The Heisman Trophy ceremony takes place Saturday in New York, with four players set to find out whether they’ve been named as the most outstanding player in college football. After an enthralling season of exceptional play that has seen them stand out from their peers, who are the Heisman finalists?
Who are the Heisman Finalists?
- Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
- Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
- Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
- Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
A Heisman Trophy odds favorite at various points of the 2023 college football season, Penix Jr. has been at the forefront of one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses. While he had some struggles in the midseason, his dismantling of the Oregon defense to give the Huskies the Pac-12 title and College Football Playoff berth came at the perfect time for his Heisman bid.
MORE: Michael Penix Jr. Wins 2023 Maxwell Award
The Washington quarterback ended the season with the most passing yards per game and led the nation in passing yards. His ability to conjure up magic on every play while overcoming his early-career injury adversity has made him a worthy Heisman finalist.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Heisman Trophy favorite heading into the award ceremony on Saturday, there’s few that would argue that Daniels has been the most outstanding player in college football this year. The LSU quarterback leads the way in almost all conceivable offensive metrics that you can think of, proving to be explosive both with his arm and with his unique athletic gifts.
MORE: Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Winners by Year
As one of the four Heisman finalists, Daniels is in line to be the first trophy winner to have not featured in a conference championship game since Lamar Jackson won the award for the Louisville Cardinals in 2016. The parallels between the two dual-threat quarterbacks are uncanny, while the LSU quarterback has been far more dangerous as a passer than Jackson ever was.
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Oregon quarterback Nix was once the laughingstock of college football, but in the 2023 college football season, he’s been absolutely one of the best players in the nation. Ahead of the ceremony in New York, the Ducks dynamo leads the nation in passing touchdowns — tied with Daniels — and has the highest completion percentage of any passer in the country.
In many respects, Nix meets the Heisman Trophy remitting of achieving outstanding play while showcasing perseverance and working hard in the face of adversity. His place amongst the Heisman finalists is a far cry from is much-maligned Auburn career, and he arrives in New York merely months after the “BO-Dacious” poster campaign placed him as a contender.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Spot the odd man out amongst the Heisman finalists! While the award has become college football’s equivalent of the MVP, where being anything other than a quarterback puts a black mark against your candidacy, Harrison Jr. has set such a standard at the wide receiver position this season that he is undoubtedly a legitimate contender for the award on Saturday.
He might not be the statistical pace setting for pass-catching this season. Still, the Biletnikoff Award winner has arguably been the most valuable player for the Ohio State Buckeyes this season.
MORE: List of Biletnikoff Award Winners by Year
He’s amassed over 1,000 yards despite some suboptimal quarterback play, and is noticeably the most dangerous player on any field that he steps on.