Heisman Tracker: How LSU's Jayden Daniels stacks up

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels played yet another stat-stuffing game on Saturday night in the win over Auburn, further establishing himself as one of the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top player every year.

As LSU enters the final five games of the season, here’s a look at the updated Heisman candidates and everything to know.

“The Heisman has become such a promotional piece and the flavor of the week that I’ve told the guys I’ve been involved with is ‘look you’re not going to have control over this besides being consistent in the things you do. They’re going to have opinions that range from one side to the other. Your responsibility is consistency and performance. You do that and it will take care of itself.’” Brian Kelly said. “Other than that, they’ll say ‘well you’re not playing well enough on defense’, which has nothing to do with the Heisman. If that was the case, they should have not given the Heisman to Caleb last year when they lost to Tulane. The fact of the matter is it’s about your consistency and performance and the rest of the narratives will float from A to Z and you can’t focus on those.”

On3 Week 8 College Football Heisman Hot Board🔥https://t.co/khT55jBEam pic.twitter.com/dVo68oUjrX

— On3 (@On3sports) October 15, 2023

QB Jayden Daniels, LSU

Passing: 22 TDs, 3 INTs, 73.1 complection %, 2,294 yards

Rushing: 4 TDs, 515 yards

Team: LSU is now 5-2 on the year with the No. 2 ranked strength of schedule and are now No. 19 in the AP Poll.

Vegas Odds: +850

Quick Pitch: With games against Alabama and Texas A&M on the schedule that will decide the SEC West, there’s a shot that LSU ends the year 10-2 overall and plays Georgia in the SEC title game again. Daniels will likely end the year with the most total yardage of any player on one of the best offenses in the country at LSU. This feels like Lamar Jackson, Johnny Manziel, or Caleb Williams when they won the award.

QB Michael Penix, Washington

Passing: 20 TDs, 3 INTs, 72.1 completion %, 2,301 yards (6 games)

Rushing: 0 TDs, 4 yards

Team: Washington is 6-0, ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll, and coming off of a home win over Oregon

Vegas Odds: -140

Quick Pitch: Penix is on pace for a remarkable season statistically in perhaps the best offense in the country. Add that to the fact Washington is undefeated and looks like the best team in the Pac 12, therefore opening the door for a playoff berth, and you have a perfect case for the Heisman.

QB Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma

Passing: 16 TDs, 2 INTs, 72.3 completion %, 1,878 yards (6 games)

Rushing: 208 yards, 5 TDs

Team: Oklahoma is No. 6 in the AP Poll coming off a bye, but beat Texas two weeks ago and is 6-0 on the season.

Vegas Odds: +800

Quick Pitch: Oklahoma very well could be 12-0 going into the Big 12 title game and be looking at a 13-0 mark and a playoff appearance with Gabriel at 4,000 yards. He’ll likely have to beat Texas twice to get there, and that could be enough.

QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan

Passing: 14 TDs, 3 INTs, 78.2 completion %, 1512 yards

Rushing: 3 TDs, 160 yards

Team: Michigan is 7-0 and has been the most dominant team in college football this season, albeit against a very average schedule.

Vegas Odds: +1000

Quick Pitch: Michigan has games against Ohio State and Penn State left on the schedule. Win both of those, become the No. 1 team with McCarthy leading the way and you have at least a case.

QB Caleb Williams, USC

Passing: 23 TDs, 4 INTs, .70 completion %, 2,021 yards

Rushing: 6 TDs, 116 yards

Team: USC lost to Notre Dame last week in its first real challenge of the season as Williams threw three picks in the first half. The Trojans have not looked right all year and drop to No. 18 in the AP Poll.

Vegas Odds: +2200

Quick Pitch: USC’s schedule isn’t getting any easier and all it would take is one more loss to eliminate Williams from contention here. He’ll need to be perfect and his team run the table and get to the Pac-12 title game.

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Passing: 12 TDs, 4 INTs, .69 completion %, 1,902 yards (6 games)

Rushing: 4 TDs, 184 yards

Team: North Carolina is clicking and just beat Miami, moving to 6-0 on the season and No. 10 in the AP Poll. 

Vegas Odds: +1100

Quick Pitch: Maye’s stats are a step behind the competition here, but with only Duke and Clemson as tough games on the schedule, there’s a shot at going 12-0 and playing Florida State in the ACC title game. That would be enough to put Maye firmly in the discussion.

QB Jordan Travis, Florida State

Passing: 13 TDs, 1 INT, 63,2 completion %, 1,482 yards (6 games)

Rushing: 4 TDs, 114 yards

Team: The Seminoles are 6-0 with wins over LSU and Clemson already. FSU is No. 6 in the AP Poll.

Vegas Odds: +1100

Quick Pitch: The Seminoles could win out, with Duke and Miami as home games then the final game against Florida. Travis will likely need to boost the stats, but FSU as a top two team isn’t out of the question.