Heisman Tracker: Jayden Daniels moves into top three

Jayden Daniels continues to set the tone for the best offense in the country, this time taking are of business in a non-conference game against Army. Daniels only played the first half, but still ended with 279 yards and three touchdowns on 11-of-15 passing.

Daniels rocketed up the Heisman boards as his odds in Vegas shot up drastically. Now, Dabiels and LSU head into a bye week before heading to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama in a crucial game with the SEC West on the line.

Here’s a look at the Heisman cases of the top five candidates across the country and how Daniels stacks up.

QB Jayden Daniels, LSU

Passing: 2,573 yards, 11.5 Y/A, 25 TDs, 3 INTs (8 games)

Rushing: 521 yards, 5.7 Y/C, 5 TDs

Team: LSU is now 6-2 overall with losses to Florida State and Ole Miss, both on the road. 

Vegas Odds: +360

Quick Pitch: Daniels is leading the best offense in the country and has been the most productive player in college football. Put together his explosive passing with his dynamic running ability and you have the best quarterback on the best offense in the country. LSU also ranks No. 1 in strength of schedule so far this year.

QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan

Passing: 1,799 yards, 10.6 Y/A, 18 TDs, 3 INTs (8 games)

Rushing: 168 yards, 5.1 Y/C, 3 TDs

Team: Michigan remains unbeaten, but ranks 50th in strength of schedule. A 49-0 win over Michigan State is the latest blowout win.

Vegas Odds: +240

Quick Pitch: McCarthy has the argument that his team has dominated games, therefore he hasn’t had to throw much in the second halves, but this season comes down to two games for him and this Michigan team. Road game at Penn State on Nov. 11, then a home game against Ohio State to end the year. Also, a potential Big 10 title game. Lose two of those three and he’s out of this conversation. It remains to be seen if he can carry this offense through those elite defenses.

QB Michael Penix, Washington

Passing: 2,576 yards, 10 Y/A, 20 TDs, 5 INTs (7 games)

Rushing: 3 yards, 0 TDs, 

Team: Washington has a great win over Oregon that is sandwiched by two lackluster showings in wins over Arizona and Arizona State. Still, the Huskies are 7-0, but have a much harder schedule in November.

Vegas Odds: +300

Quick Pitch: Washington has the huge win over Oregon and will have the opportunity to further cement itself as the class of the PAC-12 through November with USC, Utah, Oregon State, and Washington State still on the schedule. Penix’s passing numbers will continue to be staggering, there’s more work to do.

QB Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma

Passing: 2,131 yards, 9.1 Y/A, 19 TDs, 3 INTs (7 games)

Rushing: 230 yards, 4.3 Y/C, 5 TDs

Team: Oklahoma barely snuck by UCF off of a bye week, but remained undefeated.

Vegas Odds: +1000

Quick Pitch: Gabriel has the marquee win over Texas and has a path to being undefeated going into the Big 12 title game. The passing numbers are fine, but he’ll need a few more 400+ yard games to really get the country’s attention. He probably has the best path to winning out of any of the five candidates, so that has to mean something.

QB Jordan Travis, Florida State

Passing: 1,750 yards, 8.0 Y/A, 15 TDs, 2 INTs (7 games)

Rushing: 176 yards, 3.5 Y/C, 5 TDs

Team: The Seminoles had an impressive 38-20 win over Duke, improving to 7-0 on the year.

Vegas Odds: +800

Quick Pitch: Without a ranked opponent left on the schedule, Florida State could get to the ACC title game unscathed and with wins over LSU, Clemson, Duke, Miami, and Florida. The issue with Travis’ candidacy is the fact he’s by far the least efficient of the candidates and has not passed for nearly as many yards. He has two elite receivers, but has not been as dynamic as the others on this list.