-12 titles, and a third conference championship would put him in elite company. He’s a quarterback who makes plays with his arm (3,000 passing yards, 29 touchdowns) and legs (500 rushing and six scores). 

Again, in all likelihood Rising is never even in the Heisman discussion this fall, but on a short list of Pac-12 candidates, his preseason resume puts him on the radar. 

QB DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State

It’s ok, I laughed while writing DJ Uiagalelei’s name here, too.

But … and stick with me here … what if DJ U has a bounce-back season at a new school out West in the state of Oregon. Hello Bo Nix 2.0?

Maybe. Uiagalelei needed a fresh start and perhaps a transfer will reset his career. He has national name recognition and he’s going to play for a darkhorse Pac-12 contender. The Beavers have a better offensive line than Clemson and their tailback room is loaded, too. 

Uiagalelei had 29 total touchdowns last season, but he’d need way more production in 2023 and lead Oregon State to its first-ever Pac-12 Championship.