Just five weeks into the college football season and the Heisman race is heating up with the top six contenders really establishing themselves following some successful showings. Here’s our Week 5 Heisman watch update and how the top Heisman Trophy Candidates performed this past weekend:
1.) Caleb Williams – USC, QB (+170)
Leading the Trojans to a 48-41 victory over Colorado with six touchdowns on 403 yards passing, the Oklahoma transfer finds himself squarely leading the Heisman conversation.
With No. 9 USC sitting undefeated at 5-0, Williams has amassed 21 TD’s and just one interception so far this season, but a tough battle versus No. 9 Notre Dame awaits after a visit from Arizona this weekend.
2.) Michael Penix – Washington, QB (+400)
The Huskies had stomped everybody they’d faced through Week 4, but Arizona provided Penix and Co. a bit more of a challenge this past weekend with Washington emerging 31-24 despite a lackluster second half.
The former Indiana quarterback still threw for 363 yards and completed 75% of his passes, but left most of the scoring up to the Huskies’ rushing attack to dig out the win.
Things will only get more difficult for Washington this weekend as they’ll have to bounce back with a matchup against Oregon. Having already thrown 16 TD’s and just shy of 2,000 passing, Penix will look to regain some form with a return home to Husky Stadium.
T-3.) Quinn Ewers – Texas, QB (+900)
The former Ohio State transfer has continued his trend of solid quarterback play, leading the Longhorns to a 40-14 win over Kansas at the weekend.
He’d finish the afternoon with one TD and one interception, passing for 325 yards in the victory. It certainly wasn’t Ewers’ most electric performance of the season, but enough to secure a Texas win.
So far this season, Ewers has totaled 10 passing TD’s and five rushing, 1,358 yards passing, and only has the single interception to his name. Let’s see how Ewers handles No. 12 Oklahoma in his second time around, as the Longhorns prepare for their annual Red River Rivalry matchup on Saturday.
T-3.) Bo Nix – Oregon, QB (+900)
Storming to a 42-6 win on the road against Stanford, the No. 8 ranked Ducks haven’t found a challenging opponent quite yet but will have the deal with No. 7 Washington on Saturday.
Nix has played a key role in Oregon’s consistent success thus far and will be pivotal in earning a win over Washington at the weekend. The former Auburn signal caller has already managed 15 passing TD’s and one rushing, has thrown for 1,500 yards, and is completing over 80% of his passes.
T-5.) Dillon Gabriel – Oklahoma, QB (+1600)
On Saturday, Gabriel led the Sooners to a 50-20 win versus Iowa State with three passing touchdowns and two more on the ground, 366 yards passing, and all while completing over 66% of his attempts.
Currently on the season, the UCF transfer has already produced 15 touchdowns and two interceptions, 1,593 yards passing and almost 100 yards rushing, and has led Oklahoma to an undefeated 5-0 start.
However, as mentioned previously, Oklahoma will battle with Texas this weekend as two of our top Heisman candidates clash in Dallas for the Red River Rivalry.
T-5.) Jordan Travis – Florida State, QB (+1600)
The No. 5 ranked Seminoles had a bye in Week 5, but after wins against LSU, Boston College, and Clemson, the former Louisville transfer has thrown 10 TD’s with just one interception and over 1,000 yards passing.
Florida State will welcome in a struggling Virginia Tech squad this Saturday, looking to move onto 5-0 this season.
