Now that we’re six weeks through the 2023 college football season, which 2024 NFL Draft prospects lead the list of Heisman contenders? Here’s a look at who’s trending up and who’s trending down after the latest action.
2023 Heisman Watch: Dillon Gabriel Scores a Major Victory
Whenever the Red River Rivalry comes on the schedule, it’s the highlight of the week. And that was the case in Week 6.
The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners traded blows, but the Sooners ultimately won in a 34-30 thriller, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel was the driving force in the team coming out on top.
In a battle against fellow 2024 NFL Draft prospect Quinn Ewers, Gabriel looked like the superior QB. He completed 23 of 38 pass attempts for 285 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. He also ran for 113 yards and an additional score on 14 carries.
Not only did Gabriel put on a show of two-phase production, but he also led a game-winning drive for the Sooners after the Longhorns went up by a field goal with less than two minutes to go.
The win against the third-ranked Longhorns was massive for a Sooners program that’s now 6-0, but the performance was just as notable for Gabriel himself. Gabriel was a deep sleeper for the Heisman last week at +2000 on DraftKings. Now, he’s fourth in the running at +1200.
Heisman winners do two things, more often than not. They produce, and they win. Gabriel is on track to have his most productive, most efficient year ever — and he’s also getting the statement victories when they count. That’s why he’s climbing up the board.
Opportunity Abounds for Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix
Week 7 will feature one of the most heavily-anticipated quarterback duels of the 2023 campaign. The Washington Huskies and Oregon Ducks both had bye weeks in Week 6, but next week, they’ll face off against one another in the mid-afternoon window.
Of course, this game will pit two Heisman hopefuls and two potential early-round 2024 NFL Draft quarterbacks against each other. Bo Nix, who is suiting up for the Ducks, is currently third in the Heisman race at +600. The Huskies’ Michael Penix Jr. is neck-and-neck with Caleb Williams for the top spot.
Ahead of the Week 7 ranking reset, the Huskies were ranked seventh, and the Ducks ranked eighth. With Texas losing, both teams are likely to climb up a spot and come into their Week 7 clash as fringe top-five teams, with a Pac-12 Conference Championship appearance and playoff standing at stake.
This is the kind of statement game against another high-quality QB that both Penix and Nix would love to have on their Heisman résumé. There’s another wrinkle as well — USC’s Williams looked mortal in Week 6.
To be fair, anything less than video-game numbers is considered mortality for Williams. Against the Arizona Wildcats, he still got the win and still put up four total touchdowns. But he only completed 14 of 25 pass attempts for 219 yards and a single score. His rushing totals weren’t eye-popping, either.
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In the grand scheme of things, Williams’ performance was fine — but the oddsmakers noticed the imperfect outing. On the latest update, Williams (+220) has now been surpassed by Penix (+200) in the Heisman running.
There have been times this year when it’s looked like Williams and then everyone else. Now, that may no longer be the case. Next week, in a premier matchup, both Penix and Nix have a chance to prove that they belong at the top of the list. But only one can get the statement win, and it’ll take a Heisman performance to get it done.
Sleepers, Fallers in 2023 Heisman Discussion
The group of Heisman sleepers is slowly thinning as players like Penix and Williams separate themselves from the pack. But there are still a few under-the-radar names to keep tabs on.
Georgia Bulldogs QB Carson Beck is trending up after a 389-yard, four-touchdown outing in a Week 6 win against the Kentucky Wildcats. Beck has more often been an accessory to the Bulldogs’ winning streak this year, but in Week 6, he took on heightened authority as an engine on offense. He’s now in the top 12 at +5500 — a fleeting gamble but a notable development.
North Carolina Tar Heel QB Drake Maye — considered one of the top 2024 NFL Draft QB prospects alongside Williams — is also moving up the Heisman board. Heading into Week 6, he’d thrown for just five touchdowns and four interceptions. That ratio wasn’t indicative of his overall play, but stats do matter in the Heisman discussion.
Well, in Week 6, Maye turned around his statistical output, dominating the Syracuse Orange in a 40-7 blowout. He completed 33 of 47 attempts for 442 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Maye also ran for 55 yards and a score.
The Tar Heels are still undefeated, so there will be high-stakes games down the line for Maye to keep reaffirming his status as a Heisman contender. Right now, he’s sixth on the board at +1800.
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Finally, Jayden Daniels remains relevant in the Heisman discussion. He’s still a deep sleeper at +3500, but Week 6 featured a gutsy performance from the senior, who played through injury and willed his LSU Tigers to a win over ranked opponent the Missouri Tigers.
Against the Tigers, Daniels completed 15 of 21 attempts for 259 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also ran for 130 yards and an additional score on 15 carries.
Cameron Ward Needs To Get Back in Gear After Rough Week 6
Entering Week 6, Washington State Cougars QB Cameron Ward was +4000 and a legitimate sleeper in the Heisman race. He’d completed 105 of 141 pass attempts (74.5%) for 1,389 yards, 13 touchdowns, and no interceptions.
In Week 6, against a beatable UCLA Bruins team, Ward stumbled. His Cougars lost their first game of the season, and Ward’s mistake-prone ways from 2022 returned. He completed just 19 of 39 attempts for 197 yards and a touchdown, tossed two picks, and was sacked three times.
Ward has the talent to stay in the race, but he needs to bounce back over the second half of the season. He’s fallen from +4000 to +8000 in the odds race, and clashes against the Ducks, the Colorado Buffaloes, and the Huskies down the line will test his resolve.
