LSU's Jayden Daniels continues chase for Heisman Trophy

With one regular season game remaining, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has not slowed down his push for the Heisman Trophy.

On Saturday night in Death Valley, Daniels and LSU’s offense put on a show.

The Tigers scored touchdowns on all eight drives that Daniels was in the game, a run that stretched into the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.

By night’s end, Daniels hit 509 total yards and eight touchdowns, while star wide receiver – and potential Biletnikoff Award winner – Malik Nabers caught eight of nine targets for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

Daniels came into the week with the most all-purpose yards in college football, and he officially joined the “3K-1K Club” in the third quarter. Daniels entered the night with 3,000-plus yards passing in 10 games. In his 11th game, Daniels surpassed 1,000 yards rushing on the season.

How rare is the “3K-1K Club”?

Only six quarterbacks have ever pulled it off: Vince Young (2005), Johnny Manziel (2012), Deshaun Watson (2015), Lamar Jackson (2016, 2017), Kyler Murray (2018) and Jalen Hurts (2019). Half the names on the list won the Heisman Trophy, while Young lost to Reggie Bush, Watson to Derrick Henry, Jackson (in 2017) to Baker Mayfield and Hurts in 2019 to Joe Burrow.

It’s a special group of quarterbacks who were dominate in college football, and Daniels became the seventh name on the list.

Another historic night for Jayden Daniels

LSU had five drives in the first half, and the Tigers scored a touchdown every drive.

At half, Daniels was 15-for-19 passing for 282 yards and four touchdown. He also had four carries for 57 yards and one touchdown.

In total, Daniels used the first quarter to turn five drives into 339 total yards and five touchdowns.

And he didn’t slow down after the Tigers went to the locker room with a 35-14 lead.

Daniels used two drives across the third quarter to put up two more touchdown drives, one resulting in a touchdown pass and another in a touchdown run.

With a little less than 15 minutes to play in the game, Daniels was 22-for-26 passing for 349 yards and five touchdowns with two more touchdowns and 96 more yards on 10 rushing attempts.

The totals after seven drives that all resulted in scores: 445 yards and seven touchdowns – and he was not done yet.

Daniels went in for an eighth drive, and LSU scored another touchdown to remain perfect on offensive drives resulting in seven points.

By night’s end, Daniels was 25-for-30 passing for 413 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 10 rushes for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

That’s a combined 509 total yards and eight touchdowns, keeping LSU’s star quarterback firmly at No. 1 in the NCAA in total yards and total touchdowns through 11 games.

Now, Daniels has accounted for 3,577 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 1,014 yards and 10 touchdowns across LSU’s 11 games this season.

Daniels now leads the NCAA with 4,591 yards and 46 touchdowns.

The competition for another LSU Heisman Trophy QB

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (+120) carried the best odds entering the week on a 9-1 team, while quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has the second-best odds (+300) on a 10-0 Washington team.

Daniels remained third on the list (+380), but moved up into the No. 2 spot by the latter part of the week.

After Saturday night’s game, Draft Kings moved the odds even closer.

Now, Nix is +120 to win the Heisman, while Daniels has the second-best odds at +130. It’s the best odds Daniels has carried all season.

On Saturday, Nix was 24-for-29 passing for 404 yards and six touchdowns to go with three carries for seven yards in a 49-13 win over Arizona State.

Penix is seemingly out of the race despite Washington’s 22-20 win over Oregon State. He finished 13-for-28 passing for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

The Tigers won’t be back in Atlanta for the SEC Championship, but will Daniels be in New York City the following week to take home the Heisman Trophy?

With one regular season game remaining, and conference title weekend remaining for others, stay tuned.